By Joel Hall
As the 2026 Catholic Social Services Western Australia (CSSWA) Awards hover on the horizon, last year’s winners have reflected on the processes that led them to be worthy recipients.
Employee of the Year Ian Smith said he was humbled and honoured for not only receiving last year’s award but for doing pastoral care work for Catholic Homes- the service for which landed him the award.
“It has been a remarkable journey, and I am grateful every day for the opportunity to be part of it” he said.
Mr Smith has worked in this job for a decade now, journeying with people and their families as they age.
Catholic Homes Executive General Manager for Mission, Mr Richie Perera, said Ian’s intentionality and personal presence with the residents and their families deemed him fit for the award.
“His actions are not driven by obligation but by a genuine desire to uphold the dignity of every individual,” he said.
Alongside Mr Smith, Tina Baldwin was awarded Volunteer of the Year for her decade-long service as a Safeguarding Officer at Bedford Parish.
Now former Director of the Safeguarding Program Office, Barbara Blayney, said Ms Baldwin was nominated for the award due to upholding compassion and professionalism in her role.
Ms Blayney said Ms Baldwin’s professionalism had been most evident in her industriousness and in the way she has handled the sensitive topics as part of the work of a parish-based Safeguarding Officer.
She cited Ms Baldwin’s behaviour during the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse as she “showed compassion and understanding to those in the parish that were just beginning to understand the gravity of the impact of abuse in the church”.
Mr Smith and Ms Baldwin were both presented with their awards at a special morning tea ceremony at St Mary’s Cathedral on August 8 – the solemnity of St Mary MacKillop.
In a Mass for the staff of offices, agencies and organisations of the Archdiocese of Perth, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB spoke the importance of an embodied faith.
Describing St Mary MacKillop’s life, Archbishop Costelloe said Australia’s first canonised saint encapsulated the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 which urge us to feed the hungry, minister to the sick and clothe the naked.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar-General, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Msgr Michael Keating, Bedford Parish Priest Fr Jeronimo Castillo and Deacon Christopher Power.
With this, Archbishop Costelloe quoted St Mary Mackillop’s words that you must “never forget who it is that you’re following” to remind attendants that the ‘why’ behind such action is even more important than the ‘what’.
“It was because Mary was a faithful disciple of Jesus that she did what she did and was what she was,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
May we do what we do as part of Catholic Social Services Western Australia because of who we understand ourselves to be as part of CSSWA: faithful disciples of Jesus,” he said.
The 2025 recipients re-affirmed Archbishop Costelloe’s words as they acknowledged God’s presence in their respective environments as a source of fulfillment and encouragement.
Mr Smith said he has been particularly moved by the relationships he has formed with residents of Catholic Homes, one of whom is a priest.
He said witnessing this particular man provide God’s presence in the Eucharist to other residents was “deeply rewarding”.
Mr Perera described the workplace as also inhabiting God’s caring presence in the person of Mr Smith who he said has exhibited purposeful compassion, and been a “powerful witness to the gospel in action”.
For Ms Baldwin, the prayer-filled nature of her parish as led by her priest Father Jeronimo Flamenco has given her the grace to continue volunteering.
She said one notable devotion has been the Stations of the Cross – a devotion centred around suffering with Christ.
Such attributes of which are embodied in the listening capacity her nominators have commended her for.