Co-founder, Forget Me Not Children's Home
Lawyer and Griffith University lecturer Kathryn Van Doore won the Arts, Education & Law Young Alumnus of the Year Award in November 2011.
Ms Van Doore, who holds a Bachelor of Law/Arts and a Master of Laws from Griffith University, made headline news earlier this year when she helped rescue 14 Ugandan children from a corrupt orphanage.
The co-founder of the Forget Me Not Children's Home played an integral role in closing the organisation down, working with police and local probation officers to remove the children from the defunct children's home and employing field staff to manage resettlement and reunification with the children's families.
In addition, Forget Me Not set up an orphanage in Nepal in 2006. The orphanage has grown quickly and successfully, initially providing a home for six girls, and now looks after 21. Following the purchase of over 27,000 sq metres of land in Nepal, the organisation is now building an eco-friendly, sustainable village which will support an additional 60 children and employ 10-15 local Nepali staff.
The organisation runs on a firm foundation, raising funds here in Australia which go direct to the children's homes. The Australian organisation is based in Hervey Bay, Queensland (about four hours drive north of Brisbane).
Kate’s work will be the subject of a forthcoming episode of Australian Story.