A Milestone for Satellite Foundation: CEO Rose Cuff’s AM and Chair Catherine Dillon’s OAM Recognition

We are incredibly proud to announce that Satellite Foundation has been honoured with two prestigious awards in this year’s Australia Day Honours list. Our CEO, Rose Cuff, has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to community mental health and youth, while our Chair, Catherine Dillon, has received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her exceptional service to youth and secondary education.

These recognitions are a testament to the dedication, leadership, and impact of both individuals who have shaped the work of Satellite Foundation and made a lasting difference in the lives of many.

Rose Cuff – Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Rose’s AM recognises her outstanding 30+ years of service to improving the lives of young people and families affected by mental health challenges. In her own words, Rose reflects on the ongoing work ahead and highlights the resilience of young carers and the vital role of Satellite in creating spaces where these young voices are seen, heard, and empowered.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to community mental health and youth.  I receive it on the Country on which I live, work and create, the unceded lands of the Wurrundjeri Woiwurrung peoples and acknowledge them as the Traditional Custodians and their enduring connection to Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present and commit Satellite’s support to Treaty Victoria.

This award is for the hundreds of thousands of children, young people, their families and communities who are living with family mental health challenges across this country. The parents, siblings, carers, and kin who experience a mental health challenge or a mental illness and means the young person in their family system can take on significant caring roles and responsibilities.

I honour and recognise your resilience, your struggles, your potential and your strengths. This award is for all of you – the extraordinary young people I’ve met and walked alongside for more than 30 years, as my teachers and guides. This is for their families and supporters. And this is for the people working with me, now and those in the past, who share my still undiminished passion for bringing about change for the better.

I hope this award can contribute to a deeper awareness and understanding in the community about mental health challenges in families and the experiences of young people taking on significant caring roles and responsibilities. I hope this awareness brings with it compassion, and an absence of judgement. Because there is so much more to do together. More done to address discrimination and more accurate data about how many children and young people are living with family mental health challenges.

Satellite is a caring community-based organisation, grounded in principles of peer connection, creative expression and wellbeing. We invite young people to come as they are, to go gently, to share stories and to believe in themselves. Satellite was founded with a fierce determination to make sure these young people are seen, to have their voices amplified and stories heard – not only stories of struggle and feeling alone, but also to offer places where they could join the dots and make sense of their experiences and celebrate their strengths and resilience. Ask the unaskeable. Have brave conversations. Have fun. Make friends. Make art.

Because talking about mental health and mental illness is still one of the hardest things for anyone to do, at any age.

I honour all of you and thank you for the privilege of walking this walk, and at times running!, alongside you.”

Catherine Dillon – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Catherine’s OAM recognises her exceptional service to youth and secondary education. With over 30 years of experience in education and leadership development, Catherine’s work as Chair of Satellite Foundation has helped guide us towards creating stronger, more inclusive communities. She has served on numerous not-for-profit boards and is a passionate advocate for the welfare and education of young people.

Catherine’s commitment to education, child safety, and system improvement has had a profound impact, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her leadership at Satellite Foundation. Her OAM is a well-deserved recognition of her decades of service and advocacy.

A Milestone for Satellite Foundation

Having both Rose and Catherine recognised in the same year is a significant achievement for Satellite Foundation. It speaks to the strength of our leadership and the meaningful impact we continue to make for young people, their families, and communities who are living with family mental health challenges. These honours highlight not only the remarkable contributions of Rose and Catherine but also the collective work of everyone involved with Satellite Foundation.

We are deeply grateful for the support of our community, our partners, and most importantly, the young people and families we serve. There is still much to do, and we are excited to continue working toward a more inclusive, compassionate, and empowered future for all.