Virtual National Permanency Conference 2020  |  9.45am 12th to 3:45pm 13th October 2020

Join us on a journey in understanding the experience for children in care across Australia, as we hear from government and guest speakers, sharing with us about their experience of being in the care system, being on the front line, finding home, delivering insights on research and new approaches to improve outcomes for children and young people.

This two way conversation will allow delegates to ask questions and provide their input into conference recommendations for positive change.

Government

Hear from government including federal and state Community Services Ministers and government department representatives on updates on their commitment to prioritising permanency for children in out of home care across Australia.

Commonwealth government, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria set to share plans and progress and participate in this important event for change.

The Hon Michelle Landry MP
The Hon Michelle Landry MP
Australian Government
Federal Assistant Minister for Children and Families
The Hon. Di Farmer MP (QLD)
The Hon. Di Farmer MP (QLD)
QLD Government
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women
The Hon. Roger Jaensch MP (TAS)
The Hon. Roger Jaensch MP (TAS)
TAS Government
Minister for Education, Children and Youth
The Hon Rachel Sanderson (SA)
The Hon Rachel Sanderson (SA)
SA Government
Minister for Child Protection
The Hon Simone McGurk BA(Arts) BA(Comms) MLA (WA)
The Hon Simone McGurk BA(Arts) BA(Comms) MLA (WA)
WA Government
Minister for Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
Stephen Bennett
Stephen Bennett
Youth and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence; and Veterans
QLD Shadow Minister for Child Safety
Sue Barr
Sue Barr
Out of Home Care, Department for Child Protection
Executive Director
Meegan Crawford
Meegan Crawford
Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
Chief Practitioner
Julieanne Davis
Julieanne Davis
Northern Territory Government
Executive Director Clinical Practice and Professional Services Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities
Rachael Green (WA)
Rachael Green (WA)
Community Services Department of Communities
Deputy Director General
Claire Lovell (TAS)
Claire Lovell (TAS)
Department of Children, Youth and Families
Director
Mr Brenton Philp
Mr Brenton Philp
Families Group Department Social Services
Group Manager
Simone Walker
Simone Walker
DCJ Child & Family, Strategy, Policy and Commissioning
Deputy Secretary of Strategy, Policy and Commissioning
Shane D Wilson
Shane D Wilson
Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Director, Children, Families, Communities and Disability - Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Kelly-Anne Stewart
Kelly-Anne Stewart
Principal Advisor Women Offenders | Department of Communities and Justice

Speakers and Panellists

Join our unparalleled line up of speakers from Australia and beyond – lived experience experts, academics, child welfare thought leaders and practitioners, in the conversation of the year.

Terry Cross
Terry Cross
National Indian Child Welfare Association
Founder and Senior Advisor of NICWA
Dr Jessica Pryce
Dr Jessica Pryce
Florida Institute for Child Welfare
Executive Director
Richard Rose (U.K.)
Richard Rose (U.K.)
Director of Child Trauma Intervention Services Ltd (CTIS) and Therapeutic Life Story Work International (TLSWi)
Stacy Blythe
Dr Stacy Blythe
School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Western Sydney University
Associate Professor
Angela Bontea
Angela Bontea
CASPA Services Ltd
Executive Director General Programs
Kerry Chikarovski
Kerry Chikarovski
Chikarovski & Associates
Board Director
Fariba Gharahkani
Fariba Gharahkani
DCJ Alternate Care Practice Team (ACPT)
NSW Director Adoption and Permanency Services
Greg Floyd
Greg Floyd
Cowboys 4 kids
President
Jess Grace
Jess Grace
CASPA
Education Manager
Karleene Gribble
Karleene Gribble
Western Sydney University
Adjunct Associate Professor
Michael Hawton
Michael Hawton
Parentshop Founder
Psychologist
Kaisey Hayes
Kaisey Hayes
Adopt Change
Jason Herbison
Jason Herbison
Executive Producer, Neighbours
Fremantle Media
Yvette Unknown
Yvette Unknown
Move Learn Connect
Director
Damon Martin
Damon Martin
International Social Service (ISS) Australia
Deputy CEO / manager
Emily Hikaiti
Emily Hikaiti
Ambassador & Lived Experience Advocate
Julie Hourigan Ruse
Julie Hourigan Ruse
Fams
Chief Executive Officer
Robyn Smith
Robyn Smith
No FASD Australia
Educator
Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson
Adoptee and Actor
Amy Wright
Amy Wright
Institute of Open Adoption Studies
Professor of Child and Family Social Work | University of Sydney
Tamena Yarak
Tamena Yarak
Creating Links
Executive Manager Out of Home Care / Permanency Support Program
Kelly Walker
Kelly Walker
DCJ Western NSW District
Manager DCJ

Hosts

Join our Media Ambassadors when they each host a segment of the national conversation, facilitating input from a range of speakers including guests with lived experience, politicians, academics, thought leaders and experts in child welfare.

Deborra-lee Furness
Deborra-lee Furness
Founder | Adopt Change
Helen Baker
Helen Baker
Spill the Beans
Board Director
Renee Carter
Renee Carter
Adopt Change
CEO
Professor Paul Chandler
Professor Professor Paul Chandler
University of Wollongong
Board Director | Adopt Change
Zufi Emerson
Zufi Emerson
Adoptee & Actor
Phoebe Garland
Phoebe Garland
Ambassador & Adoptee
Shellie Morris
Shellie Morris
Singer, Songwriter & Musician
Angela Bishop
Angela Bishop
Ambassador & Journalist
Daniella Park
Daniella Park
Ambassador & TV Personality
Luke Carroll
Luke Carroll
Media Ambassador & Actor
Sallianne Deckert
Sallianne Deckert
Adoptive Mother and TV Personality
Melissa Doyle
Melissa Doyle
Media Ambassador & Journalist
Joe Hildebrand
Joe Hildebrand
Ambassador & Journalist
Helen McCabe
Helen McCabe
Ambassador & Journalist
Louise Ransome
Louise Ransome
Ambassador & Journalist
Lanai Scarr
Lanai Scarr
Ambassador & Journalist