THRIVE | Plenary Session 1

Join Lanai Scarr, respected journalist who spent part of her childhood in the care system, as she takes us through the launch of the THRIVE session of the National Permanency Conference.

Start the THRIVE journey with an official address from The Hon Michelle Landry MP; acknowledgment of country with Professor Paul Chandler; and official welcome from Adopt Change CEO Renee Carter.

To better understand the experiences of living in care, we will head to Beulah Ranch on the Central Coast of NSW, where we start our journey by hearing from Joel de Carteret, Emily Paul, Daniel 'D Minor' Harvey and Greg Floyd, President of Cowboys 4 Kids.

BREAK

NATIONAL | Plenary Session 2

Join Media Host Angela Bishop as we hear from Queensland Minister Di Farmer and Shadow Minister Stephen Bennett.  
 
Angela will then introduce us to Ambassadors Jack Thompson and Brad Murphy as they share some lived experience insights into foster care and adoption.  
 
Then join Helen Baker (Director, Mum and Adoptee), as she facilitates a national Q&A session with government representatives to hear about the state of nation regarding our commitment to prioritising permanency for kids in care. Participants include DSS and NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA and NT governments.   

Option 1

Therapeutic parenting for parents, carers and practitioners

Danielle Draper

Option 2

Implementing innovative system reform to increase permanency for NSW children and young people; a work in progress. 

NSW Department of Communities and Justice 

BREAK / SIDE SESSIONS

Option 1

Fostering Lifelong Connection 

Amy Conley Wright 

Option 2

Creating change with Neuro Therapy, positive impacts for attachment, learning and behaviour 

Yvette Knights

LEARN | Plenary Session 3

Melissa Doyle takes us from home to the front line, locally and abroad, in a session that explores ideas and insights, data and evidence for approaches to improving the child welfare sector and outcomes for kids. Melissa interviews:  

• Kerry Chikarovski on the impact of domestic & family violence on children;  
• Tamena Yarak on child protection practitioner learnings within a culturally and linguistically diverse framework; and 
• Kelly-Anne Stewart and Kelly Walker from Department of Communities & Justice NSW talk about the importance of nurturing relationships between children and mothers during time in custody.  

We hear from International keynote speaker Dr Jessica Pryce as she speaks about strengthening families by ensuring racial equity;

Mark Galvin and Melissa Kaltner from EY and Claire Robbs from Life Without Barriers discuss their project to support data-informed placement decision making that better meets children’s needs;  

and we cross to South Australia to hear from Minister Rachel Sanderson on permanency updates. 

BREAK

NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE #1

Join this facilitated video conference session, where you will meet with delegates and presenters from across Australia to discuss key concepts arising from the conference and put forward insights to be considered for the conference final recommendations to government regarding permanency and supporting children to thrive.  

GROW | Plenary Session 4

Joe Hildebrand, host for the GROW session of our conference, focuses on how to best provide supports for children who have experienced challenging starts to life. Children need support for their education in school; and learning about their background and identity.  
 
Joe Hildebrand introduces us to a panel of experts to speak about these topics, including special presentations on:  

• understanding anxiety in children by Michael Hawton;  
• International Keynote Speaker Professor Richard Rose on Life Story Work; 
• Jess Grace and Angela Bontea from CASPA speak about their education program for kids in care; and  
• Robyn Smith from No FASD presents on understanding Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  

Option 1 | NATIONAL WORKSHOP

Supporting children visiting mothers in custody

Join State and Territory colleagues from government departments and foster care agencies to discuss how best to support children visiting mothers in custody. Raise ideas; discuss what has worked well in your jurisdiction and discuss challenges. 

Kelly-Anne Stewart and Kelly Walker  
NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Option 2 | Sensory play

Kaisey Hayes

BONUS SESSION

Understanding FASD

BONUS SESSION

Understanding FASD

Day 1 Program concludes