Our theme this year was ‘Maintaining Momentum: Continuing to innovate and build Victoria’s Child and Family Services sector evidence base.’ We chose this theme to reflect the perseverance and resilience of the sector, which has managed to maintain momentum in spite of some unprecedented challenges.We had fantastic keynote speakers: Professor Leah Bromfield, Director for the Australian Centre for Child Protection; and Professor Sharon Bessell, Director of the Children’s Policy Centre, and of the Poverty and Inequality Research Centre.We also had a host of other cross-sector speakers, presenting on a broad range of themes relevant to the sector, from early years, to family violence and out of home care, to name a few.Check out all our videos below!
Shaping the future of child protection: Creating a way forward grounded in the reality of our present
In this address, Professor Leah Bromfield presents research and data that shows the reality of our present – challenging common assumptions. She discusses how an accurate understanding of our present provides us with a way forward to continue the child and family welfare sector journey in improving our responses to vulnerable children and families. Finally, Leah showcases some of the future focussed work of the Australian Centre for Child Protection that is aimed at helping shape the future of child protection in partnership with the sector.
Watch the recording here
No Child Should Live in Poverty: How we can end multidimensional child poverty through child-centred approaches
In this presentation, Professor Sharon Bessell shares the findings of research with children about their experiences of living in poverty. She discusses how a child standpoint enables us to understand the multi-dimensional ways in which poverty impacts on children. From this understanding, it is possible to develop child centred responses to poverty, and to address the underlying causes.
Over the course of two jam-packed days, we heard from a variety of presenters from the Child, Youth and Family service sector practitioners and research collaborators. It was an inspiring and energizing experience, with palpable passion and engagement.
Presentations showcased innovative practice across key themes, see the recordings grouped by themes below
Together from the start, an innovative justice health initiative – Women’s Legal Service Victoria & Monash Health
Keywords: early intervention, mothers, babies, family violence, justice, health
Promoting first relationships with fathers: Early intervention with fathers to improve attachment to their children – Kids First
Keywords: early intervention, fathers, children, evidence based program
Community-led Inclusion: ‘All About Early Years’ Project – Foundation House
Keywords: early intervention, multicultural communities, education
Back to the full list
The living free project: Centring the consumer voice for improved justice outcomes for young people – Taskforce.
Keywords: women, justice, lived experience, client centred
Best practice co-designing programs for young people with those with lived experience; reimagining AVITH’s service delivery – Berry Street.
Keywords: young people, family violence, lived experience
Hear my voice; conversation cards. How to bring children into important conversations – Statewide Children’s Resource Centre
Keywords: child wellbeing and rights, child voice, family violence
9 basic requirements for meaningful child participation – Save the Children (54 Reasons)
Keywords: child wellbeing and rights, child voice, disaster recovery
Dad’s in Focus: Working with father’s using violence to promote child safety and wellbeing – Family Life
Keywords: child wellbeing and rights, family violence, fathers
Just listen to young people when they’re coming in and wanting help – Centre for Community and Child Health & The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Keywords: child wellbeing and rights, youth voice, health, out of home care
Found in collaboration; the benefits of lived experience employment in research, policy and practice – Panel: Monash University, Brotherhood of St Laurence and Anglicare
Keywords: lived experience, collaborative practice, employment, participatory design, out of home care
More than our childhoods: historical perspectives on Care Services, and how we can learn from them – Panel: Australian Catholic University and University of Adelaide
Keywords: lived experience, collaborative practice, out of home care
Flipping the narrative; creating sustainable outcomes after an experience of residential care – Anchor Inc.
Keywords: lived experience, leaving care, out of home care
Using an implementation science method to support the introduction of evidence-informed programs in residential care – MacKillop Family Services & University of Melbourne
Keywords: lived experience, collaborative practice, implementation science, out of home care
Enhancing Sector responses to young men using intimate partner violence – No To Violence & YSAS
Keywords: family violence, collaborative practice,
Putting Families First: A consortium led interdisciplinary approach to holistic practice – OzChild, AAFRO, VACCA and YSAS
Keywords: collaborative practice, cultural safety, engaging families
Using media literacy and critical thinking to equip young people with skills to combat against Harmful Digital Marketing – The Alannah and Madeline Foundation & VicHealth
Keywords: child wellbeing and rights, child voice, digital literacy, collaborative practice
Ready, Set, Prep!: a collaborative approach supporting early childhood development and wellbeing – Merri Health
Keywords: early intervention, collaborative practice, collective impact, embedding evidence
Managing for better impact: a whirlwind case study focused on getting your impact measurement foundations in place! – ThinkImpact
Keywords: Impact led design
Getting going, getting better – CSNet
Keywords: Outcomes measurement, outcomes journey
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