Children and families involved in child protection often live with the combined impacts of trauma, adversity, and disability—yet funding models, service systems and professional practices too often respond to these needs in isolation. This session explores how services can collaborate to recognise and respond to overlapping developmental and relational needs through integrated, trauma-informed, disability-confident and family-centred approaches.
Terry Symonds
CEO, Berry Street Yooralla
Terry Symonds has been Chief Executive of Yooralla since March 2021 and of Berry Street since December 2024 when the two organisations merged on the basis of a recognition by both organisations of the shared needs of their clients and communities.
Terry’s previous experience includes senior roles in the Victorian government, health services and disability support providers. As Deputy Secretary for Strategy, Terry worked closely with the sector and government to develop the 2015 Roadmap for Reform of the child and family services sector.
Through his career, Terry has been committed to social justice and inclusion, including for children, young people, people with disability and other communities.
