9th SNAICC National Conference

6–9 December 2021

NOW FULLY VIRTUAL

The following

PROGRAM
program times
are in AEDT

www.snaicc.org.au/conference
#SNAICC2021

Program updated 25 November 2021

SPONSORS

Government Supporters

Virtual Livestream Partner Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor Media Partner Delegate Satchel Sponsor

Exhibitors

2 9th SNAICC National Conference Program

CONFERENCE
WELCOME
I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone joining us for the
9th SNAICC National Conference. While it is disappointing that we
are not able to gather in person on Yugambeh Country as originally
planned, we are thrilled to be able to provide this opportunity for us
to connect and share our work and stories from the last few years.
A lot has changed since we last came Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Key themes at the 9th SNAICC National
together in 2019, with events of the past organisations and communities have Conference will focus on the impacts
18 months, in particular, showing how been very effective in responding to the of COVID-19 on our communities, child
rapidly the political and social landscape pandemic threat. Many organisations safety and wellbeing, early years, and
can shift, and also demonstrating the found innovative ways to adapt their the rights of our children and our young
enormous strength and flexibility that service delivery model to support children people. We are pleased to be able
exists within Aboriginal and Torres and families in their community, despite to welcome speakers including early
Strait Islander communities. having limited additional supports and childhood expert Arapera Card, Te Rito
On behalf of SNAICC – National Voice for resources provided to them. Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand;
our Children and the SNAICC Conference Since SNAICC’s last conference, we Commissioners Andrea Mason OAM,
Committee, we are excited to be able have seen resurgent public interest and June Oscar AO and Natalie Lewis;
to connect with you once again. support on improving the lives of our Garth Morgan, QATSICPP; Patricia
people, as shown by the momentum Turner, NACCHO; Paul Gray, Family
The global coronavirus pandemic and Matters Co-Chair, plus many more
major natural disasters over the last behind the Black Lives Matters
movement of which First Nations leaders from across the country.
two years has contributed to a great
deal of extra stress and uncertainty for people are leading the way. We look forward to showcasing the
many of our most vulnerable people. Collectively, Aboriginal and Torres rich perspectives of a broad range
Strait Islander community-controlled of speakers and connecting with
Throughout 2020 and continuing delegates representing communities
into 2021, the pandemic has exposed organisations together with state and
territory governments have made from all around Australia.
some of the issues facing Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children and great strides in the child and family As we reflect on present challenges
families. Our mobs are at greater risk sector. As part of the Coalition of and opportunities, and as SNAICC
from COVID-19 than non-Indigenous Peaks, SNAICC is working closely celebrates its 40th year, we are
people because of higher vulnerability with governments to drive the excited to be able to share knowledge
to social and economic impacts due implementation of the new National and experiences that will help us
to pre-existing levels of disadvantage. Agreement on Closing the Gap. continue building a strong platform
The impact of COVID-19 has been We are also leading important policy for representing the voice of the next
far-reaching – affecting our early reform by working with the Australian generation – our children.
years services and support services for Government through the development
families and communities.  of the next 10-year National Framework Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO
for Protecting Australia’s Children and
We are continually inspired by the a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait
resilience and determination shown by Islander Early Childhood Strategy. 
our people to meet these challenges.

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 3

CONFERENCE
OBJECTIVES
Share and
Celebrate Stories
To celebrate Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander cultures, strengths and
successes in child and family services.
To share our stories and ideas about
what works and how we address our
challenges. To showcase culturally
Listen, Learn appropriate best practices that
contribute to positive changes for our
and Grow Aboriginal and Islander children and
young people to thrive in their culture.
To come together to listen and learn
from one another on how we will
support our Elders of tomorrow.
To absorb and grow our knowledge
and wisdom of Elders, families and
communities, to strengthen our
connection to culture.

Inspire Action
To inspire and enable leaders,
services and others to act in a way
that strengthens Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander agency, self-
determination and connection to
culture. To ensure the rights of our
children and families are respected
and fulfilled and develop leadership
and collective strategies that allow our
communities to move forward.

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KEYNOTE AND PLENARY
SPEAKERS
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLitt SW AO
Chairperson, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett OA is a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman who has been the
CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) since 1999. Muriel is currently Chairperson of
SNAICC and active in over 30 advisory groups concerning the Aboriginal community, including the Aboriginal
Treaty Working Group; Aboriginal Family Violence Steering Committee; Victorian Children’s Council; Aboriginal Justice
Forum; and the Aboriginal Community Elders Service, to name just a few. Muriel was heavily involved in the Northern
Territory Child Protection Inquiry from 2009–11. Muriel’s contributions have been recognised in a number of awards including
a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2004 Australia Day Honours for her services to the community. In 2011, Muriel
was inducted into the 2011 Victorian Honour Roll of Women and was a finalist for a Human Rights Medal with the Australian
Human Rights Commission. In 2017, Muriel was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in Social Work by the
University of Sydney in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Aboriginal child and family welfare.

Professor Larissa Behrendt AO

Associate Dean and Director of Research, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous
Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney
Larissa is a Eualayai/Gamillaroi woman and the Associate Dean and Director of Research at the Jumbunna
Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology, Sydney. Larissa won the
2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for her novel Home. Her second novel,
Legacy, won a Victorian Premiers Literary Award. Her non-fiction works include Finding Eliza: Power and Colonial Storytelling,
Indigenous Australia for Dummies and Indigenous Australia for Kids. Larissa is an award-winning filmmaker, winning the 2018
Australian Directors Guild Award for best Direction of a Documentary Film for After the Apology, and the 2020 AACTA for
Best Direction in Factual Television for her documentary, Maralinga Tjarutja. Larissa was awarded the 2009 NAIDOC Person
of the Year award and 2011 NSW Australian of the Year and was awarded an Order of Australia for her work in Indigenous
education, the law and arts. She is the host of Speaking Out on ABC Radio. 

Arapera Card
Pouhere Kaupapa Māori, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ)
Arapera Card is of Māori descent, (Indigenous of Aotearoa, New Zealand). Arapera is the Senior Advisor
Māori at Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ). Her role requires her to provide students,
teachers and families with an authentic bicultural experience by embedding cultural practices and te reo
Māori (Māori language) into all programmes delivered by ECNZ. Language, culture and identity are key aspects of cultural
wellbeing and from a Māori perspective Arapera believes that culture and language shape one’s identity and personality.
Arapera has been a lecturer, cultural advisor, curriculum advisor and subject group leader at Te Rito Maioha and is passionate
about ensuring all children’s, students and teachers stories are heard.

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 5

Ursula Carolyn
Branch Manager, Families and Safety, National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)
Ursula has worked in the Commonwealth Indigenous Affairs portfolio since 2007, in Canberra, Darwin,
Adelaide, the APY Lands and remote communities in the Northern Territory. Ursula has led policy, program
and corporate teams delivering place-based and healing-informed programs in community. Ursula has
experience across family safety, early childhood, culture, youth and remote housing. Most recently Ursula, along with the
Early Childhood Policy team, has been working in partnership with SNAICC to develop the National Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy.

Joanne Della Bona

Chief Executive Officer, Coolabaroo
Joanne Della Bona is a Noongar woman from Whadjuk and Balardong country in Western Australia. Joanne
has more than 30 years’ experience in the community services sector, in education, housing, child protection
the reunification of children, childcare, job skills, and employment. Joanne started her career as a primary school
teacher, and has a Bachelor of Arts (Education). In 1994 Joanne was awarded the Western Australian of the Year Award,
in the Youth category. She has held Board positions for Noongar Radio, (now) Aboriginal Family Law Services, and the
Noongar Child Protection Council (NCPC), and is a Delegate on the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
(SNAICC). Joanne was the Acting CEO for Beananging Kwuurt Institute. Joanne is currently the CEO of Coolabaroo, which is
inclusive of Coolabaroo Neighbourhood Centre, Colabaroo Housing Service, and Coolabaroo Community Service.

Dr Paul Gray
Associate Professor, Jumbanna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research,
University of Technology Sydney
Paul is a proud Wiradjuri man from New South Wales with immense experience in the child and family

sector, upholding the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Paul has a Doctorate
in Experimental Psychology at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, as an inaugural Charlie Perkins Scholar, and has worked in
various positions with the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice [formerly Department of Family and
Community Services (FACS)], prior to becoming the Executive Leader of Strategy, Policy and Evidence at AbSec – NSW
Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation, the state’s Aboriginal peak body in child protection. For the
past year, Paul has held the role of Associate Professor for the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research,
University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he works in close partnership with Aboriginal communities and organisations
to develop and undertake research, policy development, and advocacy in the child protection sector.

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Liz Hefren-Webb
Deputy Secretary of the Families and Communities Stream
Liz Hefren-Webb is the Deputy Secretary of the Families and Communities Stream in the Department of
Social Services (DSS) and oversees policy and programs that support vulnerable communities, families and
children and promote family safety. She also has responsibility for the National Redress Scheme which was
established in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, as well as problem
gambling policy, financial wellbeing policy and programs and cashless welfare policy. The Community Grants Hub, which
delivers community-based grants funding on behalf of Australian Government client departments and agencies, is also in Liz’s
remit. Liz joined DSS in July 2018. Prior to this, she was a First Assistant Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet, in the Indigenous Affairs Division, responsible for education, community safety, health and wellbeing programs and
policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She has also held senior executive positions in the former Department of
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. She started her career as a graduate in the former Department
of Social Security in 1996. Liz has an Arts degree with Honours in Government from the University of Sydney.

Natalie Lewis
Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission
Natalie Lewis was appointed Commissioner for the Queensland Family and Child Commission in May 2020.
Natalie, a Gamilaraay woman, brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge from her distinguished
over 20-year career in youth justice, child and family services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs.
Natalie works with a strong and renewed focus on the systemic and structural issues disproportionately affecting Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children. Previously, Natalie held the role of Chief Executive Officer with QATSICPP Limited.
As Commissioner, Natalie drives change to better the safety, wellbeing and interests of children and young people, including
those in the child protection system.

Catherine Liddle
Chief Executive Officer, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
An Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia, Catherine has a strong background in senior management
positions with First Nations organisations. Catherine has also held senior roles within the Northern Territory
Education Department, the ABC, and NITV/SBS. A journalist by trade, Catherine’s motivation has always been to
drive change that leads to positive outcomes and options for First Nations people. Over the past 10 years, Catherine has led
multidisciplinary teams, overseen workplace transformations, and advocated for policy reform.

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 7

Andrea Mason OAM
Commissioner, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
of People with Disability
Andrea is a visionary leader with many accolades to her name including 2016 Telstra Australian Business
Woman of the Year, 2017 Northern Territory Australian of the Year and in the same year, Alice Springs
Centralian Citizen of the Year. A Ngaanyatjarra and Karonie Australian woman from Western Australia, Andrea
has built a reputation and career grounded in deep respect for the voice and collective determination of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples. During her renowned career, Andrea has worked in Indigenous Affairs in both the public and
community sector, working in a variety of roles from executive through to support. Her biggest career highlight so far has
been working with the women of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) region in central Australia, as CEO
of NPY Women’s Council. As a Commissioner, Andrea will listen deeply to people with disability and their families as they
share their stories concerning violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, including members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities.

Garth Morgan
Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP)
Garth has dedicated his professional career to improving health and community services from the government
and not-for-profit sector. He has significant experience on boards and committees including as Chair of the
Queensland Government’s Just Futures Taskforce and membership on the Queensland Compact Governance
Committee and the Advisory Board for the establishment of the Queensland Mental Health Commission. In addition to this,
Garth has served as non-Executive Director of Community Sector Boards in the health, housing, media and recruitment
sectors. Garth is passionate about supporting organisations to improve their strategy implementation, strategic and operational
governance, and manage change. In leading his team at QATSICPP, Garth has contributed to the formation of ground-breaking
work including leading the co-design and development of the Our Way Strategy and continually contributing to legislative
reforms that embeds the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to self-determination. Garth also leads the
evaluation of the Youth Justice Family Led Decision Making trial, the establishment of QATSICPP’s own Centre for Excellence
and the advocacy and development of 33 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services. Garth provides
high-level evidence-informed policy analysis and strategic advice on issues and opportunities that positively impact on the
rights and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

June Oscar AO
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
June Oscar AO is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s
Kimberley region. She is a strong advocate for Indigenous Australian languages, social justice, women’s issues,
and has worked tirelessly to reduce fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). June has held a raft of influential
positions including Deputy Director of the Kimberley Land Council, Chair of the Kimberley Language Resource Centre and
the Kimberley Interpreting Service and Chief Investigator with WA’s Lililwan Project addressing FASD. She was appointed
to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1990) and was a winner of the 100 Women of Influence 2013 in the
Social Enterprise and Not For Profit category. In 2015 June received the Menzies School of Health Research Medallion for her
work with FASD. June has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Notre Dame, Broome, Western Australia,
and is currently writing her PhD. June is a co-founder of the Yiramalay Wesley Studio School and is a community member
of the Fitzroy Valley Futures Governing Committee. June began her five-year term as Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Justice Commissioner on 3 April 2017.

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Patricia Turner AM
Chief Executive Officer, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
The daughter of an Arrernte man and a Gurdanji woman, Pat was raised in Alice Springs. As CEO of
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), she is at the forefront of community
efforts to close the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Pat has over 40 years’
experience in senior leadership positions in government, business and academia including being the only Aboriginal person,
only woman and longest serving CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC). Amongst her many
appointments, Pat also spent 18 months as Monash Chair of Australian Studies, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and
was inaugural CEO of NITV. Pat is the Coalition of Peaks Convenor and Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap. Pat
holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Canberra where she was awarded the university prize
for development studies.

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 9

 PROGRAM
SCHEDULE
Day
1

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER

Opening Plenary 9.00am – 10.30am

Welcome to Country
Welcome Address
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLitt SW AO, Chairperson, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
Video Address
Hon Michelle Landry, Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Department of Social Services, Australian Government
Keynote Presentations
Pat Turner, CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Coalition of Peaks Convenor and
Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap
Andrea Mason OAM, Commissioner, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

Break

Concurrent Sessions 11.00am – 12.30pm

1 Leading systematic change in the over-representation of Aboriginal and children in out-of-home care
2 Community impacts, responses and supports to the COVID-19 pandemic
3 Co-design partnerships and cultural ways of working together
4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood strategies
5 Supporting children’s rights and collaborative approaches in family supports

Break and Meditation Session

Concurrent Sessions 1.30pm – 3.00pm

6 Best practice early years programs

7 Family supports and embedding culture through practice
8 Children healing through culture and NDIS early interventions
9 Culturally informed trauma workshop

Break

Concurrent Sessions 3.30pm – 5.00pm

10 Inclusive best practice supports and programs in early years

11 Journey to partnerships and the role of kinship
12 Working with and for our families
13 Aboriginal-led commissioning for better child and family outcomes
14 Supports for our young people in care

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 PROGRAM
SCHEDULE
Day
2

WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER

Plenary 9.15am – 10.30am

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy

PANELLISTS:
Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
Joanne Della Bona, CEO, Coolabaroo (WA)
Ursula Carolyn, Families and Safety Branch, NIAA

Break

Concurrent Sessions 11.00am – 12.30pm

15 Early years and transition to school supports

16 Young people’s journeys and decolonising our youth justice systems
17 Education reconciliation
18 Cultural connections for our children and young people

Break and Meditation Session

Concurrent Sessions 1.30pm – 3.00pm

19 Self-determination models in child safety matters

20 Cultural safety and wellbeing of our children
21 Trauma-integrated care for First Nations’ parents and intensive family supports
22 Caring for our carers and impact of COVID-19 in out-of-home care

Break

Concurrent Sessions 3.30pm – 5.00pm

23 Aboriginal permanency perspectives and wellbeing outcomes for children

24 Education rights
25 Investing in early years
26 Cultural safety and supports in our courts, child placement and health services

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 11

 PROGRAM
3 SCHEDULE
Day

THURSDAY 9 DECEMBER

Plenary 9.15am – 10.30am

Keynote Presentations
Garth Morgan, CEO, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP)
Arapera Card, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand

Break and Meditation Session

Concurrent Sessions 11.00am – 12.30pm

27 Integrated approaches in early years

28 Building capacity through genuine partnerships
29 Equitable care and decision-making for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
30 Self-determination in action: Northern Territory communities leading the way

Break

Family Matters 2021 Report Launch 1.00pm – 1.45pm

Break

Closing Plenary 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Plenary Panel Presentation

Towards 2031 – Designing a national plan for protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLitt SW AO, Chairperson, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
Natalie Lewis, Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission
June Oscar AO, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner
Dr Paul Gray, Co-Chair, Family Matters and Associate Professor, Jumbanna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research (UTS)
Liz Hefren-Webb, Deputy Secretary, Federal Department of Social Services

Closing Address
Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC - National Voice for our Children

Note: Concurrent sessions will vary from 60 to 90 minutes but all will commence on their scheduled start times.

12 9th SNAICC National Conference Program

WORKSHOPS AND
ACTIVITIES
Early years workshop:
A Te tuakiri o te tangata – Beyond the skin of man
Presented by Arapera Card and Mero Rokx: An early childhood expert, Arapera Card is of Māori descent, (Indigenous of
Aotearoa, New Zealand). Arapera is the Senior Advisor Māori at Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ).

Date: Monday 6 December, Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm AEDT perspective, balancing the physical needs of all children such
as providing good exercise regimes, healthy eating, fun and
Māori traditions and practices have been handed down for laughter are great incentives to gaining physical fitness and
many generations and this means they are both lived and wellness. However, how will we maintain the spiritual needs
learned in our modern day. In this workshop we will explore and wellbeing of our children to provide a healthy holistic
the holistic wellbeing of our Indigenous Māori children, balance? How often do we consider what needs to happen in
families and communities and take a wider Indigenous view order to take care of what is beyond the physical appearance
to identify similarities in values and beliefs of Aboriginal and – beyond the skin of man? 
Torres Strait Islander children and families. From a Māori

B Workforce supports to prevent burnout - self-care

Presented by Tanja Hirvonen: A registered Clinical Psychologist, Tanja is a proud Aboriginal Australian woman
through her mother who was born in Alice Springs, Northern Territory and identifies as Jaru and Bunuba.

Date: Monday 6 December, Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm AEDT workshop will help you learn about how to keep well and
strong. You will also gain awareness of self-care, social and
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce is highly emotional wellbeing, chronic stress and how to mitigate
regarded, essential and in high demand. We are not only the impacts of stress. In this workshop, we will explore:
managing higher social and emotional wellbeing demands
within our day-to-day work, but also managing our wellbeing • what is self-care?
for ourselves, and supporting our families wellbeing. With these • social and emotional wellbeing and what that means for
increases we may be more vulnerable to stress and burnout. us as employees and employers
It is important to be aware of the signs and how we can look • stress, trauma and its individual and collective impacts
after ourselves in the work that we do. This pre-conference • strategies for maintaining good social and emotional
wellbeing.

Virtual Meditation Marie Dennie, a Birri Gubba woman from Ayr North Queensland,
and has connections to her South Sea Islander ancestors
Sessions with of Ambae Island. Marie has over 20 years experience in
Marie Dennis community services and is passionate about supporting people
through guidance, instilling courage and providing access to
Dates: Tuesday 7 December Time: 1.00pm – 1.15pm AEDT essential tools on their journeys toward self-empowerment,
Wednesday 8 December Time: 1.00pm – 1.15pm AEDT self-determination and holistic wellbeing.
Thursday 9 December Time: 10.45am – 11.00am AEDT

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 13

CONFERENCE SESSION
DESCRIPTION
Day
1 Tuesday 7 December

Opening Plenary
9.00am – 10.30am AEDT
CHAIR/FACILITATOR
Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO

Welcome to Country and Welcome Address

Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett
Hon DLitt SW AO, Chairperson, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children

Video Address
Hon Michelle Landry, Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Department of Social Services, Australian Government

Keynote Presentations
“Our way for our children – embedding community-control for change’’
Pat Turner, CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Coalition of Peaks Convenor and
Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap

Walking in Three Worlds

Andrea Mason OAM, Commissioner, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

Concurrent Sessions 1 – 5
11.00am – 12.30pm AEDT

Child Safety and Wellbeing

1 Leading systematic change in the over-representation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care

An examination of the NSW Government’s response to the Family is Culture review: listening hard or
hardly listening?
An examination of the government’s response relative to the blueprint provided by the Family is Culture review, and what
it suggests about their commitment to seize this opportunity. Focusing particularly on the review’s key recommendations
of self-determination and public accountability, we argue that the government’s response bears little resemblance to the
transformative structural change urged through the FIC recommendations, reflecting the ‘ritualism’ identified in the review.
We conceptualise the government’s response with respect to the legitimate exercise of state power and principles of the rule of
law, and argue that greater action is needed to address the growing over-representation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home
care in New South Wales.
Dr Paul Gray, UTS Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research (NSW)

14 9th SNAICC National Conference Program

 Day
1
Leading systemic change: working together to realise self-determination
This presentation will outline how Action Research has enabled a process of reflection and is supporting implementation of
Delegated Authority in a way that is not only capturing outcomes but providing all participants the opportunity to engage their
hearts and minds in this process. Participants will learn how Action Research can be a powerful tool in design, implementation
and enabling innovation within child protection system. It will appeal to policy-makers, evaluators, and practitioners who are
working to realise self-determination.
Candice Butler and Lisa Hillan, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) (QLD)

COVID-19 Impacts and Community Supports

2 Family and kinship support during a pandemic and client support for the National Redress Scheme
The impact of COVID-19 on families and their children
How the Mallee District Aboriginal Service (MDAS) early years team stayed determined and found new ways to present to
playgroups and support families to keep their Boories connected during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Malinda Loats, Mallee District Aboriginal Services (VIC)

Kinship carer online yarning circles: a response to supporting carers during a pandemic
The kinship care program provides support to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal carers of Aboriginal children. Throughout the
pandemic, kinship carers have had to adapt under increasing pressure and challenging circumstances. The presentation will
highlight how the sessions were run, their content, and the outcomes for children and carers.
Josh Doble, VACCA (VIC)

Redress: VACCA’s commitment to supporting clients on their journey to redress through Ngarra Jarra
Noun and becoming a participating institution of the National Redress Scheme
VACCA’s Ngarra Jarra Noun program was created to provide culturally safe support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people who have experienced institutional sexual abuse and has been advocating strongly for the rights of survivors.
This presentation will share the learnings, and aspirations for how to best support the rights of Aboriginal people who
have experienced institutional sexual abuse from the perspective of consumer advocate and from the perspective of the
organisation responsible for redress. Learnings range from managing vicarious trauma to designing a defence strategy and
how we acknowledge through our work the fundamental role truth telling plays in healing and self-determination.
Megan Van Den Berg, VACCA (VIC)

Genuine Partnerships

3 Co-design partnerships and cultural ways of working together

A Rights Based Approach to oversighting Queensland’s ATSICPP Implementation
The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) is conducting a rights-based analysis of the implementation of ATSICPP
in out-of-home care. Phase one data analysis demonstrates significantly disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children in the out-of-home care system, which suggests a system that is discriminatory in both design and
application. Analysis also indicates implementation, not ATSICPP, is the problem. The ATSICPP as a restatement of children’s
rights means effective implementation must be to the standard of active efforts. The analysis is part of QFCC’s oversight role
and focuses on upholding systemic accountability for the legislative commitment inherent in ATSICPP.
Marissa Balch, Queensland Family and Child Commission

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 15

 Day
1
Telling the stories less told: the Families are First Program
The Families are First (FaF) Program is a strengths-based initiative developed by the Queensland Family and Child Commission
(QFCC) to celebrate thriving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families using an appreciative inquiry methodology. The FaF
Program works collaboratively with children, young people, families, Elders, community members and organisations to collect
and share their stories, showcasing the strength and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child-rearing practices.
The FaF Program employs an innovative way to apply a child rights-based approach to working with children and young
people and uses diverse approaches to using storytelling to help children and young people stay connected to culture, family
and become future leaders.
Tenneil Murray and Josh White, Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) (QLD)

Early Years

4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood strategies

Thrive by Five advocating for reform of Australia’s early learning system
According to the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), one of five children is developmentally vulnerable when they
start school, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are more than twice as likely to be developmentally vulnerable
than non-Aboriginal children. While the evidence clearly demonstrates that investing in the early years is critical for setting
up lifelong learning, health and wellbeing, the current ‘system’ places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at even
greater disadvantage and roadblocks to Closing the Gap. We believe this reform is to be the most significant educational,
social and economic reform of our era.
Jay Weatherill, Minderoo Foundation (WA)

Development of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy
This presentation will focus on SNAICC’s work to develop a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood
Strategy in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). This partnership was formed alongside new
government commitments to establish formal partnerships and shared decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander representatives.
Catherine Liddle, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (VIC)

Being led by First Nations voices in policy and strategy design

The NSW Department of Education launched the First Steps Aboriginal Children’s Early Childhood Education Strategy,
a strategy co-designed by First Nations people and launched in June 2021. This presentation covers the approach the
department took in working with Aboriginal communities in New South Wales to develop a strategy that reflects the voices
of Aboriginal people. It will identify performance measures and how they will be accountable to Aboriginal people and
communities and outlines the first steps under this strategy. This presentation will be beneficial to people working in the
early childhood education space, First Nations people working in government, and those advocating to government and
organisations looking at approaches to co-design and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Nat Heath, NSW Department of Education (NSW)

Child Safety and Wellbeing

5 Supporting children’s rights and collaborative approaches in family supports

Practical strategies to support children’s rights in the care and protection system
This presentation shares Curijo’s experience in assisting organisations to build capacity within families and wider community
through culture. It highlights key strategies to connect children and young people to culture, their family, their local and
traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities, Elders and services which supports authentic interactions that
assists the development of a strong sense of identity and connection. It discusses legislation about child’s rights documents
and how these can be used to support caseworkers to embed child rights into practice and help support practice approaches
to culturally safe care and casework which is a fundamental human right.
Belinda Kendall and Tina McGhie, Curijo Pty Ltd (ACT)

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Development of animations to support the delivery of Parents Under Pressure Program with First Nations
Families in Central Australia: Content and Process
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress’ Family Support Service [FSS] were looking for a framework to use to work with highly
complex families and in 2016 we started working with Parents Under Pressure [PUP] to adapt the model to a Central Australian
context. In 2021, FSS had the opportunity to develop a new resource that could be culturally appropriate and convey complex
concepts of the PUP program. After much discussion it was decided that animations would be best suited for this purpose.
This presentation will screen two of the animations and discuss the collaborative process, with FSS, PUP, iTalk Studios and
Dr. Carmen Cubillo (AMSANT), that was used to achieve our goal.
Angela Hampton and Lisa Schwer, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (NT), Dr Paul Harnett, Griffith University (QLD)

Experiences of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Co-design Network. Nayi (look at) Ngurungal
(tomorrow) Network
Hear about new ways of partnering between government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to work
towards co-production of change to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Selina Walker, Dominique McKinnon, Deanne Both and Thomas Saunders, Community Services Directorate Nayi Ngurungal Network (ACT)

Concurrent Sessions 6 – 9
1.30pm – 3.00pm AEDT

Early Years

6 Best practice early years programs

Keeping Trak of Your Booris
The Narrangy-Booris BSF service is funded under the Close the Gap initiative and is aimed at improving the health outcomes
of children from birth to five years of age, aligning with the PHR blue book developmental checks.
Danielle Chytra, Seslhd Narrangy Booris (NSW)

Kalwun Early Learning Program

The Early Learning Program falls under the Indigenous Education sector within Kalwun Child and Family Support Service.
It is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency as part of the Children and Schooling Programme. It is a free,
stand-alone school readiness program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 3–5 years based on the Early
Years Learning Framework. The project aims to build strong children, empower them culturally, provide equal educational
opportunities towards school readiness, and build self-confidence.
Kirby Taylor-Ferris, Cindy Brooks and Dana Chilcott, Kalwun Child and Family Support Service (QLD)

Embedding Aboriginal perspective into program and practice within early education
This presentation will provide a guide to support the early years in creating a culturally safe and inclusive environment,
programs, practices and relationships within their services. It will show the link to the Early Years Framework and reflection
cycle to demonstrate these connections within.
Bella Bird, Awabakal Ltd (NSW)

Child Safety and Wellbeing

7 Family supports and embedding culture through practice

Outcomes approach for working with Aboriginal children and families in Victoria
This interactive study will focus on describing the three outcome domains of heal, connect and protect, along with examples
of what tools and resources have been developed in order to support staff to embed outcomes focus within their individual
practice. It will articulate how those tools and resources look like in practice in order to support our families along their journey.
Chie Bourke, Gabrielle Johnson and Lara Merritt, VACCA (VIC)

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Animations to support the Koorie FACES parenting group
The Koorie FACES program has recently been redeveloped by VACCA. The program provides a cultural space for healing,
and for parents, caregivers and families to come together to share stories, learnings and Aboriginal ways of growing up our
young fullas using strengthbased approaches and to recognise the impact that history has had on Aboriginal families.
Trevor Pearce, VACCA (VIC)

CARE Cards embedding culture through reflective practice

Finding pathways to enhance staff and carers capacity to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is well
recognised as fundamental to building connections to culture. This presentation showcases the co-design in 2020 of 50
double-sided CARE cards, a practice resource to spark conversations and skills development with staff and carers. The cards
are centred around the six principles of the Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) practice framework that has been
implemented at Life Without Barriers. Participants will be given the opportunity to engage with the reflective practice CARE
cards and hear first-hand how the cards are being used including learnings from the implementation of this important work.
Veronica Marin, Pamela Thorley, Damien Mick and Leoni Lippitt, Life Without Barriers (QLD)

Genuine Partnerships

8 Children healing through culture and NDIS early interventions

An online healing resource assisting those working with children to collaborate across sectors
This presentation will highlight the collaboration between the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet and The Healing Foundation
in the development of a Healing Portal for those working to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to heal from
ongoing trauma in relation to past policies in Australia. The presentation will provide an overview of the project and how the
portal is designed to support this workforce ensuring they are kept up-to-date with relevant information and community-
based healing initiatives across Australia. This session will provide the audience with ways to stay informed with news and
events in the healing workforce sector.
Michelle Elwell, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (WA)

Tjitjiku Inma (Children’s Songs): strengthening connection with children, the Anangu Way
Tjitjiku Inma (Children’s Songs) is a collaborative children’s songs project between Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara
Women’s Council’s (NPYWC) Walytjapiti team and the senior Anangu women from the organisation’s Uti Kulintjaku group.
Walytjapiti meaning ‘extended or full family, group or gathering of relations’ engages families through an integrated lens that
synergises trauma-informed practice with principles of cultural safety and respect. This project focuses on preserving and
teaching Aboriginal first languages, while integrating Western trauma theory with Anangu cultural knowledge, to achieve
the best outcomes for children across the NPY region. The Walytjapiti team endeavours to promote healing and connection
within its work by recognising and highlighting the strength of Anangu culture in this space.
Kiri Davies and Sandra Smith, NPY Women’s Council (NT)

Partnering to deliver the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention approach in South East Queensland
In this presentation, participants will hear from Sarah DeLemos and Tarsha Jones to gain an understanding of how the
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and the Benevolent Society worked to create a collaborative and successful
partnership to continue redress the lack of awareness and equitable access to NDIS ECEI supports by Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander families in South East Queensland. We have learnt along the way that working together in this partnership
overcomes barriers that we may face as an individual organisations to improve outcomes for our community. We would like
to share these learnings and how to foster a successful partnership. Participants will hear the framework these organisations
followed to foster a successful partnership and how they overcame any challenges and barriers along the way. Sarah and
Tarsha will also share some of the great outcomes they have achieved in working together and take the group on a journey
with one family through this partnership pathway.
Tarsha Jones, The Benevolent Society, and Sarah De Lemos, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) (QLD)

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Genuine Partnerships

9 Culturally informed trauma workshop

Healing and connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers: Better Chances Forum,
Strengthening Days
Strengthening Days provide a facilitated space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in the New South Wales
Northern Rivers to connect regularly for healing, create a community of care and practice and building a collective message
for the wider human services sector about how we can work together. They create a cultural space for learning and sharing
about healing tools and practices for workers and the families they support. Workshop participants will experience the
strong culturally grounded facilitation that has been a cornerstone of this project.
Antonia Burke, We Al-Li, Kirby Barker, Evans Head Woodburn Pre School, Lara Lei, Murwillumbah Community Centre, and
Ian O’Reilly, Social Futures (NSW)

Concurrent Sessions 10 – 14
3.30pm – 5.00pm AEDT

Early Years

10 Inclusive best practice supports and programs in early years

Children’s right to participate in Aboriginal language and cultural activities
In this talk we present the Gamilaraay language and culture programs at the Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre
in Gunnedah, Northern Territory. Gamilaraay is no longer used in everyday communication, but it has important symbolic
value and there is strong support for the language to be reawakened. However, there are few materials available and a lack
confidence in using the language. We will demonstrate the framework we use to ensure participation of children, educators,
parents, and community members in creating and embedding language and cultural materials in Winanga-Li’s work.
Hilary Smith and Leanne Pryor, Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre (NSW)

Empowering communities through integrated health and early childhood education

This presentation targets health and integrated early childhood and family support services. Learn about IUIH’s approach to
integrating health and education systems in a culturally relevant way to optimise success. The Deadly Kindies campaign and
school readiness initiatives incorporate community involvement; connections with families through playgroups, connecting to
early childhood education services, and speech and occupational therapists in kindies, both community-controlled and non-
Indigenous (noting the community-controlled kindies have more than 90% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments).
Milissa (Milly) Phillips, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (QLD)

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Genuine Partnerships

11 Journey to partnerships and the role of kinship

Nitja Nop Yorga Ngulla Mia: coming together to make a good partnership great
In 2019 Yorganop embarked on its first ever partnership in their 30-year history. Yorganop joined Anglicare WA to work
together in genuine partnership on Nitja Nop Yorga Ngulla Mia (Our boys and girls staying home), which is creating an
understanding of how the Home Stretch offer of support should work for Aboriginal young people as they age-out of the state
care system. This workshop will take the audience on an interactive journey through the lessons we have learned and the
tools we used during our co-design process. We will challenge the audience to define what a genuine partnership looks like.
Virginia Dingo, Yorganop Association Incorporated (WA); Russell Thom, (Anglicare WA).

The journey of the partnership between two Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and a
non-Indigenous organisation, five years later
In 2017 we presented to the SNAICC Conference on the partnership named Yadeni Tago, an integrated service formed to deliver
the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Family and Child Connect services in Brisbane. Yadeni Tago is an early intervention and
prevention service providing community-based intake, assessment, and referral with the purpose of diverting families away
from the child protection system. It is about connecting families to the right services at the right time. The journey continues
providing us with many valuable learnings and so this presentation is an update on the status of the partnership and our
future direction.
Julie Nelson, Martin Greller, Glenda Jones-Terare and Kevin Maund, Mercy Community and Kurbingui Youth and Family Development (QLD)

The work of kinship: what grandmothers in Aboriginal families do to address child removals
The removal of Aboriginal children from their families and communities must stop. Hearing grandmothers Mrs Cephia Williams
and Dr Toni McPherson tell their story encourages creative conversations about alternatives to removals. Their story is critical
to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system. Participants will learn strategies
that Aboriginal families operationalise to prevent children being removed, when recovering children from the system and the
work of kinship that keeps children connected to their families when they are in out-of-home-care. This presentation explores
the Indigenist methodology that Cephia and Toni apply to child protection governance, practice and their research, because
protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.
Toni McPherson and Cephia Williams, University of Newcastle (NSW)

Child Safety and Wellbeing

12 Working with and for our families

Queensland Family Participation Program: working with and for our families
The Family Participation Program commenced at the same time as the Queensland Child Protection Reform Amendment
Act 2017 was proclaimed. It supports the primary principle that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right
to self-determination, and the implementation the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP).
In this session, you will gain insight into our shift in service delivery for our families – gaining understanding of changes and
barriers. Acknowledgement that families are best placed to make decisions about the cultural needs of their children and
empowers both children and families’ voices in child protection decisions.
Kym Green and Helen Allport, Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (QLD)

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Genuine Partnerships

13 Aboriginal-led commissioning for better child and family outcomes

Innovation in action: a new Aboriginal guardianship support model
AbSec is presenting details of our Aboriginal-led, ground-up, co-design approach and partnership arrangements used to
develop a new support model. Not an easy feat to inaugurate, however AbSec’s Aboriginal Commissioning is now developing
tailored investment opportunities to support better outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and their families.
We will discuss how the service model was created with guardians, carers, communities, NSW Government partners and
Aboriginal service practitioners to support Aboriginal children and young people on guardianship orders. This project has
grown from conversations with guardians and carers who shared their valuable insights and advice on what they want to see,
so their children thrive. The model is being delivered by ACCOs.
John Leha, AbSec NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation; Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Treasury,
Guardian Community (NSW)

Empowering Aboriginal organisations to deliver services to Aboriginal people and communities

The Department of Territory, Families and Communities in the Northern Territory is committed to empowering Aboriginal
people, communities and organisations to deliver services and support to Aboriginal children and families. Over the past
three years the department has delivered three landmark projects – Child and Family Centres, Aboriginal Carer Services
and Family Support Reform. Each has resulted in millions of dollars of previously in-sourced and early intervention service
delivery and support funding moving from primarily non-Aboriginal services to the Aboriginal community controlled sector.
This presentation provides background on this journey, the lessons learnt and future plans to further adopt this approach.
Brendan Boyce and Christine Fejo King, Director, Child and Family Centres, Department of Territory, Families and Communities (NT)

Child Safety and Wellbeing

14 Supports for our young people in care

A Neurodevelopmental Support Service for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Out of Home Care
Early identification can reduce the cognitive and emotional handicap often experienced by young people in Out of Home
Care (OOHC), however, a clear neurodevelopmental profile is yet to be determined. Our neuropsychological assessment data
from Aboriginal children and young people in OOHC indicates challenges in several key cognitive domains. Cognitive deficits
amplify across development, peaking by early adolescents suggesting the impact of adversity in early life on cognitive
development is long term and accumulative. To reduce the impact of these challenges on long term functional outcomes
Abcare have developed a neurodevelopmental support program with an embedded research. This clinical approach and our
initial findings will be discussed.
Emily Hindman and Greg Bennett, Abcare (NSW)

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Plenary
9.15am – 10.30pm AEDT
CHAIR/FACILITATOR
Professor Larissa Behrendt AO

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy

Launch of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy, National Indigenous Australians Agency
(NIAA)
PANELLISTS:
Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
Joanne Della Bona, CEO, Coolabaroo (WA)
Ursula Carolyn, Families and Safety Branch, NIAA

Concurrent Sessions 15 – 18
11.00am – 12.30pm AEDT

Early Years

15 Early years and transition to school supports

Woorabinda Playgroup: strong families, strong community
A focus on the partnership between Playgroup Queensland and Woorabinda State School in Central Queensland to deliver
the Woorabinda Playgroup. Practitioners who work in early childhood services and education, and family support services,
will hear how collaborating on programs can strengthen program delivery to better meet the needs of families.
Andrew McMahon and Jada Weazel, Playgroup Queensland (QLD)

Evaluation of the Babaneek Booboop Early Years Project in the City of Melton and Moorabool Shire
Babaneek Booboop (meaning ‘mother and child’ in the Woiwurrung language) project promotes the health and developmental
outcomes of Aboriginal children residing in the City of Melton and Moorabool Shire. The project is supported by a consortium of
nine service agencies, including Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, child health, family services, local government,
and early childhood services, with Djerriwarrh Health Services as the lead agency.
Charry Owens, Cheryl Cooper and Annie Sowter, Djerriwarrh Health Services (VIC)

Cradle to Kinder case study

The Cradle to Kinder program will share with you a case study of a young mum’s experience. The program gives young
mums and dads and their Boorai’s (babies) a great start on their journey from pregnancy to preschool. The program
supports young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are pregnant and experiencing stressful life experiences
like financial pressure, social isolation, and limited support while being pregnant.
Tania McEwan, VACCA (VIC)

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Child Safety and Wellbeing

16 Young people’s journeys and decolonising our youth justice systems

Speaking Out Survey WA: the views of Aboriginal children and young people on their wellbeing
Almost 1,000 Aboriginal young people took part in Western Australia’s inaugural Speaking Out Survey, sharing their views
on health, mental health, safety and connection to community. The WA Commissioner for Children and Young People Natalie
Hall will explore a key finding from the survey that while Aboriginal students fared less well than non-Aboriginal students in
terms of material needs, family stability and expectations for further education, they reported high self-esteem and sense of
belonging. These views are important for all sectors working to improve wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.
Marketa Reeves, Commissioner for Children and Young People (WA)

Journeys in care and beyond: reflections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people after
leaving out-of-home care
CREATE’s role is to promote the voices of young people with an out-of-home care experience in advocating for systemic
improvement. Comprising 40% of the care population, and often impacted by intergenerational cultural trauma, First Nations
young people are disadvantageously over-represented. Providing connections to culture and community, and assistance with
their emerging adulthood is therefore paramount. In CREATE’s recent national Post-Care study, 80% of First Nations participants
revealed they had not accessed available cultural services when transitioning. They also felt particularly disadvantaged in the
areas of education, placement stability, and youth justice, indicating that more engagement with cultural supports is needed.
Elise Hilder, CREATE Foundation (QLD)

Hope-centred justice and the power of healing

This presentation will explore decolonising youth justice systems through our partnerships with government, Aboriginal
organisations, workers, and communities across the country. Post-Royal Commission 2017, we have worked towards radical
shifts in the treatment of children and young people at risk. We will continue to require an increased space in these systems for
cultural consultation and connection to culture as a mechanism for healing. Collaborating with the care and protection systems
to better hold space for children and families who have experiences of collective and cultural trauma is a part of this work.
We believe two-way knowledge sharing with cultural knowledge-holders will create culturally sustainable political ecosystems.
Rebecca Cort, Australian Childhood Foundation (SA)

Genuine Partnerships

17 Education reconciliation
Know your country
To build a mature and inclusive Australia, free from racism, it’s critical we’re all educated on First Nations culture, history, and
perspectives. The education system is one of the strongest vehicles to achieve this through employing First Nations cultural
residents across all Australian primary schools. We call on the government to evolve the education system for a shared
history and shared future.
Scott Winch, World Vision (NSW)

Building genuine relationships: moving from safe to brave in our nation’s reconciliation-in-education story
Drawing on findings and recommendations from the Narragunnawali evaluation and wider Reconciliation Australia research,
as well as first-hand experiences and reflections of panel members, this presentation will unpack the challenges of building
genuine relationships in the reconciliation-in-education context. Targeting both on-the-ground teachers, educators and
community members, as well as high level policy-makers, it will share positive success stories for how moving from ‘safe’ to
‘brave’ can catalyse genuine relationships within and beyond education settings.
Alanna Raymond and Stephanie Woerde, Reconciliation Australia (ACT)

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First Culture First: the foundation and future for our kids
Children’s Ground Elders and first cultural educators are leading the delivery of First Nations-led education. Putting First Nations
culture and language first, kids are entering the world validated in their culture, learning with their families and engaging with
the oldest early childhood and learning systems in the world. This paper will present the Arrernte Early Years Curriculum and
how privileging culture and language creates the foundation for learning, creativity, identity and maintaining our cultures. While
the Northern Territory has seen a decline in early childhood engagement, at Children’s Ground kids are energetic and excited
about learning. This paper will present practice, the voice of kids and families, the holistic approach to learning and how kids
are learning about global and Western skills through their cultural lens. It will also discuss Utyerre Apanpe, the National First
Nations Educators network and their national reform work to establish a First Nations-led education system across Australia.
Felicity Hayes, Tyson Carmody, Edmond Doolan and Mel Kean, Children’s Ground, Central Australia (NT)

Rights of Children and Young People

18 Cultural connections for our children and young people

Fostering lifelong cultural connections for Aboriginal children in permanent care: learning from good practice
Strong connections to family, culture, community and Country are foundational to the lifelong wellbeing of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children. Fostering Lifelong Connections is an action research study that explores how caseworkers
can support children in care to have positive relationships with their families and culture. A collaboration with six Aboriginal
caseworkers in Dubbo is documenting and sharing promising practices. Video resources will be presented that highlight the
importance of connections to family and culture for Aboriginal children in care.
Lynette Riley, Trudy Everingham, Stephen Newman, Sarah Ciftci and Amy Conley Wright, University of Sydney (NSW)

Young Mob: a model for strengthening cultural connection as a protective factor for children
Evidence from both the international and Australian literature confirms that the wellbeing of First Nations people is enhanced
when they maintain a strong affinity with their culture. A recent addition to this body of evidence is a three-year, independent
evaluation of World Vision Australia’s Young Mob program. The evaluation found that participants in Young Mob reported
improved cultural knowledge, greater feeling of connectedness and stronger self-identity. This makes the Young Mob program
particularly well-suited to strengthen the cultural connection as a protective factor for the wellbeing and resilience of children in
school, out-ofhome care and youth justice settings.
Sophia Romano, Carley Bates and Mark Thorne, Young Mob Facilitators

Concurrent Sessions 19 – 22
1.30pm – 3.00pm AEDT

Genuine Partnerships

19 Self-determination models in child safety matters

Genuine partnerships in a regulatory environment: Office of the Children’s Guardian, New South Wales
The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) in an independent statutory authority that works to protect children and young
people by promoting and regulating quality, child safe organisations and services within NSW. The OCG has commenced
a significant amount of work to improve both internal practices and external services as part of a process to continuously
incorporate a First Nations lens to a historically and predominately Eurocentric organisation. This ongoing work will be
shared by two First Nations staff members, who will highlight the strides the OCG is making through prioritising and
maintaining genuine partnerships with community that ensures improved outcomes are a reality for our First Nations
children and young people.
Amy Kennedy, Vanessa Myers and Nick Wilkinson, Office of The Children’s Guardian (NSW)

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Aboriginal Family Care Panels across South Australia
A self-determination model for Aboriginal community-controlled services sector involvement in genuine Aboriginal family
leadership and participation in planning and decision-making in local-level Aboriginal child safety matters. This model involves
the establishment of community-based Aboriginal family care coordinator roles to work through local-level Aboriginal Family
Care Panels to forge links and ensure Aboriginal family intelligence into planning and decision-making on the safety and
wellbeing of their children and young people.
April Lawrie, SA Office of The Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People (SA)

Rights of Children and Young People

20 Cultural safety and wellbeing of our children

Upholding cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in organisations and the rights
of all children to speak up and make complaints
The National Office, SNAICC and CCYP will discuss how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge led the development
of these resources to embed children’s right to cultural safety, and to encourage self-determination in creating safe and
supportive environments. This presentation will outline how children participated in the development and adaption of
resources and will be of interest to all organisations, particularly those led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and/or
providing services to these communities.
Adele Cox, SNAICC - National Voice for our Children (VIC), SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (VIC), Rebekah Kilpatrick,
National Office for Child Safety, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (ACT), and Natalie Hall, Commissioner for Children and
Young People Western Australia (WA)

Early Years

21 Trauma-integrated care for First Nations parents and intensive family supports
Healing the past by nurturing the future. Safety first: understanding the core elements of trauma-integrated
care for First Nations parents
In this workshop, we will provide an overview of a model for traumaintegrated care, based on three years of community
co-design. Participants will then join one of the following facilitated sessions exploring a core element of trauma-integrated
care, before rejoining the main group for reflection and a grounding exercise:
• principles of trauma-integrated care
• effective ways for talking with parents experiencing trauma, including Dadirri, yarning and storytelling
• learning to be a ‘wise person’ – a mentoring model
• what types of support do parents want and need?
Catherine Chamberlain, Caroline Atkinson, Gina Bundle, Alison Elliott, Madelyne Hudson- Buhagiar, Tanja Hirvoven, Danielle Dyall and
Anni Hine Moana, La Trobe University (VIC)

Child Safety and Wellbeing

22 Caring for our carers and impact of COVID-19 in out-of-home care

Caring for our carers
The Australian Childhood Foundation has provided specialist therapeutic supports and counselling to Aboriginal foster
and family carers through the Woon-yah Ngulloch Gurlonggass (Caring for Our Children) Program in Perth, the Our
Spirit Program in the West Kimberley, and the Our Space Program for Foster and Family Carers who have been impacted
by COVID-19 restrictions and feel they are not being supported appropriately. This presentation will explore the use of
trauma-informed approaches embedded within a cultural framework of yarning, listening, and learning to hear the stories
of Aboriginal foster and family carers who care for their grandchildren and/or other family members, and to highlight the
positive outcomes this way of working has had for themselves and the children they care for, and their families.
Glenda Kickett and Shaun Chandran, Australian Childhood Foundation

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The impact of COVID-19 on Aboriginal kinship carers in New South Wales
To understand how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship carers coped during the COVID-19 pandemic, an Aboriginal
researcher conducted interviews with nine Aboriginal community organisations and themes were developed. Aboriginal
communities shared resources so everyone had enough, and when mainstream services closed their doors, community
organisations used their networks to support those in most need. A surprise benefit for elders was that families ignored
health recommendations to stay away and that caring for children reduced a risk of social isolation. However, the pandemic
did expose the digital divide. Carers were expected to assist children with school from home, but many lacked reliable
internet, technology and skills. Older carers could not access telehealth and found it hard to maintain communication
between children, parents and out-of-home care agencies.
Irene Wardle and Susan Collings, University of Sydney (NSW)

The impact of COVID 19 on cultural connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and
young people placed in out-of-home care
Focusing on MacKillop Family Services’ experience as a provider of out-of home, the presentation will explore the challenges
to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural connection and strategies adopted to respond to the COVID-19
pandemic and associated restrictions. During periods of lockdown physical contact with family was severely limited and
activities such as cultural camps and return to country were cancelled or postponed. This further isolated children placed
in out-of-home care who are at greater risk of experiencing disconnection from family and culture. The presentation will
provide insight into how the challenges presented by the pandemic were experienced and negotiated.
Esmai Manahan and Robyn Miller, Mackillop Family Services (VIC)

Concurrent Sessions 23 – 26
3.30pm – 5.00pm AEDT

Child Safety and Wellbeing

23 Aboriginal permanency perspectives and wellbeing outcomes for children

That sense of belonging... that comes from within. Like “I belong in Nan’s house” or “I belong in
Auntie’s house”: understanding permanency from Aboriginal community member perspectives
Against strong opposition by Aboriginal community groups, legislative reforms implemented in the New South Wales care
jurisdiction have prioritised permanency planning approaches. The reforms assume that expediting placement decision-
making and attaining legal permanence lead to children achieving attachment and bonding, permanence and stability.
These concepts, so crucial to care decision-making, are assumed to mean the same thing to all people; but do they really?
Participants in this PhD research spoke from Aboriginal community members perspectives about what permanence, best
interests and related concepts meant to them. Wendy shares their viewpoints and discusses how such evidence could be of
use in care proceedings.
Wendy Hermeston, UTS Faculty of Law (NSW)

Working together to improve wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
The Healing Foundation and Emerging Minds have partnered to develop resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
service providers working with children and families. Developed through a co-design process with Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander knowledge experts, this work acknowledges ancestral trauma and its ongoing impact on the attachment and
connection of subsequent generations.
Jo Thitchener, The Healing Foundation (ACT) and Rosie Schellen, Emerging Minds (SA)

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Rights of Children and Young People

24 Education rights
Guwanu Indigenous pedagogy
Let us take a journey together, back 50,000 years, to the beginning the dreaming. Explore the pedagogy of the oldest
civilisation on the planet, the knowledge and wisdom that led to the most successful education system ever created.
Moving through time and space experience the evolution, innovation and continuity of the Minunburra (knowledge transfer)
through 10,000 generations. As we move forward towards the future understanding the misery of 240 years of war,
genocide, corruption and assimilation. Approaching the future how do we use the wisdom of the oldest education system
on the planet to deliver innovative pathways towards universal education?
Lesley Lowe, Guwanu Case Uniting Care (QLD)

Children’s voices and the Australian Curriculum: have our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
had their say?
This presentation shares information and data extracted from 12 articles which explore the research question. References to
children’s voices in relation to curriculum in the literature is under-sought, yet there are numerous ways to obtain the voices
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples. The research shows that they have wisdom and insight to offer the
listener. The presentation will be complimented by the inclusion of local student voices, intended to inspire others to seek
and respond to children’s voices in education.
Kellie Moore, Education Queensland (QLD)

Going online: closing the digital divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in the age of
COVID-19
COVID-19 has accelerated the digital revolution across many sectors, including education, which makes it more important
than ever to urgently close the digital divide. There’s an opportunity for governments and the private sector to work together
with First Nations communities to ensure coverage, affordability and access. If the digital divide isn’t closed, already large
inequalities in educational outcomes will be amplified. This session is relevant to educators, governments and NGOs which
are interested in understanding the magnitude of the issue, what needs to be done to address the gap, and how we can
mobilise to lobby the sectors to actively resolve the digital divide.
Scott Winch, World Vision (VIC)

Early Years

25 Investing in early years

Community-controlled backbone support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years
services in New South Wales
Since 2019 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled early years services in New South Wales have been
working together with the support of SNAICC and Social Ventures Australia to establish a regionally focused early years
backbone support service to address service, operational and systematic challenges facing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander early years sector. The model is being piloted in New South Wales, with an initial offering of support for 17 Aboriginal
early years services in the state. This workshop will discuss the journey to date in establishing the intermediary support THRYVE
NSW, as well as opportunities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years sector in New South Wales and nationwide.
Joanne Goulding, THRYVE NSW, SNAICC - National Voice for out Children (VIC)

Maari Ma Early Years Project: investing in the early years pays dividends for this generation and the next
A team from the Maari Ma Early Years Project (EYP), which is integrated into the health service, will showcase the evolution
of this project including case studies highlighting how its programs have become a major contributor in strengthening
trajectories of development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. An evidence-based approach to program
development and delivery underpins the EYP. The team will detail the strategies and resources used and the unified
approach to service delivery. The positive findings from an external evaluation on the EYP will be presented including data
collected over a decade since the project commenced, with an active Q&A session anticipated.
Michelle Parker, Briony Callaghan, Leeann Adams and Valerie Bugmy, Maari Ma Aboriginal Health (NSW)

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Genuine Partnerships

26 Cultural safety and supports in our courts, child placement and health services
Having an impact. Marram-Ngala Ganbu: a culturally safe approach for the family division of the
Children’s Court in Victoria
Marram-Ngala Ganbu (meaning ‘We are one’ in local Woiwurrung language) is an innovative response to the overrepresentation
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in the child protection system in Victoria. The presentation will
outline the evaluation findings, including commentary from Aboriginal families who have participated in M-NG, address
recommendations for strengthening the program and discuss strategies for program expansion.
Ashley Morris, Children’s Court of Victoria (VIC)

Exploring cultural practices in Family Group Conferencing in New South Wales

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle emphasises that children removed from parents should be
placed with kin, in recognition of Aboriginal kinship practices. Family Group Conferencing (FGC) is used to involve families in
decisions about their children where there are established child safety risks. This session explores FGC from the perspective
of Aboriginal stakeholders, and shines a light on the current practices of cultural frameworks and the resilience and strengths
of kinship networks.
Irene Wardle, Susan Collings and Lynette Riley, The University of Sydney (NSW)

Aboriginal children’s right to culturally safe specialist healthcare

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori children have the right to the same standards of health and wellbeing as all other
children in Australia and Aotearoa NZ. Dr Danny de Lore, Māori paediatrician, led the RACP working group that worked closely with
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori people to develop a statement that provides tools and actions for health professionals
to ensure more equitable health outcomes for Indigenous children in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Alongside other
strategies, critically the report outlines the actions paediatricians and health professionals can take to address systemic issues.
Niroshini Kennedy, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (NSW)

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3 Thursday 9 December

Plenary
9.15am – 10.30pm AEDT
CHAIR/FACILITATOR
Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO

Keynote Presentations
Stronger together, the power of the collective in driving policy and practice reform
Garth Morgan, CEO, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP)

New Zealand Government initiatives – Advancing success for Māori children

Arapera Card, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand

Concurrent Sessions 27 – 30
11.00am – 12.30pm AEDT

Early Years

27 Integrated approaches in early years

Connecting early learning centre educators to Country and community using Indigenous languages
This multi-media presentation demonstrates the engagement of early learning centre educators with Traditional Owners
on-Country and in community. It highlights the importance of understanding Indigenous languages in this context and how
this contributes to the engagement process. There will be opportunity for the participants to ask questions and discuss these
engagement practices at the end of the presentation.
Francis Bobongie-Harris and Grace O’Brien, Queensland University of Technology (QLD)

Learn Miriwoong!
At Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring (MDWg) Language and Culture Centre, the innovative Learn Miriwoong language app
has fast become an effective tool in supporting and enriching the language learning for children through the Miriwoong
Language Nest program. This session will encourage you to consider the use of digital technology in the classroom and how,
as a resource, it can provide important affordances for language learning for children.
Sophie Hogarth and Rozanne Bilminga, Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre (WA)

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander whole child

Social and emotional wellbeing is a term used to define the holistic view of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. This
short video was produced with the voices of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a visual representation
to describe what makes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children happy, healthy, and thriving. ‘The whole Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander child’ seeks to transform the dominant story of intergenerational trauma into a positive story of
connection, strengths, resilience, and cultural identity that is in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.
Rosie Schellen, Emerging Minds (SA)

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Genuine Partnerships

28 Building capacity through genuine partnerships

Building capacity through genuine partnerships
Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) should lead the design and delivery of services shaped by and that
meet the aspirations of community. This interactive presentation will showcase the partnership between the Yugul Mangi
Development Aboriginal Corporation (Ngukurr), and the Partnership Support Service (PSS) a new social enterprise founded
in Anglicare NT to support self-determination and the organisation’s commitment to listening, learning and walking together
with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The work of the PSS is shaped by community and recognises existing local
strengths, drawing on local expertise and experiences to support two-way learning.
Leonie Patterson and Toni Woods, Anglicare NT, and Julie-Ann Bassinder, Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation (NT)

Genuine Partnerships – Autism Spectrum Australia and The I Am, Movement

Shared Book Reading, Our Way is a free resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. It was
developed in 2020, through a collaboration between The I Am, Movement and Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).
Tanika Davis and Marlee Hudson, The I Am, Movement

Learning from a health justice partnership

The presentation will showcase the innovative Legal Health Mob HJP model. It will outline the benefits of applying this
collaborate approach to supporting clients to address both immediate health and justice needs while demonstrating its broader
contribution to improving health and justice outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The
presentation will also showcase data collected through the partnership and consider the advantages of this more integrated
approach to service delivery. Using different case studies, the presenters will deliver an interactive session that demonstrates
the intersecting health and legal issues that our clients face and the benefits of applying this model of practice to address those.
Tracey Castine and Emma Cook, Danila Dilba Health Service and NT Legal Aid Commission (NT)

Child Safety & Wellbeing

29 Equitable care and decision making for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Racial bias in child protection decision making: evidence from studies using government data to create
‘predictive risk models’ in the US and NZ
Gain an understanding of how your data can be accessed – from multiple sources, such as Medicare, hospital records, birth
records, school enrollments, criminal records, criminal justice and child protection involvement – to produce machine automated
risk scores in child protection. Up-to-date information will be provided about the current state of machine learning in Australia,
particularly concerning the development of ‘predictive risk models’ to calculate the likelihood of future child abuse or neglect.
This presentation will provide an understanding about how predictive risk modelling has been used in child protection
contexts internationally, in both the United States and New Zealand, and will highlight how racial bias is reproduced by
machine learning algorithms in child protection decision-making.
Jacynta Krakouer and Dr Wei Wu Tan, Monash University (VIC)

Enhancing equitable developmental services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children:
ensuring access to culturally appropriate developmental measures
In this presentation, we present research that led to the development of the ASQ-TRAK, the first and only culturally appropriate
developmental screening tool for Aboriginal children. We describe a study to develop and validate a second culturally
appropriate measure that is derived from the ASQ-TRAK– the ASQ-STEPS. This developmental outcome measure will be
the first culturally appropriate instrument for collecting evidence to evaluate early childhood programs, interventions and
initiatives. Guided by our Indigenous Reference Group, this project will strengthen our understanding of what works for
improving developmental outcomes.
Isabel Brookes, Anita D’Aprano, Charmaine Hull, Leah Lindrea-Morrison, Marjorie Naylon, Alison Wunungmurra, The University of
Melbourne (VIC)

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Genuine Partnerships

30 Self-determination in action: Northern Territory communities leading the way

Utnenge, Tyerrtye, Mwerre Atnyenetyeke Iltye Tyerrtye Urrperle-kenhenge: health in the hands of the people
The Children’s Ground Approach (CGA) is built on five systemic reform areas, encompassing learning, health, community
development, economic development and culture and creative arts all surrounded by wellbeing. The integrated nature of the
CGA enabled a quick response to the threat of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory and the leadership displayed
by the team and First Nations people in responding to the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated the ability of local communities
to assess, strategise, implement and succeed against the greatest challenges of our time. This work resulted in 13,000
household items and 249 food parcels being delivered to 160 households by a mostly First Nations workforce in collaboration
with a number of other organisations. Staff continued working and leading the early years learning and wellbeing journey of
their little ones, whether it was at home or at their homelands. Learning packs were developed and delivered, and resourcing
and documentation needs managed through equipment and media drop offs and, in some cases, small group sessions
supported by a Western-trained educator where permission was granted by families.
Tyson Carmody, Felicity Hayes, Edmond Doolan, Children’s Ground, Central Australia (NT)

Ampe-kenhe Ahelhe: Anwernenhe iwerre anthaye: Us leading the way

A presentation on balancing cultural and corporate governance. Us leading the way is about what can be achieved when First
Nations rights and culture are respected, and leadership and decision-making are put in the hands of First Nations people.
Mel Kean and Felicity Hayes, Children’s Ground, Central Australia (NT)

Anwerne Ingkerrekele Mpwareke: By Us, For Us (respecting, preserving, and teaching Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander languages)
This paper will look at our resource development work and in particular our small book making enterprise. It will include
videos, hard copies for examining and some language activity work to engage the audience. We will look at the apps and
learning games that have been developed and share what we have learned through this work. We will discuss the complexity
and challenges of writing stories in First language, even when that language is still used daily.
Mel Kean and Felicity Hayes, Children’s Ground, Central Australia (NT)

Family Matters 2021 Report Launch

1.00am – 1.45pm AEDT

Join us to launch the sixth annual Family Matters report. The Family Matters Report 2021 documents the national crisis of
continuing and growing removals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and investigates the
complex reasons underpinning these removals. As the new National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children and
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy commence, the report also highlights the solutions
that will meet the Family Matters campaign’s purpose of ending the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children in child protection by 2040.

Closing Plenary
2.00pm – 3.30pm AEDT
CHAIR/FACILITATOR
Larissa Behrendt

Towards 2031: Designing a national plan for protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
PANELLISTS:
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLitt SW AO, Chairperson, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
Natalie Lewis, Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission
June Oscar AO, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner
Dr Paul Gray, Co-Chair, Family Matters and Associate Professor, Jumbanna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research (UTS)
Liz Hefren-Webb, Deputy Secretary, Federal Department of Social Services

Closing Address
Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children

9th SNAICC National Conference Program 31

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