Birthing a new culture of healing and care in child protection and safety
Attendees
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Streams

Supporting Children with Disability, Neurodivergence and Different Needs in Child Protection

Child Voice, Lived Experience and Shared Decision-Making

Cultural Authority, Self-Determination and Equity in Child Protection

Cross-Sector Integration and Wrap-Around Supports

Event overview

Australia’s 9th National Child Protection Forum returns in 2026 with a renewed focus on prevention, early support and systems change in response to increasing complexity across child protection systems and growing demand on services. 

The National Child Protection Forum is where government, community services, legal, research and frontline leaders come together to explore practical strategies for strengthening child safety, supporting families and improving outcomes for vulnerable children. 

This is more than just a policy event – it’s a forum for advancing child protection practice and system reform. From early intervention and cross-sector collaboration to culturally safe responses and community-led solutions, this is your opportunity to benchmark against sector leaders, gain practical insights, and build partnerships that drive meaningful change. 

Attend this Summit and learn how to:

Strengthen placement stability by supporting foster carers, kinship carers and the child protection workforce

Reduce entries into care by supporting families earlier and addressing housing, poverty and other basic needs

Advance equity and reduce over-representation through self-determination and culturally led practice

Prevent harm earlier by strengthening safeguarding across community settings and digital environments

Support children and families through integrated, wrap-around services across disability, housing, mental health, education and justice

Advisory Board

Thomas Allisop
Tom Allsop
Chief Executive Officer
Peak Care
Alma-Jane O’Donnell
National Manager of Child and Family Services
Goodstart Early Learning
Anthony Ah Kit
Senior Project Officer Social and Emotional Wellbeing
AMSANT
Thomas Allisop
Tom Allsop
Chief Executive Officer
Peak Care
Alma-Jane O’Donnell
National Manager of Child and Family Services
Goodstart Early Learning
Anthony Ah Kit
Senior Project Officer Social and Emotional Wellbeing
AMSANT
David Tucker
Regional Executive Director
Department of Families Seniors Disability Services and Child Safety
Candice Butler
Executive Director Centre of Excellence
Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak
David Tucker
Regional Executive Director
Department of Families Seniors Disability Services and Child Safety
Candice Butler
Executive Director Centre of Excellence
Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak

Youth Advisory

Rosa Hessabi
Advisor NAPCAN Youth Speak Out
NAPCAN
Nooria Ahmadi
Advisor NAPCAN Youth Speak Out
NAPCAN
Maryana Al Hilaly
Advisor NAPCAN Youth Speak Out
NAPCAN
Oliver White
Advisor NAPCAN Youth Speak Out
NAPCAN

Hear from 65+ Industry experts across child protection and youth justice, including:

Joshua Morris
Youth Advisory Council Co-Chair & Youth Project Officer
NAPCAN
Desaliegh Harvie
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Mind Bubbles
Danielle Bignall
Lead Mentor and NeuroPlay Practitioner
Mind Bubbles
Marie Stuart
Safeguarding Children Coordinator and Social Inclusion Coordinator
Goodstart Early Learning
Dr Santino A Deng
Chair
SSA Youth Justice Expert Working Group (EWG)
Department of Justice and Community Safety (Youth Justice)
Victorian Government
Lil Gordon
Acting National Commissioner Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People
National Commission Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People
Lea-ann McNeill
Director – Youth Crime Taskforce
Queensland Police Service
Emily Place
Manager – Justice Services
SYC
Nada Adolbasic
Practice Lead – Justice Services
SYC
Amanda Whelan
Executive Director
Knowmore Legal Service
Commissioner Luke Twyford
Principal Commissioner
Queensland Family & Child Commission
Gregg Dinah
Program Coordinator
Bunjilwarra Koori Healing Service

What our Attendees say

Partners

Interested in partnering for Child Protection Forum If you have any questions regarding the partnership options available or how we can collaborate to share your solution with our audience, then please get in touch with spex@thirdsector.com.au

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