Moving beyond crisis response and bringing a culture of healing and care in child protection and safety
Attendees
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Speakers
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Streams
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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

The National Child Protection Forum comes at a critical point for transformation – a moment to move beyond crisis response and begin bringing a new culture of healing and care in child protection and safety. The programme has been deliberately designed to support this shift, bringing together leaders, practitioners and communities to reimagine how systems can better hold children, families and kin. 

Centred on prevention, cultural authority, equity and cross-sector integration, the forum supports those working across child protection, family services, health, housing, disability, education and justice to move from fragmented and reactive responses toward approaches grounded in care, connection and shared responsibility. 

Participants will leave with practical tools, real-world examples and strengthened partnerships that enable them to reduce harm earlier, strengthen families and communities, and contribute to a child protection system that is more relational, culturally safe and focused on long-term wellbeing rather than short-term intervention. 

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

Key Speakers

Hear from industry leaders:

In March 2026, Joanne commenced the role of Commander Human Exploitation and leads the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

Commander Joanne Cameron
Commander of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE)
Australian Federal Police (AFP)

Lauren Barons (she/her) is the Assistant Secretary of the National Office for Child Safety (National Office) at the Attorney-General’s department.

Lauren Barons
Assistant Secretary, National Office for Child Safety (National Office)
Attorney-General’s Department
Jarrod Wheatley OAM
Chair and Co-Founder
Centre for Relational Care (CRC)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Professional Individualised Care (PIC)

Renée Leigh (Carter) is the CEO of Adopt Change, including Carers for Kids NSW, and a passionate advocate for the well-being of children and young people

Renee Leigh
Chief Executive Officer
Adopt Change
Joshua Tuiono
Executive Director Culture, Deputy CEO
Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative
Aletia Twist
Chief Executive Officer
Mura Kosker Sorority Ltd

Jaye Wainui is a young Māori leader with a deep commitment to the wellbeing of whānau, hapori, and future generations. With over a decade of experience across Health New Zealand, Auckland Council,

Jaye Wainui
Chief Executive Officer
Kirikiriroa Family Services and Tamariki Tū, Tamariki Ora
Lisa Wellington
Cullunghutti Jerrinja Wandi Wandian Chief Executive Leader - Community
Waminda

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Partners

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ALA
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Reimagine Australia
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