Canberra, Australia: SNAICC – National Voice for our Children will hold its 7th National Conference in the National Convention Centre, Canberra, from 12-14 September 2017. The conference is the largest on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family matters in the southern hemisphere, striking at the heart of critical issues. It will attract local, national and international keynote speakers and over 1000 attendees.
Our conference will focus on the 20-year anniversary of the seminal Bringing Them Home report, which exposed the violations of the Stolen Generations’ fundamental human rights.
“Unfortunately many of its recommendations remain unimplemented and rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child removal continue to soar. We want kids to be safe and cared for within family and culture. Our conference objectives are to honour and learn from experience, to strategize collectively, and to inspire action.”
– Sharron Williams, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children Chairperson
Speakers include:
- Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AM, CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
- Dr Sarah Kastelic, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Oregon, USA
- Helen Milroy, Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse
- Professor Mick Dodson, National Centre for Indigenous Studies, ANU
- Dr Jackie Huggins, Historian, Author, Co-chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
- Andrew Jackomos, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, Victoria
- Natalie Lewis, CEO, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak QLD
- Megan Mitchell, National Children’s Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission, NSW
- Jim Morrison, West Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation Co-Chair
- June Oscar, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
- Richard Weston, CEO, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation
The Conference will include over 70 fascinating concurrent sessions, yarning circles, panels and workshops, as well as displays, cultural performances and social events.
“It will be a powerful, rich and interactive learning experience not to be missed.”
– Sharron Williams
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