Webinars

On Friday 6 December, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children hosted a live webinar to share key insights, findings, recommendations and case studies from the 2024 Family Matters Report 2024.

In the webinar recording, you will hear from: 

• Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
• Associate Professor Paul Gray, University of Technology Sydney
• Theresa Simpson, CEO, Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan
• Melanie Briggs, Senior Balaang Manager for Birthing on Country, Waminda
• Jamie Crosby, CEO, Families Australia

The annual Family Matters Report examines government actions to address the over-representation and the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection systems. The Family Matters 2024 Report highlights Aboriginal-led solutions, featuring three case studies from community-controlled organisations that provide culturally safe wraparound services, ensuring children grow up strong in family and connected to culture and kin. The report also presents recommendations to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Key areas for action include increasing funding for ACCO-led prevention programs, empowering Aboriginal communities to control decisions affecting their children and implementing national standards for the Child Placement Principle.

Watch the live recording above for an engaging discussion on the 2024 Family Matters Report.

Family Matters is our annual report that examines what governments are doing to turn the tide on over-representation and the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

In this lunchtime webinar, Family Matters – Aboriginal-led solutions for reunification and stronger families, we are joined by Dr Paul Gray (Associate Professor at Jumbunna Institute & Family Matters Leadership Group Co-Chair), Craig Rigney (KWY Aboriginal Corporation CEO), Darcy Cavanagh (REFOCUS Co-Founder & Director) and Catherine Liddle (SNAICC CEO). We delve into KWY and REFOCUS and how they incorporate culturally safe wraparound services, led by Catherine.

The Family Matters 2023 report shows that child protection systems continue to fail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entering out-of-home care continuing to rise, exposing them to ongoing harm and trauma.

Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 is Australia’s framework to reduce child abuse and neglect and its intergenerational impacts. 

In this lunchtime webinar, you hear from Catherine Liddle (SNAICC CEO), Garth Morgan (QATSICPP CEO) and Jamie Crosby (Families Australia CEO) about how the Safe and Supported Action Plans will be rolled out and impact for our sector and communities.

SNAICC has been a key partner in developing the Safe and Supported Framework (released in December 2021) and the two Action Plans that put in place key commitments from all governments to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to enhance child development, safety and wellbeing. The release of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2022-2026, under Safe and Supported, sees all governments support Aboriginal-led solutions to support child development, safety and wellbeing for children and families.

SNAICC lunchtime webinar invites Tangentyere Council to talk about their Girls Can Boys Can Project. Chaired by Catherine Liddle (SNAICC CEO) with Shirleen Campbell and Carmel Simpson from Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group.

This webinar is an opportunity to start learning from Aboriginal organisations about what is genuinely working on the ground for our families and acknowledge the expertise that these organisations have in ensuring our children grow up happy and healthy and thrive.