Agenda

Reflections on the leadership from community-controlled organisations in creating pathways to safety for First Nations women and children and the importance of gatherings such as these to connect and showcase the strength and resilience of our communities.

Ngaire Denton, Lead Aboriginal Midwife, Dragonfly Midwifery Program, Westmead Hospital; Yarning Aboriginal Mothers Program, Gunawirra

Hear from to the Hon Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on how government is working to prioritise self-determined solutions and ensure community voices are the table of policy design and service delivery for First Nations women and children.

The Hon Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, NSW Government

• Intervening with birth alerts by providing support and guidance for mothers and their unborn babies

• Providing outreach services to women in correctional facilities

• Addressing place-based community needs for women and children

Christine Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service

Sienna Brown, Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service

Oletha Ribeiro, Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service

• Outcomes from the ‘What we Heard’ report

• Understanding the significance of a dedicated Aboriginal Family Preservation (AFP) approach

• How AbSec is working with the NSW ACCO sector, government and communities to ensure successful implementation of the Aboriginal Family Preservation Model

Alira Tufui, Director of Innovation, AbSec

Case Study: Walytjapiti (family) Program

The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council, approach family and child wellbeing holistically; Integrating  Anangu world views and child-rearing practices, building on the strengths of the family to keep children safe.

Gemma Harvey, Child and Family Wellbeing Service Manager, The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council

• Approaching child and family care with a trauma informed lens

• Ensuring genuine community engagement to foster self-determined solutions to child and family matters

• Providing services that meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children

Moderator: Cindy Torrens, Chief Executive Officer, North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service

Jacynta Krakour, Aboriginal Enterprise Fellow, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia; Honorary Senior Fellow, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne

Carly Stanley, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Deadly Connections

Madeleine Mitchell, Senior Social Worker, Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Marg Sutherland, Early Childhood Development Consultant, Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre

• Drawing on thousands of years of knowledge and practice from Aboriginal women

• Providing holistic wrap around maternal and child and family healthcare

• Continuity of care for mums and babies

Cleone Wellington, Chief Executive Leader, Culture and Connect, Waminda

Melanie Briggs, Midwife, Waminda

• Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program, helping First Nations babies to thrive: Join this yarn to hear about the success of the Jaghu program which incorporates First Nations ways of being and knowing to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and their babies.

• Empowering Aboriginal Women through community legal education: Discuss the challenges and barriers faced when providing services to community members who are not aware of their rights and how to overcome these.

• Weaving Workshop: Connect with culture and one another as you engage in a mindful and therapeutic activity.

• Supporting children disconnected from culture: Yarn about ways to engage and heal children by reconnecting them with their cultural heritage and Country.

• Model of support- how an Aboriginal service can work within a mainstream organisation

• Providing culturally safe crisis accommodation, transitional housing and outreach services

• The importance of local Aboriginal women leading services that are culturally safe and appropriate

Terrieanne Hughes, Manager of Aboriginal Services and Development, DV WEST

Hear the challenges faced by mothers who are navigating the complexities of the child protection system and how these challenges can be overcome with culturally safe and respectful representation for families.

Isabella Copetti, Deputy Principal Legal Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service

Reflecting on the day’s learnings and what it means moving forward, taking this newfound knowledge back to our communities.

Exploring the day’s themes of investing in Aboriginal women, culturally affirming care and dedicated support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who are navigating the child protection system.

Ngaire Denton, Lead Aboriginal Midwife, Dragonfly Midwifery Program, Westmead Hospital; Yarning Aboriginal Mothers Program, Gunawirra

• Championing investment into Aboriginal women and their children

• Prioritising healing and cultural strength

• Centring self-determination in service design and delivery

Antoinette Braybrook, Chief Executive Officer, Djirra

• Nurturing women in culturally affirming environments

• Empowering mothers through community and cultural wellbeing workshops

• Developing pride and confidence as mothers in First Nations women

Jessica Grace, Social Worker, Gunawirra

Join Jacqualine Elwell as she calls for systemic change and culturally informed and coordinated care. Jacqualine’s story highlights  how, with the right opportunities, Aboriginal women can flourish as mothers, leaders, and strong voices within their communities.

Jacqualine Elwell, Family and Domestic Violence First Nations Advocate

• Placing a cultural lens on clinical therapy to heal trauma in Aboriginal children placed in out of home care

• Building on the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, women and families

• The effectiveness of evidence-based trauma interventions for Aboriginal children and adolescents in out of home care

Debbie Haynes, Aboriginal Clinical Psychologist, LINKS Trauma Healing Service - Illawarra & Western, Department of Communities and Justice, NSW

Elizabeth Hagarty, Director of NSW Psychological and Specialist Services, NSW Department of Communities and Justice

• The importance of cultural identity and kinship in supporting Aboriginal children’s healing and development

• Community-led approaches to reunification that keep children safe and connected to family and Country

• Building systems that prioritise belonging and cultural strength

Greg Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, Abcare

• Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program, helping First Nations babies to thrive: Join this yarn to hear about the success of the Jaghu program which incorporates First Nations ways of being and knowing to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and their babies.

• Empowering Aboriginal Women through community legal education: Discuss the challenges and barriers faced when providing services to community members who are not aware of their rights and how to overcome these.

• Weaving Workshop: Connect with culture and one another as you engage in a mindful and therapeutic activity.

• Supporting children disconnected from culture: Yarn about ways to engage and heal children by reconnecting them with their cultural heritage and Country.

• Ensuring a national family court system that is attuned to the needs of the communities it serves

• Understanding the role of Indigenous Family Liaison Officers

• How consultation is enabling the court to improve policies and procedures affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

Kirsty Maylin, Director Indigenous Operations Policy and Support, Federal Circuit and Family Court

• Building and maintaining partnerships with Aboriginal families and communities

• Prioritising family and kinship care for children

• Offering intensive intervention to facilitate family reunification

Suzanne Naden, Chief Executive Officer, Bungree

• Prioritising culturally affirming environments for our children and young people

• Working towards keeping families together and bringing children home to family and Country

• Leveraging cultural knowledge and community connections to promote the wellbeing and self-determination of Aboriginal families

Mykol Paulson, Chief Executive Officer, Burrun Dalai