In the first week of September, members of the QATSICPP team will head to the 8th SNAICC National Conference: Growing Up with Strong Identity, Culture and Connection.
First stop will be the pre-conference masterclasses on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and an early year’s approach called nature pedagogy.
The conference will officially begin with a Welcome to Country by Kaurna and Narrunga man Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O’Brien, a smoking ceremony and performance by Yellaka dancers, and cultural songs performed by students of the Kaurna Plains School and Kalaya Children’s Centre.
Key note speakers include:
- Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, who conducts fact-finding missions and addresses human rights violations.
- Dr Moana Eruera, a Maori woman with extensive research and community sector experience in reclaiming and applying Indigenous frameworks and practices to strengthen the safety and wellbeing of families and children.
- Professor Fiona Arney, University of South Australia, and her exploration of alternative, evidence based approaches to the prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect across remote, regional and urban settings.
Natalie Lewis (QATSICPP CEO) will represent the SNAICC board while also presenting on key initiatives and learnings from Queensland. Natalie’s panel discussions will include permanency planning measures and their impact on communities, Family Matters campaign initiatives that affect change at the community-level, and using an international child rights framework to advocate for change. Natalie will also co-present on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle with, Tim Ireland (AbSec CEO).
Alf Davis (QATSICPP Reform Implementation Manager) will present with Eva Ruggiero (SNAICC) and Tamara Creamer (CQID) on how family led decision making processes have grown from a trial that commenced in 2016 to a fully funded state-wide initiative. This presentation will shine light on the efforts required to date by QATSICPP and Family Participation Programs to work toward shifting power and decision making to families.
Candice Butler (QATSICPP Practice Development Manager) will co-present with Professor Clare Tilbury (Griffith University) on making better use of research to inform best practice and achieve better outcomes for children and families. Candice will also join voices with Paul Gray (AbSec) and Janelle Young (SNAICC) to speak to active efforts across child protection legislation, policy and practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children.
The conference will be closed by the Tal Kin Jeri dance group with a performance that reflects the unique river and coastal cultures of the Ngarrindjeri Nations of the Riverlands, Lower Lakes and the Coorong.
For more information about the conference, and to view the full program, please visit the conference website at https://www.snaicc.org.au/conference/
The QATSICPP Team look forward to joining the varied range of delegates to the conference, including QATSICPP members that are participating in and attending this national gathering.
