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Deborra-lee Furness
Founder
Deborra-lee Furness is an internationally acclaimed actress as well as a passionate supporter of children and defender of their human rights across the globe. Deborra-lee’s humanitarian work for children is a driving force in her life.
It is her passion that children all over the world be given every chance to live a fulfilled life and achieve their full potential. As founder of National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM) and Adopt Change in Australia, Deborra-lee has been a driving force for improving adoption programs, procedures and legislation, and raising awareness and understanding of the issues of vulnerable children.
She is Patron of the Lighthouse Foundation for displaced children in Melbourne Australia; World Vision Ambassador, Patron of the Bone Marrow Donor Institute for children with leukemia; Patron of International Adoptive Families of Queensland; she sits on the board of World Wide Orphans Australia and is newly appointed on the board of the UN Women for Peace Association in New York. Deborra-lee has been honoured extensively both in Australia and internationally for her work to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children.
For her advocacy work she has been honoured by World Wide Orphans in New York, The Joint Council USA and in 2013 was given the prestigious award of Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption in Washington DC. Harlem Village Academies honoured Deborra-lee and her husband Hugh for their philanthropy work in 2012. She was presented with 2014 International Humanitarian Award in Utah by Mentors International. She was named NSW Australian of the Year 2015. Also in 2015, Deborra-lee was honoured in Washington as Advocate of the Year by Kidsave.
Deborra-lee is the co-founder of the newly launched Hopeland organisation which is a US-based platform driving awareness around the issue of vulnerable children. The mission of Hopeland is to ensure children belong in loving families. Hopeland is about family strengthening and community empowerment and driving creative solutions for vulnerable and abandoned children globally.
Renée Leigh
Chief Executive Officer
Renée Leigh is the CEO of Adopt Change, including Carers for Kids NSW, and a passionate advocate for the well-being of children and young people, with a focus on children with an experience in the Australian child protection system.
She leads a team of Adopt Change Changemakers across a range of work nationally. National activities include the annual #THRIVE National Permanency Conference; campaigns including ‘A Home for Every Child’ to find more homes and support; MyPacks first night backpacks for kids entering care; Empower Change for providing education support to children in care; along with engagement with community, government, child welfare sector; and is regularly sought to speak with media about child welfare, trauma-informed care, permanency and adoption.
She is the Chair of the National Foster & Kinship Care Collective, with CEO colleagues from Australian jurisdiction carer representative bodies.
Renée has held roles on advisory committees including as a member of the Institute Advisory Group for the independent research centre – Institute of Open Adoption Studies (The University of Sydney); various government and cross-sector advisory groups and taskforces; and was previously Vice Chair of NSW Committee on Adoption and Permanent Care (COAPC).
She is also a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, with a background in communications and executive management, along with board level experience in corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Her experience includes three years as Chair of charity Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS), an organisation focused on early intervention, education and support of families and communities; and Managing Director of corporate, investor and creative communications specialists Designate Group.
Renée is committed to influencing child welfare policy and practice for social impact – to bring about timely and effective outcomes for children so they can have better childhood experiences and a brighter future.
Alfre Woodard
Adoptive Mother and Actor
Nadia Levett
Lived Experience Advocate
Nadia Levett is an Australian adoptee and former Health Promotion Officer who has spent years working alongside children, families, and educators. Adopted in 1982, she brings lived experience and a commitment to improving understanding around adoption and out‑of‑home care.
Drawing on her training as a yoga teacher, Nadia helped develop the award‑winning Jarjums Connections program. An Aboriginal movement and mindfulness initiative now offered online and supported by a published resource. The program supports children in childcare and education settings to embed Aboriginal history and culture using yoga inspired movement, breathwork and meditation in a gentle, fun and engaging way.
She is also the creator of The Australian Adoption Podcast, where she shares layered conversations with adoptees, birth families, and carers to help broaden understanding and connection within the community.
As a recent Ambassador for Adopt Change, Nadia contributes through advocacy, community engagement, and fundraising, including taking part in a charity bike ride to support the organisation’s mission.
Her focus across all roles is simple: creating spaces where stories are heard and felt, children to feel seen and supported, and communities grow and thrive in connection and understanding.
Nicole Warne
Adoptee and Digital Influencer
Hailing from the Central Coast in NSW, Nicole Warne is considered one of the world’s leading digital influencers, with over 2.3 million followers. Beginning her journey with an online store and blog, Nicole has gone on to collaborate with luxury brands as a creative director, social media consultant, digital strategist and ambassador. She has been recognised in the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ and Business of Fashion’s ‘The 500 People Shaping the Global Industry’ lists, and won awards from Instyle and Elle Australia.
Nicole is a key player in the Australian fashion community and believes in supporting the next generation, serving as a guest judge for The International Woolmark Prize Australia, The Australian Fashion Film Awards and The Australian BT Emerging Designer Award.
Nicole is an adoptee and was adopted by her parents Robyn and Ian from South Korea when she was 3 months old. She has a younger sister Caitlin who is also adopted from South Korea and an older brother who is her parent’s biological son.
Adoption has always been an integral part of Nicole’s family and upbringing. Two of her cousins were adopted from the Philippines and Thailand, so growing up surrounded by a multicultural family made it easy for her to understand and appreciate what adoption meant.
Nicole cherishes her upbringing and knows she wouldn’t be in this fortunate position if it wasn’t for her parents, so she truly hopes by sharing her influence she can help raise awareness, education, funds, and ultimately help create change for the thousands of Australian kids who need permanent homes.
Nia Vardalos
Adoptive Mother, Actor and Author
Jack Thompson
Adoptee and Actor
One of Australia’s most loved and respected actors Jack Thompson has appeared in numerous Australian and American films. His appearance in Breaker Morant (1980) won him an Australian Film Institute award for Best Actor, and an award for Best Supporting Actor at the Cannes International Film Festival. In 1994, Jack was awarded the ‘Raymond Longford Award’ by the Australian Film Institute for his outstanding contribution to Australian cinema, and in 2009 was awarded the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for services to Australian Film and Television.
When Jack was four years old his mother tragically died from an illness. His father, while loving his sons, was unable to care for them. Jack’s aunt arranged for the brothers to board at a school in Narabeen called Lake House. It was while he was at Lake House that he met a boy called Peter Thompson. Jack was adopted by the Thompson family. The boys grew up ‘joined at the hip’ and to this day, Peter is both Jack’s brother and closest friend. 42 years later, Jack again met his biological father. (Photo credit: Steve Bacon)
Lisa Sthalekar
Adoptee, Cricket Commentator and Former Australian Cricketer
Lisa’s parents found her (3 weeks of age) abandoned in orphanage next to a hospital in Poona, 170km from Mumbai, India. Due the laws in India at the time and her adoptive father being Indian she fostered out to them initially until they could officially adopt her she she was 2 years of age. Lisa has an older, adopted sister, Caprini.
Lisa is a former Australian cricketer, the first player in women’s history to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in One Day Internationals. Lisa is an accomplished cricket commentator, having covered various ICC World Cup Events (male and female), the Indian Premier League seasons, Channel Seven’s BBL and WBBL.
Meg Ryan
Adoptive Mother and Actor
Marie Osmond
Adoptive Mother, Singer and Actor
Daniella Park
Ambassador & TV Personality
Daniella is an entrepreneur, TV personality, baking & lifestyle expert with influence who is passionate about inspiring people to creatively and simply enjoy food and each other’s company. She wholeheartedly believes that food is an expression of love and “kitchen therapy” is sharing more than just food in the heart of the home. She is passionate about sharing ways to make fancy simple. Having overcome her own personal struggles with dyslexia, Daniella is an advocate for doing what you love no matter the circumstances and motivates others by sharing her powerful story. She gives back and practices this mission through helping children find homes as an ambassador for Adopt Change. Daniella appears regularly on international TV, podcasts and social media bringing fun and sweetness to audiences across the globe.
Gabrielle Stricker-Phelps
Board Director
Board Member since February 2025
Gabrielle Stricker-Phelps graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics and Law (Honours) degree in 2024. Throughout her time at the University of Sydney, Gabrielle was actively involved in student life on campus in her roles as the Women’s Officer on the Student Representative Council and as the undergraduate student representative on the University of Sydney Senate.
In the final year of her degree, Gabrielle wrote a law honours thesis exploring the legal representation of children in adoption from care cases in NSW. As one of the first children to be adopted by a non-kin same-sex couple in NSW, Gabrielle is especially passionate about advocating for children in child protection cases. Gabrielle also actively volunteers in the Australian Jewish community, holding various leadership positions at the Australasian Union of Jewish Students and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. Gabrielle is currently employed at Allens, where she is a lawyer.
Hon Tony Smith
Board Director
Board Member since October 2024
Hon Tony Smith holds a Bachelor of the Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne. Tony was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 2001 until his retirement at the 2022 federal election.
During his parliamentary service, he chaired a number of parliamentary committees including the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, and the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Corporations and Financial Services.
In 2007, Tony was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister John Howard. He also served in several Shadow Ministerial portfolios whilst in Opposition.
In August 2015, Tony was elected the 30th Speaker of the House of Representatives and was re-elected to the office following the 2016 and 2019 federal elections. His nomination in 2019 was seconded by a Member of the Opposition. He is only the second Speaker to be elected unopposed by the House on three consecutive occasions, the first being Australia’s first Speaker, Sir Fredrick Holder. In July 2022, Tony announced he would not re-contest the next election and in November he stepped down as Speaker to return to the backbench and focus on his local electorate for the remainder of the 46th Parliament.
Tony was awarded the Accountability Round Tables’ John Button Award for integrity in performing his duties as Speaker in 2019, and in 2022 he was named the McKinnon Political Leader of the Year, recognised for his work in consistently upholding Parliamentary standards and ensuring bipartisan accountability within the Parliament.
In early September 2022, Tony was appointed a Professor in the Practice of Politics at the Australian National University. The position is part-time. He is also Executive Co-Chair of the bi-partisan Australian-American Leadership Dialogue.
John O’Neill
Ambassador
John O’Neill is an adoptee who has reunited with his birth mother Anne. John also has a wonderful son, Joo Sang, adopted from South Korea.
He currently runs Sydney-based digital marketing agency Komosion and sits on a number of not-for-profit Boards including Surfing NSW. He is a former Managing Director of Tourism NSW, was Ticketing Communications Manager for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and served as an adviser to the former Treasurer of NSW, the Hon Michael Egan. Prior to that, he had an award-winning career in the media, including working at the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC TV, Network 10 and regional newspapers.
Mark Nixon
Board Director
Board Member since February 2021
Mark is a Partner with professional service EY and has a passion to assist those most vulnerable in our community. His passion comes from his public sector experience being in the Senior Executive Service but primarily from his time as a NSW Police Officer. He saw first hand the impacts of child abuse and poorer life outcomes for those who have suffered from abuse.
He is committed to improving the life outcomes of children and young people and has been working in the sector for the past 15 years. He knows that every child deserves a stable home and is to be loved and cherished.
He joined the board of Adopt Change because his sees this organisation as making a difference to the lives of children and young people through educating parents and advocacy, but above all providing a home for life. It is the fundamental tenent of safety and security for a child’s wellbeing.
Mark is married to Sarah and has two young daughters who keep him busy. He also spends time with his two older boys by playing water polo with them. “It’s one of life’s great pleasures playing sport with your kids.”
Brad Murphy
Adoptee and Ex-Pro AFL Player
Brad Murphy is a former AFL player for the Western Bulldogs, 2002-2006, and now coaches and plays for semi-professional Aussie Rules club, Melton.
Brad was born to drug addicted parents and grew up in foster care in Victoria from 16 months. Young Brad was never going back to his birth parents — his mum “did a runner” to Western Australia soon after a previous overdose, while his dad spent most of Brad’s childhood in Pentridge prison. “The thing that chewed me up was not being able to be adopted. I felt I didn’t belong to anyone,” he says. He wanted to be adopted; his foster carers wanted to adopt him, but his dad wouldn’t provide consent. Brad was adopted by his long-time foster parents at the age of 18.
Dr Shellie Morris
Adoptee and Singer, Songwriter & Musician
Shellie is a singer, songwriter and musician, and the NT Australian of the Year in 2014. Adopted into a Sydney based family as a baby, Shellie remains very close to her adoptive family, who encouraged her to seek out her biological family more than two decades ago. Her journey took her, via Link Up, to the Northern Territory and on a continuous learning of her Wardaman and Yanyuwa heritage and in to more than 70 remote communities of this country.
A favourite and celebrated vocalist, Shellie has spent the past 25 years creating and engaging in music as a healing tool. She imparts the importance of having a voice and that each individual is important. While she has been in the spotlight over the years for her involvement with Black Arm Band, Deadly awards, ARIA nominations, Music Australia award, NAIDOC Award, G.R. Burarrawanga Memorial Award and Australian of the Year award; by and large, she works on the ground empowering and gently effecting change. Shellie creates music and sings in around 17 Aboriginal languages, many considered “sleeping”. Since discovering her family, she has tirelessly worked to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, especially in the Northern Territory.
Catherine McDonnell
Board Director
Board Member since November 2012
Catherine has been practising media and entertainment law for over 25 years and has actively served on the Board of various not-for-profit organisations for over eight years. Catherine brings significant corporate governance experience to the Board of Adopt Change and joined the Board to use her skills to improve the future for children needing families.
Mariska Hargitay
Adoptive Mother and Actor
Hugh Jackman
Adoptive Father and Actor
Hugh Jackman is an Academy Award® nominated, Golden Globe and Tony Award winning actor, who has made an impression on audiences of all ages with his multi-career persona, proving that he is as successful on stage in front of live crowds as he is on a film set.
Jackman is also an active humanitarian and philanthropist. On a trip to Ethiopia with World Vision, Hugh and his wife Deborra-lee Furness visited Dukale, an Ethiopian coffee farmer. They were so moved by his infectious spirit and incredible coffee they promised they would help him. Hugh went on to fulfill his promise by launching Laughing Man Worldwide, an organisation that imports fair trade coffee right from Dukale’s farm in Ethiopia to be served in its New York City cafes. Laughing Man Worldwide’s total revenue goes back to education, community development and new business development. Hugh supports Deborra-lee whole-heartedly in her mission to ensure that all children have a safe and loving family, and a place to call home. Hugh and Deb live in New York with their two adopted children, Oscar and Ava.
Emily Hikaiti
Lived Experience Advocate
Emily Hikaiti is a Māori and Australian lived experience advocate, speaker and emerging leader working across child welfare, community services and systems reform.
Drawing on her own experience of out-of-home care, Emily has spent more than a decade advocating for children, young people and families, with a particular focus on ensuring lived experience informs policy, practice, governance and decision-making. She is passionate about creating systems that are not only effective, but deeply relational, recognising that meaningful connection and belonging are central to positive outcomes for children and young people.
Emily currently works with Adopt Change in fundraising, projects and volunteer engagement, supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and improve outcomes for children and carers. She also serves as a Board Member with CREATE Foundation and as Secretary and Director of the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO), contributing to national and international conversations on family-based care, leadership and child welfare reform.
Alongside her professional work, Emily is undertaking postgraduate studies in International Relations at the University of Technology Sydney, where she is exploring the intersection of policy, advocacy and social change. She is committed to amplifying lived experience voices, building stronger communities and supporting the next generation of leaders to create lasting impact.
Sandra Sully
Journalist and TV Presenter
Sandra’s passion for news has fortified her position as one of the finest newsreaders in the country, delivering TEN Eyewitness News First At Five bulletins with integrity and credibility. She has been part of the TEN News team since 1990 and has hosted major Network news events.
A highly respected journalist, Sandra and has had exclusive interviews with the former US Vice President and producer of An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore, Australian of the Year Tim Flannery and secured a world-first exclusive interview with Douglas Wood, the Australian hostage freed from his kidnappers in Iraq. Her career highlights include being the first Australian journalist to break the news of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, and covering the Thredbo landslide, including the week long and emotional rescue of Stuart Diver .
With her engaging warmth, style and versatility Sandra has established a mass following on various social media platforms, and is now one of the nation’s news leaders online. Sandra is on the Walkley Advisory Board and is an ambassador for Adopt Change, as well as being committed to several charity organisations, including her position as Co-Patron of Spinal Cure and Ambassador for the NSW Crime Stoppers. She is also a National Ambassador for Do Something, which encourages social change.
Follow @Sandra_Sully on Twitter.
Anne King
Board Director
Board Member since September 2023
Anne has over 30 years of work in the community services sector, including 8 years working as Policy Director to various community services Ministers in NSW.
Anne is committed to children living their best lives. Anne firmly believes and advocates that children do not belong in systems, rather than belong in families.
Anne assisted Ministers in NSW passage a number of Bills through the NSW Parliament to improve permanency for children in NSW.
Ellia Green
Adoptee and Australian Rugby Player
Ellia Green OAM is a proud Fijian, retired professional Rugby Sevens player who was a part of the Olympic gold winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Ellia also competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Rugby Sevens World Cup in San Francisco. Ellia has competed in the International HSBC World Rugby Sevens circuit from 2012 through to 2021 debuting in Texas, Houston.
Prior to rugby, Ellia was a track and field sprinter, specialising in the 100M and 200M and made their first international meet in Doha Qatar in the World Juniors for the 100M and the 200M relay.
Ellia retired from rugby in August 2021 and is studying International Security Studies at Macquarie University while working at the International Container Terminal. Ellia is an national champion for change ambassador for the United Nations Australia, a Raise Ambassador.
Since retiring from professional sport, Ellia has found liberation in his identity and sense of self along with the greatest achievement yet, becoming a Dad to daughter Waitui and fiancé to Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts. Whilst being an internationally successful athlete Ellia continues a strong commitment off the field for the rights of racial gender diversity and the wellbeing of marginalised individuals and groups.
Louise Ransome
Journalist and TV Presenter
Louise Ransome is a Sports Presenter with Fox Sports. Beginning her career at the ABC in Brisbane she moved to Launceston to work for WIN TV, before landing a female sports broadcaster internship at the ABC in Sydney. After her allocated year, she freelanced for the ABC and Channel 7, before landing her dream fulltime job with Fox Sports News.
Louise’s Dad Les is adopted – he didn’t find this out until he was 54 years old. Adopted at six weeks, he grew up in a family as one of four children. He is the only one who was adopted – hence the secrecy around his adoption. Although it definitely was a shock, and fairly life-changing, he looks back on it now as being very lucky to have such a loving and stable home to grow up in. He has also formed lovely relationships with two of his biological half siblings who were the ones searching for him, which lead him to find out about his adoption later in life.
Phoebes Garland
Adoptee and Fashion Industry Consultant
Phoebes Garland is a respected fashion industry leader and co-founder of Garland & Garland Fashion, a Sydney-based brand management and consulting agency. She is known for driving growth and market presence for leading fashion brands, and is a respected advisor, commentator, and mentor within the industry. She is a regular contributor to Ragtrader & Inside Retail.
Beyond fashion, Phoebes is a committed advocate and ambassador for Shake It Up Australia Foundation and Adopt Change, supporting causes close to her heart through lived experience and purposeful action.
Zufi Emerson
Adoptee and Actor
Zufi’s family was formed through adoption – she was born in Ethiopia, as were her two younger brothers. Adoption was the last chance for them to thrive and by each of their first birthdays they were calling Australia home.
Now as an actor (Neighbours) and writer, it’s clear both a permanent home and loving family enabled her to focus on being a kid and doing what she loved most. She is frustrated our care system remains laden in bureaucratic red tape meaning other children no longer have this same chance. She’s gutted that in our own backyard programs like the one their family was formed through closed its doors, there’s an ever-growing over-representation of Aboriginal children in the care system and devastated to know there’s enough children in out-of-home care in Australia today to fill a stadium.
Zufi continues to support Adopt Change because she knows first hand when children are taken out of the ‘too hard’ basket their trajectories drastically change for the better. She remains adamant there are several global issues that are complicated to solve, but ‘A Home For Every Child’ should be a unanimous no-brainer. Knowing children at risk are counting on adults, Zufi will continue to share her story with transparency until we see a trauma-informed care system and process which truly means every child has the opportunity to thrive as she did.
Sallianne Deckert
Adoptive Mother and TV Personality
Sallianne Deckert started writing articles for newspapers from the family farm in Victoria when she was 12 years old. Her television career began straight out of school and has taken her around the world. A member of the original Talk to the Animals series in 1997, Sallianne’s other credits include reporter/producer roles with Postcards (Victoria), Today, Mornings with Kerri-Anne, A Current Affair, Getaway and Our House, all on the Nine Network. After 11 years in the Australian adoption process, Sallianne and her husband Steve are proud parents to two Ethiopian born daughters – Kuleni (adopted 2005) and Tsegamareyam (adopted 2011).
A passion for Ethiopia’s children and future prompted the family to recently move to Addis Ababa and commit to volunteering at The School of St Yared for two years. The school takes the most severely disadvantaged students with a motivation to learn and provides an excellent education, meals, health support and nurturing environment for free. The family is enjoying their time in Ethiopia exploring Kuleni and Tsegamareyam’s birth culture as they use their skills to impact Ethiopian lives and futures through education. If you’d like to read more, visit The School of St Yared, Ethiopia on Facebook or contact sponsorship@schoolofstyared.com.
Helen McCabe
Journalist
Helen McCabe is an established journalist and former magazine editor, who founded multi-media brand Future Women in 2018.
Anna Cleary
Adoptee
Anna was adopted as a young baby in the UK by her Australian parents.
She has been involved within the not-for-profit sector working for The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Good Beginnings, RUOK? and The Opera Foundation for young Australians. Her passion is helping people and volunteering.
Joe Hildebrand
Journalist and TV Presenter
Joe Hildebrand is a columnist at The Daily Telegraph and News.com.au and a commentator on 2GB and Sky News.
He was raised in Dandenong by a single mum and has had a longstanding interest in child welfare and disadvantage, including as an advocate for a number of children’s and homelessness charities. He lives in Sydney with his wife Tara and three children. He would adopt more if Tara would let him.
Tom Imbesi
Board Director
Board Member since October 2021
Tom became the Chairman of Deloitte Australia in May 2017 after serving as Managing Partner for Deloitte Victoria from March 2015 until May 2017. He is also a member of the Deloitte Asia Pacific Board and the Deloitte Global Board. Tom has 35 years’ experience in auditing, both in Australia and in the USA and he has been a partner for 23 years. Tom specialises in the provision of assurance and advisory services to large ASX listed companies and is currently Lead Audit Partner for ASX listed Woolworths Limited and IRESS Limited.
Tom also served on the Board of the Reach Foundation and was Chair of their Audit Committee.
Bianca Dye
Broadcaster
Bianca is an experienced broadcaster, with an unforgetable personality!
Three time winner of Australia’s Best Radio Personality, Bianca Dye is a warm and cheeky voice, with a wit and style that endears her to the many celebrities she’s interviewed!
Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Michael Bublé, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Pink, and Kylie Minogue are just a few of the stars that have opened up and shared their stories with Bianca.
Bianca has worked in Sydney on NOVA96.9, had a successful stint as #1 Breakfast show at i98fm in NSW and is currently back in her home state of Queensland, where it all began at the Gold Coast’s GOLD FM Drive show.
In January 2017, Bianca joined the 97.3 FM Breakfast Show with co-hosts Terry Hansen and Bob Gallagher. By July 2017 the team were celebrating being the #1FM Breakfast show in the market.
Bianca is not just a radio personality, having anchored her own show “Access All Areas” on Foxtel’s Arena and appearing regularly on A Current Affair, 20 to 1, and Thank God You’re Here. She is also a regular guest, known for her honest opinions and playful personality on Ten’s Studio 10 and The Project as well as 9’s TODAY Show and 7’s The Morning Show.
Bianca has also to co-written a book called “Playing Hard To Get” and is in the process of writing her second book on living with anxiety.
Bianca is a passionate national voice for mental health awareness and has a huge following on her Instagram page @anxietyfree. She is also an ambassador for many animal-based charities including the Orangutan project (TOP) & the RSPCA.
You can follow Bianca on Instagram & Twitter @BiancaDye & also on Facebook.
Latika Bourke
Adoptee and Journalist
Latika Bourke is a well-known Australian political journalist and author. She is currently a national political journalist for Fairfax Media, publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Canberra Times and Brisbane Times. Previously Latika worked for the ABC and 2UE Radio. In 2010 Latika’s excellence in her profession was acknowledge when she won the Walkley Award for Young Australian Journalist of the Year. Latika began her journalism career working on local radio in Bathurst, Central West New South Wales where she grew up as one of eight children.
Born in Bihar in India, Latika was taken to a Catholic orphanage when she was only one day old. At eight months old she arrived in Australia to join her adoptive parents, Penny and John. Latika is a proud adoptee. Growing up she felt a deep connection to her Australian home and family. Over time however she became more and more curious about her heritage and what it meant to be born in India and raised in Australia. In 2012 she travelled to India to see her home state and the orphanage she was from for the first time and has continued to travel India each year. She has chronicled her personal journey in her book From India with Love published by Allen & Unwin.
Joel de Carteret
Adoptee and Filmmaker
Joel is a renowned film maker and world-class storyteller. CEO & Chief Storyteller at Stories In Motion, he makes beautifully crafted stories that touch the heart and fill the soul. Joel is a sought after keynote speaker combines film, music and photography into his unique talks. He shares this remarkable life-changing story. As featured recently on Channel 9’s 60 minutes and GMA’s Kapuso Mo – Jessica Soho, his story has reached over 22 million people around the planet.
Joel was born in the Philippines but was separated from his family and found in a busy marketplace at age five. Nearly 31 years on, having been adopted and raised by an Australian family, Joel embarked on what seemed like an impossible mission to track down his birth mother. With virtually nothing to go on except knowing the date and location he was found, Joel undertook a journey that shows how sheer grit and determination can overcome even the most insurmountable odds. His skills as a film maker and producer, along with millions of filipino’s, aided him to the reunification of his long lost parents.
Jonah Bobongie
Executive Producer, Led By A Heartstring & Adoptee
Born in Cairns and immediately placed in foster care, Jonah grew up with his adoptive family in Brisbane. Growing up in a Caucasian Australian family, Jonah felt disconnected from his Papua New Guinea heritage and culture.
At the age of 22, Jonah embarked on a journey to reunite with his birth family, reconnect with his heritage and unearth his self-identity. He launched an award-winning podcast, Led By A Heartstring, to invite the world to follow his journey and delve into the world of adoption. Jonah’s podcast has featured Adopt Change CEO Renee Carter as well as fellow Ambassador and inter-country adoptee Phoebe Garland as guests. Led By A Heartstring also received the bronze award for Best Indigenous Podcast at the Australian Podcast Awards.
Through his life and his podcast, Jonah has been able to learn more about himself and to garner a better understanding around his emotions towards being adopted. “It really has been a tool for me to express all those feelings that I felt growing up and you know, get it all out because it’s heavy. It had been bottled up inside and it’s a healing process in that way,” he says.
Led By A Heartstring is also a way to connect and be there for other adoptees. Jonah says: “I hope to help other adoptees find who they are and feel comfortable with their feelings. Being that voice for adoptees through my podcast and sharing my experience.”
For Jonah, his adoption has played a huge part in shaping who he is. “Being adopted, you don’t really lack that part of self-identity because you find it wherever you are, and whoever you’re exposed to and whoever you live with” he says.
Adoption and permanency are already issues close to Jonah’s heart, and ones he believes to be incredibly important for allowing those in vulnerable situations to experience family and stability in a safe environment.
Melissa Doyle
Journalist and TV Presenter
Melissa is one of the most popular media personalities in Australia. A multiple Silver Logie nominee as Most Popular Television Presenter, Melissa was voted one of the “most real celebrity mums”; and regularly polls in the Top 50 of Reader’s Digest‘s annual list of Most Trusted Australians. Formerly co-host of Sunrise, Melissa formed one of televisions most charismatic and popular partnerships with Kochie (David Koch). Mel began her career as a television news reporter in Canberra before joining the Seven Network in 1995. In a varied career, she has covered major news stories from around Australia and the world. She has interviewed some of the world’s most famous faces, from Jane Fonda, Katy Perry and Stevie Nicks to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Jerry Lewis and Justin Bieber. Mel is devoted to her many charities.
She is the National Patron for Make A Wish and an ambassador for Westmead Children’s Hospital, World Vision, Children’s Cancer Institute, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and for the Federal Government’s National Road Safety Council. She is also the Chairperson for the GIANTS Foundation Charity. Melissa is currently a News Presenter and Journalist with Seven News Australia as well as hosting the weekend breakfast program for radio station smoothfm. She is married to John and the very proud mother of Nicholas and Talia.
Victoria Buchan, GAICD
Chair / Board Director
Board Member since November 2012
Chair since December 2020 to present
As Director and owner of The Lantern Group which specialises in publicity and media relations in the entertainment industry, Victoria Buchan has extensive experience in the corporate communications sector.
Victoria began her career as a journalist on the Daily Mirror before joining Network 10 as a publicist during the booming production years in the late 1980s. She has worked with some of Australia’s most influential media groups, including Fairfax, Fox Studios Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Commission where she was Director Of Corporate Affairs and Nine Network Australia as the Director of Communications and Public Relations.
Victoria’s journey with the adoption community began whilst working with Deborra-lee Furness and discovering the injustices families encountered via media stories on the issue. Inspired by those who have the courage to fight for change and the rights of children around the world to have a loving family, she and Deborra-lee have continued along this path together. Since beginning this work, she has been touched by so many people, including her own family and friends who have some experience with adoption.
Eric Bailey
Adoptee, Ex-Pro NBL Player and "Activational" Speaker
Eric’s passion to help others grew out of his own hardships as a child. At birth, Eric was diagnosed with a congenital deformity of the knee joint and due to his biological parents being unable to raise a disabled child, he was given up for adoption. Eric chose to create an inspired vision for his life and carry that vision out through planning, action, and undeniable persistence. Despite being told by doctors that he would never be able to play sports due to his knee, Eric was determined to play basketball. After much hard work, Eric excelled and eventually went on to play in the NBL in Australia.
Eric went on to forge a career in sales in addition to pursuing charitable work, most notably hosting celebrity basketball tournaments with Michael Jordan and Jamie Foxx. Eric’s desire to give back led him to sharing his story of hardship and success through what Eric calls ‘Activational’ speaking. Sheer talent and endless dedication has helped Eric create a lasting change in the minds and hearts of over 2 million people around the world. In June 2014 Eric was appointed National Sales Manager for Market Australia, Australia’s premier online shopping web portal au.shop.com. Eric was recently voted number 22 of the ‘Top 60 Motivational Speakers in the World’ by the initiative Hunger 2 Succeed.
Angela Bishop
Journalist and TV Presenter
Celebrating over three decades at the network, Network 10’s Entertainment Editor Angela Bishop, has established herself as a prominent identity within the Australian and international entertainment media.
Angela’s reputation and credibility is such that she is often called upon by international broadcasters to report on events happening within Australia. Angela has reported on Michael Jackson’s Sydney wedding to Debbie Rowe, the wedding of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban and covered Princess Diana’s 1996 tour of Australia where she was invited to interview the Princess.
Her biggest interview to date was with Oprah Winfrey during her Ultimate Australian Adventure. She also scored a rare interview with Borat, the alter ego of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, that went viral.
In 2014, Angela wrote and presented a behind the scenes look at hit comedy show Modern Family who were filming down under for a special holiday episode and in 2018, she was invited to The Bold and The Beautiful Los Angeles studios to reprise her role as JJ, who she first played when the show filmed in Australia.
Angela’s renowned work ethic, integrity and professionalism sees her regularly invited to interview the stars and creators of music, film and television all over the world. Her extensive list of celebrity interviews includes Audrey Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Drew Barrymore, Angelina Jolie, Susan Sarandon, Jack Nicholson, Daniel Craig, Cate Blanchett, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Robin Williams, Elton John, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Mick Jagger.
Angela can be seen covering the major red carpet events around the world including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. She is also called upon by movie companies to host Australian premieres and media conferences.
Angela joined Network 10 as a general news reporter in 1989 and in 1994, she was appointed 10’s Entertainment Reporter. As well as filing stories for 10 News First, Angela regularly reported on Good Morning Australia with TV legend Bert Newton, and in 1998 became one of the founding cast members of The Panel.
Marly Wells
headspace National, Participation Advisor – First Nations
Marly Wells (she/her) is a Warlpiri woman from Central Australia, who has personal and professional experience with the OOHC system. Marly has worked in both government and NGO’s with a myriad of focuses on bettering the lives of First Nations (and all) young people across communities. Marly’s work has been supported by and contributed to various SEWB frameworks, including the ARACY Wellbeing nest, and she believes that kids thrive when they are encouraged to be who they want to be – mentally, physically and emotionally. Marly’s role at headspace was established to help support the design, delivery and development and evaluation of culturally inclusive participation programs that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and family engage at all levels of the organisation. She also supports the development and distribution of culturally responsive resources across headspace national and the centre network to encourage and support best practice, place-based participation. She is interested in developing and improving initiatives to help support First Nations involvement, participation and understanding across both her work and in the world.
Presentation title
Highlighting the impact of practice on First Nations children and how we can holistically support children in out-of-home care
Maree Walk
CEO, ACWA
Maree has over thirty-five years’ experience in the human services area from direct service delivery, such as working on the front line in Domestic Violence and Child Protection in Western Australia, to Chief Executive and Deputy Secretary in the NSW government. Maree was also General Manager, Operations leading Benevolent Society for eleven years and has served on peak bodies such as Families Australia, CAFWAA and GoodStart’s Expert Advisory Group, as well as being a former ACWA Board Chair and Director. She became CEO of ACWA in 2023.
Lachlan Hobman
Lived Experience Advocate
Lachlan is a 19-year-old Aboriginal man who lives in the Central Coast, New South Wales.
Lachlan has become a mentor and advocate for young people experiencing out-of- home care. With firsthand experience of the systems involved, Lachlan can genuinely relate to young people facing the challenges involved. Lachlan has led many speaking and advocacy opportunities within across NSW sharing authentic and inspiring insights of what it is like to experience the formal care system.
Lachlan is also a keen animal welfare advocate. He has completed his Certificate 2 in Animal Care with a specific interest in reptile care and is currently enrolled for Animal Care Certificate 3
Dr Elspeth Stephenson
Lecturer in Teacher Professional Learning, University of Tasmania
Dr Elspeth Stephenson is a Lecturer in Teacher Professional Learning at the University of Tasmania. Elspeth has more than 30 years’ experience in education working with children from six weeks of age through to adult. She has taught in several countries around the world including England, Singapore, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Elspeth holds a Bachelor of Education degree with honours, a master’s degree in special education and a PhD which explored the rights of children and their wellbeing.
In 2017, Elspeth qualified as a Trust-Based-Relational-Intervention® (TBRI®) practitioner at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Texas Christian University. Since then, her teaching and research have focused primarily on supporting all those who live and work with children who have experienced early adversity. Elspeth has held a range of leadership positions during her career, her most significant being a parent of two internationally adopted children.
Presentation Title
Implementing Trust Based Relational Intervention® in Early Childhood Services to improve outcomes for children.
Lainie Terbogt
Social worker and clinical family therapist, Restoring Families
Lainie Terbogt is a social worker and clinical family therapist with twenty years of experience in out-of-home care. Lainie works on many levels within the system, providing consultation, supervision and training to professionals, supporting foster, kinship, permanent and residential carers, and doing direct therapeutic work with children, young people and their families. Restoring Families is passionate about increasing stability for children by supporting Carers and do this by providing Carer Practice Development sessions, facilitating Carer Support Groups, consulting with carers about Therapeutic Parenting, as well as the provision of Carer Debriefing sessions.
Bryan Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Foster and Kinship Care
Bryan Smith is the Chief Executive Officer with Queensland Foster and Kinship Care who are the Peak Foster and Kinship Care organisation in Queensland established in 1976. Bryan’s focus has always been the leading of a team of like minded individuals who see children and the welfare of children as their absolute priority. Providing advice, support and advocacy services for more than 6100 carers families is a priority that helps ensure children do remain at the centre of our world.
Bryan and his family became Foster Carers in 1992 and same time Bryan returned to study while working in various roles as a, youth worker, carer trainer, family worker, policy writer, co-ordinator of Foster and Kinship Care services along with his volunteer role with what is now QFKC. Bryan was elected to the role of President of the association in 2003 and in 2004 was appointed to the role of CEO where he remains today. Bryan and his family became Kinship Carers in 2010 and has used his extensive broad ranging experience spanning 32 years in family based care to help drive a vibrant, solution focused organisation that now has a role in not only support and advocacy for Foster and Kinship Carers at all levels but also, carer recruitment, carer support team, carer exit reporting, carer legal services, staff and carer training, carer counselling, retention and development program and returning carers assessments.
Presentation Title
The National State of Foster & Kinship Care – panel of representative body CEO’s
George Elisara
Immerse, New Zealand
George Elisara is the Director of Development at Immerse, overseeing the expansion of trauma-informed systems in Aotearoa, Australia, and the Pacific. A TBRI® Prac))oner, with over two decades of foster parenting experience, he brings theory and lived experience to life for families and care systems struggling to manage complex behaviours resulting from trauma.
George has an entrepreneurial background with decades of experience in establishing and growing businesses. Most recently he developed the ground-breaking behaviour App – StrategyBank – allowing parents and caregivers to have a trauma-informed coach in their pocket.
Presentation Title
TBRI Workshop and front-line coaching app for carers
Ursula Elisara
Immerse, New Zealand
Ursula is the co-founder and CEO of Immerse, a foster care and trauma-training agency established to help create a transformed and transformational culture of foster care across New Zealand. Ursula is an experienced entrepreneur with many years of serving within the space of foster care and adoption in New Zealand and abroad. She is passionate about using TBRI® to deliver trauma-informed interventions that enable the outcomes of children in foster care to equalize alongside their more advantaged peers.
Ursula brings formal training, business experience, personal insight, and empathy to her work. Under her dynamic leadership, Immerse has experienced exponential growth each year and continues to pivot to meet the changing needs of the care and protection system.
Presentaion Title
TBRI Workshop and front-line coaching app for carers
Richard Rose
Director and Founder, TLSWi, United Kingdom
Richard Rose (U.K.) is the Director and Founder of Therapeutic Life Story Work International (TLSWi). TLSWi provides consultancy and training on Therapeutic Life Story Work and working with ‘hard to reach’ children and adolescents and develops academic training programmes in the UK and Internationally. TLSW is the only evidenced based Life Story Model in the World, TLSWi also is the professional body for Therapeutic Life Story Work and engages in research, supervision and professional development of all members.
Richard has worked with traumatised children and families since he was 17 years old, and in that time has been shaped by those he has journeyed with over the last 42 years. He qualified in Social Work in 1989 and since then worked in the UK in local authority child protection and from 1997 with the highly regarded residential therapeutic treatment agency SACCS, including four years as the Clinical Practice Director of the Mary Walsh Institute.
Throughout his career, Richard has worked with children and their families in out of home care and within birth family placements, with the aim of enabling these placements to become healthy and nurturing.
Richard is a regular visitor to Australia where he is an and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University, Melbourne and Honorary Associate of the Berry Street, Melbourne. He is a regular visitor to the USA, where he has presented for Portland State University, and currently for DHS Oregon and ORPARC (Adoption Services).
Richard is the author of The Child’s Own Story – Life Story Work with Traumatised Children (2004); Life Story Therapy with Traumatised Children – A Model for Practice (2012) and Innovative Therapeutic Life Story Work (2017). Chapters in publications such as Children in Care and various papers within University Press. His latest book on Relational Practice will be published in 2025 by Jessica Kingsley Publications.
In 2020 he founded Therapeutic Life Story Work International (TLSWi) and this has developed into a leading professional community that has members across the World. This year, Richard has launched THEiA (Trauma, Health and Education International Academy) and within this new academy he will be offering 1600 funded places a year in the UK and 1600 funded places internationally for carers to complete a new certificate programme based on the Rose Model of Therapeutic Care – The Care Excellence Programme. It is envisioned that this will be a 10-year programme in the UK and Internationally and train 32000 carers.
Workshop title
Communicating with Traumatised Children
Joel de Carteret
Adoptee and Filmmaker
Joel is a renowned film maker and world-class storyteller. CEO & Chief Storyteller at Stories In Motion, he makes beautifully crafted stories that touch the heart and fill the soul. Joel is a sought after keynote speaker combines film, music and photography into his unique talks. He shares this remarkable life-changing story. As featured recently on Channel 9’s 60 minutes and GMA’s Kapuso Mo – Jessica Soho, his story has reached over 22 million people around the planet.
Joel was born in the Philippines but was separated from his family and found in a busy marketplace at age five. Nearly 31 years on, having been adopted and raised by an Australian family, Joel embarked on what seemed like an impossible mission to track down his birth mother. With virtually nothing to go on except knowing the date and location he was found, Joel undertook a journey that shows how sheer grit and determination can overcome even the most insurmountable odds. His skills as a film maker and producer, along with millions of filipino’s, aided him to the reunification of his long lost parents.
Zufi Emerson
Adoptee & Actor
Zufi’s family was formed through adoption – she was born in Ethiopia, as were her two younger brothers. Adoption was the last chance for them to thrive and by each of their first birthdays they were calling Australia home. Now as an actor, (Actors Centre of Australia) writer (Run Girl, SBS) and host (CloseUp), it’s clear both a permanent home and loving family enabled her to focus on being a kid and doing what she loved most. She is frustrated our care system remains laden in bureaucratic red tape meaning other children no longer have this same chance.
She’s gutted that in our own backyard programs like the one their family was formed through closed its doors, there’s an ever-growing over-representation of Aboriginal children in the care system and devastated to know there’s enough children in out-of-home care in Australia today to fill a stadium.
Zufi continues to support Adopt Change because she knows first hand when children are taken out of the ‘too hard’ basket their trajectories drastically change for the better. She remains adamant there are several global issues that are complicated to solve, but ‘A Home For Every Child’ should be a unanimous no-brainer. Knowing children at risk are counting on adults, Zufi will continue to share her story with transparency until we see a trauma-informed care system and process which truly means every child has the opportunity to thrive as she did.
Loren Dumbrell
Carer Services Manager, My Forever Family NSW / Adopt Change
Loren Dumbrell is the Carer Services Manager for the My Forever Family NSW program, operated by Adopt Change. Since joining the organisation in 2018 and again in 2022, Loren has helped find carer homes for vulnerable children and supported carer families in providing safe and nurturing homes. With a background in social work, Loren understands the complexities faced by those in the out-of-home care system and works hard to drive systemic change for our most vulnerable children. Loren has a bachelor’s degree in social science and twenty years’ experience in the community services sector, working in out-of-home care, youth homelessness, youth alcohol and drug units, and for the Department of Communities and Justice.
Michelle Stacpoole
Head of Communications & Engagement, Adopt Change
Michelle Stacpoole is the Head of Communications & Engagement for Adopt Change and the My Forever Family NSW program. For the past six years at Adopt Change, Michelle has helped drive the increase in awareness for children to have safe and stable homes with supports to thrive. This has included increasing the number of potential carer homes across NSW through research-based communications and campaigns, and developing strategic national campaigns to drive systemic change for children and young people in out-of-home care.
Michelle understands the impacts of impermanency and champions the need for greater trauma awareness, co-authoring research in the child-welfare space.
With a bachelor’s degree with distinction honours in communications and public relations and a Dean’s medallist at Western Sydney University, Michelle is a presenter, MC and communications professional with extensive experience directing communications, campaigns, programs, projects and events at a senior level.
Zahra Shire
Senior Worker, Flexible Funding, PCA Families Victoria
Zahra Shire joined PCA Families in November 2020. She is the senior worker in the flexible funding program with over 8 years’ experience in client services. Zahra manages the flexible funding program where funding from DFFH is distributed to eligible families to help meet the needs of children in care aged from 0 to 18. Zahra’s previous role was working with the Australian Red Cross migrant support program, helping refugees and asylum seekers while working with families and children who were experiencing financial hardship, homelessness and job loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is where she learnt the importance of holding a client centered approach to ensure their needs were met. Zahra is passionate about working with families with the goal of creating the best possible outcome, especially for those with culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds. Zahra is also studying for her MBA.
Presentation title
Carer workshop: Caring for Carers: What helps Carers feel Safe and Supported.
Melissa Pritchard
Lived Experience
Melissa is an Online Business Manager who specialises in reviewing businesses for the purpose of identifying and planning efficient and effective systems that streamline processes to serve the needs of the business while maintaining the integrity in quality customer service for clients.
Melissa was a kinship carer for 18 months during which time she was able to identify a component of the child welfare system that could prove critical to the success of restoration of families, and even prevent children being removed from their parents’ care. Following Melissa’s unwavering support and advocacy the child in her care successfully returned to his mother more than 1 year ago at age 7 years despite a previous determination that this child would remain in the system until the age of 18 years.
Due to this experience, Melissa holds the vision of creating support for parents whose children have been, or are at risk of being removed from their care that does not add financial burden to their already intensely stressful situation. An opportunity for these parents to heal their trauma and repair their emotional health; to learn skills that will allow them to improve their lives; and practical supports that alleviate additional stress and pressures of life.
Presentation Title
Enhancing supports for parents to restore families and reducing the need for foster care.
Anjali Prabhu
Senior Intercountry Social Worker, ISSA
Anjali Prabhu is an experienced social worker with over 20 years in the child protection and family-based care sector. She has worked in both direct practice and training settings across Australia, the UK, and Southeast Asia, having been based in Singapore for 11 years. Currently Anjali is a Senior Intercountry Social Worker at International Social Service Australi, working on a variety of cross border family matters. Anjali is a strong advocate for protecting and maintaining a child’s right to identity.
Presentation Title
How International Kinship Care creates Equity in Permanency
Mary Paul
Young consultant, CREATE Foundation
Mary Paul is a CREATE Foundation Young consultant and has attended their annual conference in Adelaide to voice the needs for young people in care to have access to long term, permanent homes. Mary recently won the Armidale Regional Council youth award for Social Advocacy.
Mary is passionate about creating homes for young people who have exited care and are displaced due to their circumstances, and the strength it takes to engage policy makers in sharing decisions about young people with young people.
Youth panel
Healed People Heal People. A home for healing starts with the family
Dawyte Hart-O’Neill
Lived experience survivor and advocate
Dawyte Hart-O’Neill is a young leader and advocate within their community, with extensive experience in Mental Health, Out-Of-Home Care, Intensive Youth Support, and System Reform Initiatives. Their advocacy for vulnerable children and young people has led them to receive recognition at both local and national levels.
Dawyte is dedicated to ensuring that children’s voices are heard and their rights are upheld by the individuals and systems meant to protect them. They strive to be a catalyst for change, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be heard and to live in a safe and supportive environment.
As an emerging social worker, Dawyte is driven by a vision to integrate their lived experiences into their practice. Their goal is to develop a model of care for young people that is not only more inclusive but also holistic, addressing the full spectrum of their needs. Dawyte’s passion for improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for young people is at the heart of their daily advocacy work.
Presentation title
Highlighting the impact of practice on First Nations children and how we can holistically support children in out-of-home care
Steve Kinmond OAM
NSW Children’s Guardian
Steve Kinmond OAM is Children’s Guardian in NSW, having taken up the position in January 2023.
From 2019 he was CEO of the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA), having previously served as NSW Community and Disability Services Commissioner and Deputy Ombudsman (Human Services).
Steve sees the role of the Office of the Children’s Guardian is to support and strengthen organisations in their work with children. He will partner with government and non-government stakeholders to help improve the systems that are in place to support and protect children in NSW, especially the most vulnerable.
He has more than 30 years’ experience in investigation and regulation, having also worked as a solicitor and run his own consultancy practice.
Heading ACWA, Steve helped secure stronger funding for residential, statutory out-of-home care and championed the needs and special interests of vulnerable young people.
As Deputy Ombudsman, Steve led improvements in its oversight of community and disability services, and helped reform how the organisation reviews the deaths of children and young people with disability.
Dr Robyn McCarthy
Lecturer in Education Studies Education, University of Tasmania
Dr Robyn McCarthy is a lecturer in education studies at the School of Education in the College of Arts, Law and Education. Robyn is a former primary classroom teacher with 25 years’ experience in education. Since joining UTAS Robyn has been teaching primarily in the areas of education foundation studies, education support, professional studies, and has taught across the Arts. Robyn’s key teaching and research interests emphasise fostering educator/learner creativity and resilience and, trauma informed practices in schools and in higher education.
Presentation Title
Implementing Trust Based Relational Intervention® in Early Childhood Services to improve outcomes for children.
Jason May
Bawamarra Cultural Services
I am a proud Wiradjuri man from the Binjang clan of Wellington, NSW. My early years were shaped by a deep connection to my culture, which grew into a profound respect and passion for learning and teaching cultural knowledge as I matured. Understanding the healing power of cultural connection became a cornerstone of my personal and professional journey, particularly in my early adult years.
Family is central to my life; I am a devoted husband and father of five beautiful children, or galin gabangbur. Being the best father, I can be is a guiding principle in everything I do.
My personal journey has been marked by significant challenges, including growing up in a household with physical, verbal, and psychological violence, substance abuse, and the trauma of sexual abuse. These experiences led me to a difficult path in my early adult years, struggling with issues like alcohol and sex addiction. However, at the age of 27, after separating from my older children’s mother, I began a journey of self-healing, growth, and recovery. This journey has been supported by regular therapy and a commitment to helping others who have faced similar challenges. My wife has been an incredible source of support and inspiration, helping me realize the importance of my Indigenous identity and the healing power of culture, purpose, and connection.
In 2022, I co-founded Bawamarra Cultural Services, an Indigenous-owned business dedicated to providing culturally centred, holistic, and therapeutic mentoring to children and youth, particularly those in out-of-home care (OOHC) and involved with the justice system. At Bawamarra, we believe that mentoring can have a transformative impact, not just on individuals but on communities as a whole. We offer a range of services, including cultural consultation, cultural supervision, and the development and delivery of tailored cultural awareness education packages. Our cultural immersion programs and workshops are designed to foster genuine cultural understanding and respect within workplaces and communities.
Our work at Bawamarra is rooted in the principles of Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB), integrating psychological expertise with Indigenous spirituality and lived experiences. In recognition of our innovative approach, Bawamarra Cultural Services proudly received the 2023 Innovate with NBN Co Australia Indigenous Business Award. We collaborate on academic projects aimed at enhancing SEWB outcomes for Indigenous children and youth in OOHC, working alongside esteemed professionals like Manisha Abayakoon-Stanborough and Debbie Haynes from the DCJ. We also receive ongoing support from Dr. Gordon Reid MP, which strengthens our impact and reach in the community.
My professional journey includes roles such as Cultural Educator and Mentor with Dhinewan Mentoring, various positions with the DCJ, including Indigenous Senior Project Officer, and an Environmental Health Officer with Central Coast Local Health District. Additionally, I founded the Central Coast Men’s Wellbeing Circle, a community support group that provides a safe space for men to engage in open and honest discussions about their challenges. My commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing, particularly among men, is a driving force in my life.
Sport and exercise are also passions of mine. I have a long-standing involvement in Rugby League, both as a player and a coach, and I make regular time for exercise to maintain my physical and mental wellbeing.
Today, I am dedicated to fostering reconciliation, building bridges of understanding and respect, and supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of all individuals. Through Bawamarra Cultural Services and my personal initiatives, I strive to create a future where cultural diversity is celebrated, and all voices are heard and valued.
Presentation title
Bawamarra Cultural Services: Fostering Healing and Growth Through the Buwanha Mentoring Program
Amanda Purvis
Training Manager, Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Texas
Amanda Purvis is a Training Manager with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KP ICD) at TCU. As training Manager, Amanda’s main focus is instructing professionals working with children who have experienced trauma, in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®). TBRI, a holistic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children, offering systemic implementation and consultation support to systems and organizations across the globe.
Amanda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO. She began her career working in Child Protective Services as an intake worker. She then transitioned to foster care and post-adoption support, where she spent a decade of her career before beginning her work with the Purvis Institute in December 2017. She received her Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Texas Christian University. Amanda lives in Colorado with her children.
Presentation Title
See the Need and Meet the Need of Vulnerable Families Using Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI): A Global Case Study
Damon Martin
Deputy CEO, ISSA
Damon Martin is the Deputy CEO of International Social Service (ISS) Australia’. Damon is a qualified Social Worker who has worked for ISS Australia for over 16 years. Prior to that, Damon has worked for over 12 years in Government Child Protection teams in Australia, England and New Zealand. Damon also has extensive experience working and training on overseas ISS missions to Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Romania and the Philippines. Damon is deeply committed to supporting and connecting vulnerable children, adults and families affected by cross border issues.
Presentation Title
How International Kinship Care creates Equity in Permanency
Julie Hourigan
Chief Executive Officer, SHINE for Kids
Julie is the Chief Executive Officer of SHINE for Kids.
She is a results focused leader achieving better outcomes for children, young people, families and communities experiencing vulnerability.
Julie has significant experience in the community sector predominantly in the areas of early intervention and prevention; domestic violence; and homelessness. She was previously the Chief Executive Officer at NSW Family Services Inc (Fams). Julie is a professionally certified Results Based AccountabilityTM practitioner, and wishes she had access to the framework principles a decade earlier than she did.
Julie has also worked in community legal centres, government legal roles and corporate accounting firms.
She maintains her legal practising certificate and has a Masters in Law (Human Rights and Social Justice). She has been an NSW Government appointed member of the Housing Appeals Committee since 2010 and a Presiding Chair since July 2013
Presentation Title
Children with parents in custody
Julia Horton
Practice Manager, Wesley Mission
Julia serves as the Practice Manager at Wesley Mission’s Family Preservation Program, where she leads practice development, implementation, and safeguarding processes. The program provides crucial support to families across Western Sydney, Nepean, and the Blue Mountains, aiming to prevent children from entering or escalating within the child protection system. Holding a bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Public Health, Julia is passionate about advocating for best practices that support positive outcomes for children and families. Her work focuses on integrating evidence-based approaches and innovative solutions into the program’s implementation.
Presentation Title
How SafeCare is moving away from a one-size fits all approach to parenting supports.
Samantha Hauge
Chief Executive Officer, Foster Care Association of Victoria
Samantha has led the FCAV as Chief Executive Officer for over 5 years. She has over 30 years’ experience in the Victorian public sector, and 5 years’ experience as a board member at Kidsafe Victoria. Samantha has been a carer for 20 years and, as a long term FCAV member, has been engaged in the carer community, understanding how important connection, support and representation is for carers.
Prior to joining the FCAV, Samantha was CEO of the Coroners Court of Victoria, after establishing and then managing the Court’s Coroners Prevention Unit. Prior to the Court, she worked with the Department of Health and Human Services for 16 years, initially as a child protection worker and later in various managerial positions. During this time, she appeared as a senior court officer at the Children’s Court of Victoria and worked as a senior policy advisor with the Office of Children, Child Protection and Family Services. She has also worked as a counsellor at the Victorian Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and in other counselling positions in women and children services.
Samantha utilises this expertise to lead the FCAV to advocate for carers and young people, ensuring the FCAV as the peak body for foster care in Victoria, is placed to provide the quality information, support and advocacy services that its members need in their vital role in the lives of children and young people in home-based care.
Title of talk
The National State of Foster & Kinship Care – panel of representative body Ceo’s
Lucy Thornton
Design and Innovation Lead at the Chrysalis Transformation Hub | Key Assets Australia
Lucy Thornton is the Design and Innovation Lead at the Chrysalis Transformation Hub, Key Assets Australia. She leads a creative, collaborative team dedicated to designing better ways to support children and young people in care. Through co-design and engagement with lived experience, Lucy works with organisations to address complex systemic challenges and drive meaningful change.
Jenny Evans
Senior Social Worker | Key Assets
Jenny Evans is a Senior Social Worker at Key Assets with extensive experience in statutory child protection, case management, and carer advocacy. Drawing on her background with the Department for Child Protection, she is passionate about improving outcomes for children and empowering foster and kinship carers through collaboration, training, and tailored support.
Mellissa
Case Worker | Life Without Barriers
Mellissa is a proud Dharawal women who has worked in the OOHC sector for 10 years. Mellissa is currently working in LWB as a case worker and is deeply passionate about supporting and guiding young people. Mellissa is dedicated to helping individuals navigate both the good and challenging times, offering a steady presence and compassionate support. Mellissa’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of those in her care is a testament to her nurturing nature and unwavering dedication to fostering growth and resilience in young people.
Francesca Fowler
Carer Support Officer | Carers for Kids NSW
Francesca is a team member with Carers for Kids NSW, joining the program in March 2025. In her role, she supports carers across the state and leads a range of creative initiatives that celebrate and strengthen the carer community.
She has helped grow major events such as the Foster Care Picnic, Carer Awards, and Annual Conference through successful partnerships and donations, and currently manages a project with Corporate Challenge that provides new bikes and LEGO sets to children in care.
With a background in case management and child and youth welfare, Francesca is passionate about creating opportunities for children in care to flourish, and about ensuring carers feel valued, supported, and recognised for the vital role they play
Tyler McLean
Carer Support Officer | Carers for Kids NSW
Tyler McLean is a Carer Support Officer with our Carers for Kids NSW program providing support and advocacy to carers across NSW since she joined our team in early 2022. Before her current role, Tyler built a strong foundation working in the disability sector, with a particular focus on navigating the complexities of the NDIS.
Tyler is passionate about amplifying the voices of carers to drive meaningful systemic change. She leads the coordination and facilitation of five Carer Advisory Groups across the state, which provides a structured space for carers to meet quarterly with local agencies and DCJ at both local and directorate levels. These groups work collaboratively to identify systemic challenges and contribute practical, solution-focused recommendations with the goal to improve the experience for both carers and the children they care for.
Zena Almouiee
Culturally Responsive Practice Manager in SSI’s MCFP
Zena Almouiee is the Culturally Responsive Practice Manager in SSI’s MCFP, leading a team of specialists in Therapeutic Life Story Work, Life Story and CALD Youth/Aftercare. With over 30 years’ experience, she has developed extensive knowledge and expertise in OOHC, child protection, advocacy, juvenile justice, education, restorative justice and dispute resolution utilising a culturally responsive practice lens.
Ghassan Noujaim
Head of the Multicultural Child and Family Program (MCFP) at Settlement Services International (SSI)
Ghassan is the Head of the Multicultural Child and Family Program (MCFP) at Settlement Services International (SSI). With over 24 years of experience in child protection, community development, training, and education, Ghassan has worked across government and non-government sectors, including DCJ. As a leader in best practice, innovation, and continuous quality improvement, Ghassan is known for expertise in child protection, out-of-home care, and matching children to culturally appropriate carers. He is highly regarded for his ability to develop, implement, and monitor multicultural care plans that prioritise cultural and accessibility inclusion to meet children’s individual needs.
Ghassan played a pivotal role in establishing MCFP, overseeing the program since 2013, and developing initiatives such as My Life and Me, Cultural Life Story Work, and Covid-19 and Me in collaboration with ACWA, DCJ, and MFF. He is an accredited Family Group Conferencing facilitator, Step by Step Accredited Assessor, therapeutic life story work practitioner, and facilitator for Building Stronger Families. His dedication has been recognised through multiple awards, including the Zest Award (2020), CAPS Child Protection Award (2021), and others for excellence and innovation in community practice. Ghassan holds a Master of Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Arts.
Rebecca Whips
General Manager | People and Culture at an International Healthcare group
Rebecca Whips is the General Manager – People and Culture at an International Healthcare group, where she leads the organisation’s people strategy and supports a rapidly growing, high-performing workforce across Australia and New Zealand. With senior leadership experience in high-growth, acquisition-driven organisations, she specialises in building scalable People and Culture functions that balance commercial performance with strong employee experience and culture.
Rebecca brings lived experience, as someone who grew up in foster care after entering the system at age seven. This early exposure to the impact that stability, belonging, and relationship-based support can have in a young person’s life informs her approach to leadership and organisational culture. She is passionate about improving the systems and environments that surround children in care, and advocating for approaches that strengthen placement stability, pathways to permanency, and the wellbeing of carers and families.
She holds a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Sociology, and resides on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband, Nick — an educator and school leader — and their young son, Beau.
Felicity Graham
Advocate, Founder and author
Felicity Graham is a 21 year old advocate, Founder and author.
She published her first book Not Held Down at 17 an autobiography about her time growing up in child protection. Her second book is Oscar’s Layers and was published in 2023. Felicity was 8 years old when she came into child protection with her older sister. After 14 she left her first foster family of 7 years and moved around between 5 other families, homeless shelters, cities and group homes. Now at 21 Felicity has launched her advocacy company Fostering Change Australia, her advocacy company which she hopes will grow Australia wide. Through her work she uses her story to advocate for change in the system and educate the community on what and how they can help support kids in care. One of the many things she loves about doing advocacy and public speaking is being able to do it alongside other young people and getting to hear stories of young people who were in care. We can make the biggest change when we all come together to unite our voices and advocate together with our lived experiences.
Session title
Youth panel – ‘Healed People Heal People. A home for healing starts with the family’
Naji Alam
Lived experience speaker
With over 20 years of dedicated experience in the cash-in-transit industry, Naji Alam brings energy, integrity, and leadership to every challenge he takes on. Raised in a loving home alongside his parents and three siblings, Naji’s foundation was built on strong family values, teamwork, and community spirit. He honed his academic skills at a private school and proudly graduated Year 12, ready to make an impact in the world.
When Naji met his partner Richard, he discovered a whole new industry he hadn’t explored before mentoring young people. Over twelve years together, Naji watched Richard create transformative experiences for youth, witnessing firsthand the power of compassionate guidance. This opened Naji’s eyes to fresh possibilities combining structure, empathy, and real-world skills to change lives.
Fuelled by shared passion, Naji and Richard opened their hearts and home to Dennis, a bright 15 year old in need of desperate care. Those first two years were filled with challenges and incredible rewards. Building on every lesson learned with Dennis, they welcomed another young man, Baradyne into their family. Today their household buzzes with laughter, growth, and the proud anticipation of watching both young men flourish.
Richard
Lived experience speaker
With over 25 years of professional and lived experience, Richard brings both personal insight and deep expertise to the homelessness and community services sectors. His journey includes surviving homelessness as a result of domestic and family violence—an experience that has profoundly shaped his values and lifelong commitment to supporting others facing similar challenges.
Richard began his career in Out-of-Home Care before moving into refugee and asylum seeker support, including four years working offshore with displaced communities. Since then, he has held diverse roles across Specialist Homelessness Services, the Home Youth Assistance Program and Bail Beds, and Alternative Care Arrangements—always focusing on walking alongside children, young people, and families experiencing crisis.
Progressing into senior leadership, Richard has overseen complex projects, budgets, staff development, and service delivery, all while remaining grounded in direct engagement and advocacy.
Today, as a foster parent to two Aboriginal boys with lived experience of domestic violence, Richard continues to create a safe and nurturing home where healing and growth can take place. He believes that safety and belonging are the foundations of change, and through both his work and care, he is dedicated to helping children reclaim hope, identity, and the belief that they truly matter.
Shannon Mackie
State Director, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Practice and Partnerships at Life Without Barriers | Chair of Winangay Resources
Shannon Mackie is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman from the Mid North Coast of NSW, with deep family and cultural connections to Bundjalung, Tiwi Islands, and Dunghutti nations. With over 20 years of experience in child protection and out-of-home care, Shannon brings a powerful blend of cultural knowledge, cross-cultural practice, and strategic leadership that is widely respected across the sector.
She is currently the State Director, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Practice and Partnerships at Life Without Barriers, where she leads transformative work to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities.
Shannon also serves as Chair of Winangay Resources, a nationally recognised organisation that develops trauma-informed, culturally safe tools and training. These resources co-designed with Elders, practitioners, and academics are used across Australia to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, support reunification with family, and prioritise placement with kin and community.
Jason Dowie
Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Support at Life Without Barriers
Jason is a Dunghutti man with over 15 years of experience in the child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) sector. Currently, he serves as the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Support at Life Without Barriers, where he leads initiatives to enhance cultural safety and promote the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Jason is deeply committed to social justice, cultural responsibility, and honouring the obligations that come with his cultural identity. With a passion for sharing knowledge and fostering greater understanding, Jason works tirelessly to create spaces where culture is respected, celebrated, and embedded in practice.
Jane Rabie
Mental Health Social Worker | Synergetic Play Therapist | Certified Theraplay® Practitioner
Jane has over 25 years’ experience supporting children who have experienced early adversity and live with sensitive nervous systems. She specialises in nurturing children’s relational development, interpreting behaviours that are often complex and misunderstood as attempts to connect. Jane is passionate about guiding the adults around the child to recognise where children may be developmentally stuck and respond with attunement and nurture that fosters healing and growth.
Drawing on Synergetic Play Therapy, Jane works with dysregulated nervous system states, helping children and carers find safety, connection, and emotional regulation. Since 2019, she has worked with Key Assets NSW, strengthening relationships and creating environments where children can heal and thrive
Christopher Smith
Life of Me with ASD is about Christopher Smith, a 26-year-old with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ASD. While working as an Activities Officer at an Aged Care service Chris has embraced his disability and he aims to not only bring a fresh perspective to the life of people, especially children and young people with ASD but also tell his story to allow others to better understand ASD and its impact, which for Chris is positive and enriching.
Fiona Endacott
Chief Executive Officer, Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers – SA Inc
Fiona Endacott is the Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA (CF&KC-SA), where she leads the organisation’s mission to support and advocate for foster and kinship carers across South Australia. With a deep commitment to child protection and community service, Fiona has dedicated her career to improving the lives of vulnerable children and the families who care for them.
With over 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Fiona has developed a reputation for her strategic leadership, innovative thinking, and passionate advocacy. Fiona has worked in areas spanning drug & alcohol, mental health and most recently child protection at the peak body CF&KC-SA. Under her leadership, CF&KC-SA has expanded its reach and influence, ensuring that the voices of foster and kinship carers are heard at both state and national levels.
Fiona’s approach to leadership is grounded in collaboration, empathy, and a deep understanding of the complexities of the child protection system. She is a strong advocate for policy reform and has been instrumental in driving initiatives that address systemic issues affecting carers and the children in their care. Fiona is dedicated to addressing the issue of financial security as a gendered issue for foster and kinship carers, working to shift the policy, practice and legislation to support volunteer Carers to provide care safely with dignity and respect.
A skilled communicator and strategist, Fiona is frequently sought after as a speaker and advisor on matters related to child protection, foster care, and community services. Her insights into the challenges and opportunities within the sector have made her a respected figure among policymakers, practitioners, and carers alike.
Fiona holds a strong commitment to building a supportive and resilient community for foster and kinship carers, ensuring they have the resources, training, and recognition they deserve. Her work continues to make a profound impact on the lives of many, contributing to a more just and compassionate society.
Title of talk
The National State of Foster & Kinship Care – panel of representative body CEO’s
Emily Wiles
Family and Carer Support Program Manager
Emily has over 13 years of experience working in the Out of Home Care sector. Emily delivers Foster Carer training across NSW and leads the Foster Care Program Support team at CASPA. Emily has seen the positive impact that tailored support to Foster and Kin Carers can have on the stability of placements. Emily has represented CASPA as a speaker atinternational and national conferences, sits on state-wide policy development groups and is a key representative at local interagency and reference groups.
Angela Bontea MBA
Executive Director Child, Youth, Family & Disability
Angela is the Executive Director of Child, Youth, Family and Disability at CASPA. Drawing from her 19 years’ of experience in the Out of Home Care sector, Angela leads programs in foster care, education, training, NDIS, family supports and supported independent living.
Angela has a passion for developing leaders, programs and resources to enhance and improve the service experience for the children, young people, families and people living with a disability that we support.
Emily Hikaiti
Ambassador & Lived Experience Advocate, Adopt Change
Emily Hikaiti is a valued Ambassador of the Adopt Change community. Emily has led our FACS Caseworker training and spoken at our Western NSW OOHC and Mental Health Interagency and has attended THRIVE in previous years as both a host and panel member. Emily has been an MC at CREATE Foundation’s National Survey Launch and at the Their Futures Matter 2019 conference, alongside MC for Adopt Change’s Foster Carers Week Event in 2022. Emily attended IFCO’s International Foster Carers Conference as a youth facilitator in 2022. She also attended Parliament House to release the highlights from The National Permanency Conference in 2022 alongside Adopt Change CEO Renee Carter. Emily has been a Head Facilitator for Creating Chances since 2021, providing positive youth development pathways in schools using sport as the driving tool.
Aside from supporting young people in her community, she is an incredible parent to an eight year old son, Emily is a successful entrepreneur in both photography and consultation and offers these services to organisations around Australia and abroad. Emily is passionate about reducing youth homelessness by extending the leaving care age in NSW and in 2022 encouraged states and territories to make this change alongside CREATE Foundations. Emily is especially passionate about providing young people in care with better support networks to transition into adulthood, this has been executed through her business consistently for the last 5 years; providing advocacy and consultation on an individual, group, and systematic level around Australia.
Kathryn Eberly
Mental health social worker and clinical family therapist, Restoring Families
Kathryn Eberly is a mental health social worker and clinical family therapist with nearly twenty years of experience in the Out of out-of-home care system. Kathryn works on many levels within the system, providing consultation, supervision and training to professionals, supporting foster, kinship, permanent and residential carers, and doing direct therapeutic work with children, young people and their families. Restoring Families is passionate about increasing stability for children by supporting Carers and do this by providing Carer Practice Development sessions, facilitating Carer Support Groups, consulting with carers about Therapeutic Parenting, as well as the provision of Carer Debriefing sessions.
Dr Milissa Deitz
Senior Lecturer in Communication and Creative Industries at Western Sydney University
Milissa is a Senior Lecturer in Communication and Creative Industries at Western Sydney University. An authorised foster carer and former journalist, Milissa’s research and scholarly interests include voice and the marginalised within digital storytelling; young people, wellbeing and technology; and mental health and bereavement. Her latest outputs are Foster Youth in the Mediasphere: Lived experience and Digital Lives in the Australian Out-Of-Home-Care System (Palgrave MacMillan New York 2022); “Digital Life Story Work: Linking Identity and Security for Young People in Out-of-Home Care” (Journal of Applied Youth Studies 2024); and the short film Coming Home: The Search for Identity in the Australian Foster Care System (2024).
Presentation Title
Foster Care in the Digital Age: Securing Best Practice for Life Story Work
Ellia Green OAM
Olympic Gold Medallist, Public Speaker, Advocate for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Ellia Green OAM is a proud Fijian, retired professional rugby sevens player who was a part of the Olympic gold winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Ellia also competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Rugby Sevens world cup in San Francisco. Ellia has competed in the International HSBC World Rugby Sevens circuit from 2012 through to 2021 debuting in Texas, Houston.
Prior to rugby, Ellia was a track and field sprinter, specialising in the 100M and 200M and made their first international meet in Doha Qatar in the World Juniors for the 100M and the 200M relay.
Ellia retired from rugby in August 2021 and is currently in their second year studying International Security Studies at Macquarie University and working Full Time at the International container terminal. Ellia is an national champion for change ambassador for the united nations Australia, a Raise Ambassador and an Adopt Change ambassador.
Since retiring from professional sport, Ellia has found liberation in his identity and sense of self along with the greatest achievement yet, becoming a Dad to daughter Waitui and fiancé to Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts. Whilst being an internationally successful athlete Ellia continues a strong commitment off the field for the rights of racial gender diversity and the wellbeing of marginalised individuals and groups.
Belinda Coleman
Scheduling & Quality Lead, Curijo
Belinda boasts over 25 years of extensive experience in all facets of child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC). Her career spans roles as a caseworker, including time at the Joint Child Protection Response Program (JCPRP), casework specialist, manager, executive, and quality specialist. Belinda has earned a reputation as a standout figure in the sector, known for her engagement prowess and creative casework approaches.
Belinda’s leadership and expertise extend to writing and delivering training to the sector. She is a current writer and facilitator for the PSP Learning Hub, which provides statewide training for PSP OOHC practitioners and a guest facilitator for DCJ’s Caseworker Development Program topic of Restoration. Her training sessions are dynamic, engaging, and aimed at empowering professionals with the latest knowledge and practical skills.
With a keen interest in bringing research into practice, Belinda excels at integrating the latest findings into actionable strategies. Her passion for hearing children’s voices and advocating for the power and importance of strong networks for children, families, and carers is evident in her work. She believes that the presence of one caring adult can make a significant difference in a child’s life, and she strives to foster these critical connections.
Presentation Title
A Lifeline of Love: Building Strong Networks for Children in Care
Renée Leigh Carter
CEO, Adopt Change
Renée Leigh Carter is the CEO of Adopt Change and a passionate advocate for the well-being of children and young people, with a focus on children with an experience in the Australian child protection system.
Renee leads a team of Adopt Change Changemakers across a range of work nationally and operates the government-funded My Forever Family NSW program to recruit, support, train and advocate for carers (foster, kinship, guardian and adoptive) of children in care.
National activities include the annual #THRIVE National Permanency Conference; campaigns including ‘A Home for Every Child’ to find more homes and support; MyPacks first night backpacks for kids entering care; Empower Change for providing education support to children in care; along with engagement with community, government, child welfare sector; and is regularly sought to speak with media about child welfare, trauma informed care, permanency and adoption.
Renee is a member of the National Foster & Kinship Care Collective, with CEO colleagues from Australian jurisdiction carer representative bodies.
Renée has held roles on advisory committees including as a member of the Institute Advisory Group for the independent research centre – Institute of Open Adoption Studies (The University of Sydney); various government and cross-sector advisory groups and taskforces; and was previously Vice Chair of NSW Committee on Adoption and Permanent Care (COAPC).
She is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, with a background in communications and executive management, along with board level experience in corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Her experience includes three years as Chair of charity Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS), an organisation focused on early intervention, education and support of families and communities; and Managing Director of corporate, investor and creative communications specialists Designate Group.
Renée is committed to influencing child welfare policy and practice for social impact – to bring about timely and effective outcomes for children so they can have better childhood experiences and a brighter future.
Chris Braddock
State Program and Engagement Coordinator NSW/ACT, CREATE Foundation
Chris is an experienced youth worker based in Sydney, Australia. Chris has diverse experience within both the Out-Of-Home Care (OOHC) and Youth Justice sectors across New South Wales, ACT, and Central Australia. Chris’ experience has had particular focus on participatory practice, program development and youth engagement. As the State Program and Engagement Coordinator for NSW and ACT, Chris leads the programmatic work and engagement of CREATE’s NSW and ACT teams. Current programs and advocacy have had particular focus on education, transition supports, and imbedding young person led participation within system reform and practice. Chris’ passion lies within participatory and strengths-based practice and believes that children and young people with lived experience are the experts best placed to lead positive and sustainable change within the OOHC system.
Presentation title
CREATE’s approach to developing practice advice for government and sector agencies co-designed by young people with an experience of the system.
Using a case study of a project facilitated by CREATE in NSW, the presentation will highlight how policy advice is crafted through direct consultation with young people. The case study, focusing on a recent Ministerial Roundtable in NSW, will illustrate how young people shaped the foundation of the project and will explore various consultation methods used during data collection. Special attention will be given to the role of young consultants from CREATE, demonstrating how the guide’s structure and consultation sessions can be made child-friendly and culturally safe. The results of this initiative include clear guidance and creative solutions for specific improvements to residential care to be applied in practice. This aligns closely with the theme of this year’s THRIVE Summit, emphasising the importance of evidence-based policy recommendations and listening to the voices of young people. By presenting practical insights into effective collaboration models, this presentation aims to contribute meaningfully to ongoing system reform efforts in child protection, elevating the vital role young people’s voices play in improving outcomes for children and young people in care.
Professor Stacy Blythe RN Phd
Head of Discipline – Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, UTS
Professor Stacy Blythe has been a Registered Nurse since 2003 with clinical expertise in critical care and infection control. Stacy’s research focuses on the health and well-being of children in out-of-home care and their families (both birth and foster families), and she has a particular interest in infants and children who were prenatally exposed to harmful substances (eg. illicit drugs).
In addition to her nursing, teaching and research qualifications, Stacy has post graduate certification in Developmental Trauma and has been an authorised foster carer for 18+ years. Drawing on her skills as a nurse, knowledge as a researcher and experience as a carer, Stacy provides training to health care workers, social service providers, educators and foster/kinship carers in relation to working with children who have experienced prenatal substance exposure and/or developmental trauma.
Presentation Title
Upholding Children’s Connections – Focusing the lens on multicultural children in care.
Dr Jane Aronson
Founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans Foundation
Dr. Jane Aronson was born in Brooklyn in 1951 and grew up on Long Island. She attended Hunter College in New York City and taught school for ten years.
At thirty-one, she fulfilled her life’s dream to become a physician and entered medical school. She graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1986 and did a pediatric residency and chief residency in New Jersey, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Columbia Presbyterian /Babies Hospital in New York City. Between 1992 and 2000, she was the Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Director of the International Adoption Medical Consultation Services at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York.
Since July 2000, Dr. Aronson has been in private practice as Director of International Pediatric Health Services, in New York City. She is Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and has evaluated well over 4,000 children adopted from abroad as an adoption medicine specialist; she has traveled to orphanages in Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Latin America.
Since 1997, she has conducted research and provided education in orphanages abroad through her 501(3) (c) foundation, Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO). WWO documents the medical and developmental conditions of children living in orphanages abroad in order to identify their immediate healthcare needs and to advocate for their well-being through the Orphan Ranger Program. This program acts as a “peace corps” for orphanages by commissioning university students and healthcare professionals to live and work in orphanages. They are proficient in the native tongue and work in conjunction with staff to improve the nutritional and emotional health of abandoned children. Since 1997, Dr. Aronson has funded Orphan Rangers in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, India, Ecuador, Viet Nam, China, Serbia, Montenegro, and Ethiopia. WWO has been granted NGO status in Viet Nam and Ethiopia and has embarked on training programs for physicians in both countries to care for HIV-infected orphans.WWO currently treats orphans with HIV/AIDS in both countries.
She has been featured in many newspapers and magazines, such as The New Yorker on July 17, 2000, People on November 12, 2001, May 2, 2005, August 1, 2005, and most recently, November 7, 2005; other features were in The NewYork Times in Jane Brody’s Science Times/Personal Health column on July 22, 2003 and then Jill Brooke’s feature on adoption and home design on July 22, 2004. She is a recipient of the Congressional Angel of Adoption Award in September 2000. She is the adoptive mom of two sweet boys, Ben, from Viet Nam and Desalegn, from Ethiopia.
Leisa Bennett
Dharug Woman, Director Beyond Behaviour Community Services
Leisa is a strong and proud Dharug Woman of the Gattai Clan, a First Nations descendant. Leisa is a Clinical Counsellor, specialising in mental health and trauma recovery, and a member of the Indigenous Healing Practices College. Leisa has worked with children, young people and their families for over 20 years and has been coaching parents to strengthen their attachment and restore family relationships. She has seen families transformed by being connected, empowered and healed, and is passionate about intergenerational healing for First Nations descendants. Leisa was born into a family impacted by the stolen generations, and has personal experience of identity pain, trauma and healing. She leads a team of Therapeutic Practitioners in Queensland and continues to learn every day from the wisdom of professionals, colleagues and the families she works with.
Website: http://beyondbehaviour.org.au
Presentation title
Healing identity in a safe home when home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children is Ngurra (country)
Kate Beasley
SafeCare Project Officer, Wesley Mission
Kate is a dedicated SafeCare Project Officer at Wesley Mission with 16 years of experience in the early intervention sector. She holds a background in early childhood and a graduate certificate in developmental trauma. Since becoming one of the first SafeCare providers in New South Wales in 2017, Kate has excelled as both a coach and trainer. Her work is deeply rooted in her passion for supporting caregivers to foster healthy and resilient children. Kate now oversees the implementation of SafeCare in Family Preservation services across NSW and is leading its expansion into new areas, including ongoing statutory casework and restoration cases.
Presentation Title
How SafeCare is moving away from a one-size fits all approach to parenting supports.
Brittany Casey-Lennon
Social Worker - Quals: Diploma of Counselling, Bachelor of Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction), Master of Social Work
Brittany Casey-Lennon is a social worker who blends professional expertise with lived experience in the out of home care system, giving her a perspective that is both deeply informed and profoundly empathetic. Her insight into the challenges faced by children, young people, and families in crisis has shaped a career devoted to creating meaningful, lasting change.
Brittany began her journey in the community services sector seven years ago, working in the disability field before completing a Bachelor of Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction). Drawn to the complexities of the child protection space, Brittany transitioned into out of home care, taking on the role of case manager for a large NGO. In 2025, Brittany completed her Master of Social Work, undertaking her final placement as a carer recruitment and assessment officer.
Her work is grounded in a belief that safety, stability, and connection are the foundation for every child’s future. Brittany’s unique perspective allows her to balance empathy for birth families with a fierce advocacy for the safety and wellbeing of children. She is passionate about family preservation where possible, expanding access to mental health supports, improving leaving care outcomes, and ensuring young people have the tools to not only survive but thrive. An outspoken advocate for system reform, she is committed to building a more accountable, inclusive, and responsive care system one that learns from the past while creating better futures for the next generation.
Rachel Chapman
Speech Team Leader - Senior Speech Pathologist | Founding Director of Let's Talk Communication & Training
Rachel is a highly experienced Speech Pathologist with over a decade of clinical experience across the UK and Australia. She is dedicated to equipping parents, carers, educators, and teachers with essential knowledge on speech and language development. In 2022, she founded Let’s Talk Communication and Training, driven by her commitment to bridging gaps in understanding and support.
Rachel delivers bespoke training and Elklan Speech and Language courses across Australia. She recently appeared on the Mindful Speechies podcast, where she shared her insights on the intersection of speech pathology and mental health and also developed the online training module for Adopt Change and My Forever Family in 2024.
Her extensive clinical background spans diverse settings, including youth justice services, a specialist school for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs, community clinics, and support units for children with autism and learning differences in the UK, as well as Private Practices in Australia.
Rachel has helped countless children, adolescents, and their families navigate communication challenges—fostering confidence, connection, and meaningful growth.
Danielle Murphy
Foster Carer, Author & Advocate
Danielle Murphy is a foster carer, author, and passionate advocate for improving the foster care system in Australia. Over the past six years, Danielle and her husband, Sam, have opened their home to 16 children. She brings both first-hand experience as a carer and professional with experience working within the foster care sector, giving her a dual perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the system.
Driven by a deep belief that foster care is incredibly difficult yet profoundly worthwhile, Danielle is taking her passion along with her team of volunteers and founded the Hope and Transformation Initiative, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing training, mentorship, advocacy, and community for carers. She is also the author of Hearts in Transition: Navigating Love and Loss in Foster Care, a written account of her and Sam’s journey as carers, to bring more awareness of the challenges and beauty of foster care.
John Cardamone
Disclosure Response Specialist, Body Safety Educator, Speaker and Trainer.
John Cardamone is a Disclosure Response Specialist, Body Safety Educator, Speaker and Trainer. He works with families, educational settings, and organisations of every size to strengthen prevention, implementation, and response strategies, ensuring safety and trauma-informed practice.
With over 12 years in education and senior leadership, and an experienced counsellor, he brings a rare and powerful blend of lived experience, professional insight, and systems-level expertise across multiple sectors.
His two-year experience of childhood sexual abuse at the age of six, and 30+ years on my healing journey have allowed him to navigate trauma and now formulate what helped create the foundation of his healing journey – connection and a sense of belonging.
Through his experience, he learned that no matter our past experiences (or present challenges), nurturing connection and a sense of belonging is the catalyst for not allowing our past to dictate our future.
His mission is to share the importance of connection, prevention, and protection – creating environments where children and adults feel safe, supported, and able to thrive.
His approach is grounded, strategic, and deeply informed by real-world application and evidence-based research, reviewed and endorsed by leading industry experts. This makes him a trusted voice across education, care settings, and all organisations.
Jake Iaria
Therapeutic Practitioner - Carer Assistance Program
Jake Iaria is a registered psychologist and Therapeutic Practitioner with the Foster Care Association of Victoria’s (FCAV) Carer Assistance Program (CAP), bringing extensive experience in child protection and the out-of-home care system since 2018. He provides specialised, trauma-informed psychological support to foster carers, permanent carers, and adoptive parents, helping them navigate the complex emotional and systemic challenges they face.
Jake has provided individual and group interventions, therapeutic workshops, and reflective practice sessions to build carers’ resilience and capacity. He is passionate about supporting positive change for carers and advocating for their recognition and wellbeing within the child protection sector.
Combining clinical expertise with a compassionate, strengths-based approach, Jake equips carers with practical tools and emotional support tailored to their unique journeys, strengthening the care community and improving outcomes for children in care.
Sue Trembath
Director, Improving Placement Outcomes. QLD Government Department of Child Safety, Disability Services and Seniors
Sue is a social worker with 40 years’ experience working with children and young people. Sue is currently working with the QLD government and has worked in a variety of roles in her career, from direct service to senior management, in vocational and tertiary education. Sue has extensive experience in human services in both government agencies and community services organisations, primarily in the fields of child protection and out-of-home care. Sue also has experience in counselling, disability services, youth justice, aged care and veterans’ services. Sue commenced her career with a Bachelor of Social Work and later completed postgraduate studies in Social Work focusing on the role of carers in the out-of-home carer system.
Presentation Title
The Power of Language: the role played by language and the link between language and institutionalisation of the life of young people in care.
Jasmine Perry
National Leader, Foster Care Development
Jasmine Perry has over 20 years’ experience working in child protection systems both nationally and abroad, focusing on developing, implementing and managing services in child safety, youth justice, disability, homelessness, community inclusion and community development.
As the National Leader, Foster Care Development at MacKillop Family Services, Jasmine is passionate about supporting carers to provide safe and nurturing homes and breaking the stigma of children in care.
Anthony Raitman
Executive Director, Strategy and Risk, Child, Youth and Family at Life Without Barriers
Anthony is currently the Executive Director, Strategy and Risk, Child, Youth and Family at Life Without Barriers. In this role, Anthony is leading program and system design improvements in family-based care and residential care services. Anthony is also deepening the organisation’s engagement with children, young people and carers through the establishment of a National Youth Advisory Group and ongoing conversations with the National Carer Advisory Group. Prior to this, Anthony worked in various Victorian Government Departments most recently in the Department of Education with portfolios including inclusive education, student mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and children and young people in Out of Home Care.
Anthony has built his career around improving the health, learning, development, safety and wellbeing of children, young people and their families. This work has spanned the portfolios of schools, early childhood services and disability services and now is within the child, youth and family services.
Anthony holds an Honorary Fellowship at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and is a Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.
Simone McKenry
Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (BPsychNurs) | Cert IV - Training and Assessment (TAE)
Simone has a career spanning over three decades in the education and mental health sector. In her previous work, she combined her expertise in mental health with a deep understanding of educational support to create inclusive and nurturing learning environments. She focussed on addressing individual challenges and fostering both academic success and emotional well-being. In her role at NOFASD, Simone is dedicated to spreading awareness about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). She is committed to supporting and advocating for those affected, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Her work at NOFASD reflects her commitment to making a meaningful impact and enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities.
Shannon Kendrick
Founder of Caring with Carers
Shannon Kendrick is the founder of Caring with Carers established in 2016.
She has been leading the way as a private practitioner delivering Therapeutic Life Story Work since 2018 working directly with agencies and the government sectors across Australia. Her passion and commitment is to engage directly with children, young people and carers in out of home care to allow them to feel comfortable hearing the uncomfortable.
Shannon is continuing to advocate that all children and young people are given the opportunity to explore their own stories, build on their identity and relationships as they transition through or out of care.
Sara Scott-Hitchcock
Child and Young Person Advocate (CYPA) | Foundations Care
Sara is a Child and Young Person Advocate for Foundations Care, drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience within the care system to create meaningful change for children and young people. As the first in her family to attend university, she is completing a Bachelor of Human Services, specialising in trauma, child protection, and social policy. Sara is passionate about amplifying young people’s voices, fostering safe and inclusive environments, and using her journey of resilience, healing, and growth to inspire systemic improvements.
Zoë Robinson
Advocate for Children and Young People, NSW
Zoë Robinson was appointed as the Advocate for Children and Young People in January 2021.
Zoë holds a law degree and a Masters of Human Rights. She previously worked as a solicitor for firms in NSW, for Deloitte in internal strategy and was the CEO of the NSW Peak Body for Youth Homelessness. Prior to commencing her appointment as the Acting Advocate, Zoë worked at the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Her role was focussed on breaking disadvantage. Zoë also volunteered for a number of months for an organisation that represented death row inmates based in Houston, Texas.
Having both experience in the professional services industry and the not for profit industry means that Zoë brings a balance of passion coupled with a “can do” attitude to her role as Advocate. Zoë firmly believes that children and young people should be given every opportunity to succeed and set themselves up for success, and that they should have the opportunity to choose what that means to them. Zoë believes that all children and young people should be heard, listened to and be central to the work that we do both in government, business and community. Zoë is enthusiastic, energetic, and pragmatic and thoroughly enjoys collaborating with people to achieve a purpose and an outcome.
Presentation Title
Moving from Cage to Cage – the final report of the Advocate for Children and Young People’s Special inquiry into children and young people in alternative care arrangements
The Hon. Sabine Winton BA BPS MLA
Minister for Early Childhood Education; Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
Sabine was first elected to Parliament in 2017, as the Member for Wanneroo. During the 40th Parliament, she was a member of the Education and Health Standing Committee and served as Acting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Sabine was re-elected in 2021 and appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations. As part of this role, she was the Chair of the Steering Committee for the Aboriginal Cultural Centre project.
In December 2021, she was additionally made the Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier; Minister for State Development; Jobs and Trade; Tourism; Science; Commerce.
In December 2022, Sabine was elevated to Cabinet as the Minister for Early Childhood Education; Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services.
Prior to entering politics, Sabine was a teacher for 27 years and taught in various locations across Western Australia including Fitzroy Crossing and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. More recently, Sabine held the position of Primary Extension and Challenge Coordinator (PEAC) with the Department of Education from 2005-2017, where she also achieved the status of Level 3 classroom teacher.
Sabine attended Wanneroo High School and remains a long-time Wanneroo local, where she raised her three daughters.
Rachael Rogan
Counsellor, Yoga & Mindfulness Facilitator
Rachael is a trauma-informed counsellor, mental health educator, and experienced wellbeing facilitator with over 20 years of working in community well-being. With a background in counselling, therapeutic yoga, mindfulness, and fitness, Rachael brings warmth and creativity to the spaces she leads. She currently works with NSW Health’s Recovery and Wellbeing College, the Quest for Life Foundation, New Horizons and community-based programs supporting people living with mental health challenges. Passionate about connection, compassion, and the healing power of movement and story, Rachael creates inclusive workshops that support regulation, resilience, and recovery.
The Hon Kate Washington MP
Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion
Kate Washington MP is a passionate advocate for children, young people, and families.
For the past nine years, Kate has represented her community of Port Stephens in the NSW Parliament.
Prior to Parliament, Kate was a partner in a Newcastle law firm specialising in health law, representing people with disability and their families. She turned to politics to make the positive changes needed to build stronger communities.
As Minister for Families and Communities, Kate is determined to improve outcomes for vulnerable families right across NSW.
Vesna Ubiparipovic
Senior Trainer | Awareness and Capability at eSafety Commissioner
Vesna has 10 years’ experience of working in the Out of Home Care sector across a range of roles including direct work, learning and development and quality assurance. In tandem with her work in child welfare, Vesna has also worked as an investigator in the adult cyber abuse team at the eSafety Commissioner. Through these combined roles, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to safeguarding individuals, both in the physical and digital realms, and to promoting a culture of safety, respect, and well-being. Vesna’s journey continues to be driven by a passion for preventing harm and fostering positive outcomes.
Fay Alford, OAM
CEO | Foster Care Association WA
Fay Alford OAM has been involved in the organization for the past 41years not only as a foster parent but also as a strong and passionate voice to Government on behalf of all Foster families in WA. She was also very honoured to be awarded the Order of Australia in recognition of her work with children
Dr Brenda Heyworth
Psychiatrist and author
Dr Brenda Heyworth is a psychiatrist and author, of ‘It’s a Jungle – A Parent’s Guide to Emotions and Behaviour’ and What’s Going On? – A Teacher’s Guide to Emotions and Behaviour. She is the founder of the social enterprise ‘It’s a Jungle’, with a mission ‘to cultivate a culture of understanding about emotions and behaviour that productively changes attitudes for now and generations to come.’ www.itsajungle.com
After decades of clinical experience working with children, adolescents and carers, Dr Heyworth now facilitates workshops across the country, educating adults on a wide range of topics. An entertaining speaker, her enthusiasm is infectious as she brings perspective and a practical approach towellbeing, mental health and the complexities of life. Dr Heyworth graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Medicine in 1994 and is a longstanding Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. She has further tertiary qualification in Learning Design and Digital Technology and, in 2021, completed the Harvard Medical Faculty course, ‘Media and Medicine: How to tell stories that make a difference’.
Plenary Keynote Session
That’s Jungle!
Workshop
Growing up with BIG Emotions
Samantha Hauge
CEO | Foster Care Association VIC
Samantha Hauge has led the FCAV as Chief Executive Officer for over 5 years. She has over 30 years’ experience in the Victorian public sector, and 5 years’ experience as a board member at Kidsafe Victoria. Samantha has been a carer for 20 years and, as a long term FCAV member, has been engaged in the carer community, understanding how important connection, support and representation is for carers.
Prior to joining the FCAV, Samantha was CEO of the Coroners Court of Victoria, after establishing and then managing the Court’s Coroners Prevention Unit. Prior to the Court, she worked with the Department of Health and Human Services for 16 years, initially as a child protection worker and later in various managerial positions. During this time, she appeared as a senior court officer at the Children’s Court of Victoria and worked as a senior policy advisor with the Office of Children, Child Protection and Family Services. She has also worked as a counsellor at the Victorian Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and in other counselling positions in women and children services.
Samantha utilises this expertise to lead the FCAV to advocate for carers and young people, ensuring the FCAV as the peak body for foster care in Victoria, is placed to provide the quality information, support and advocacy services that its members need in their vital role in the lives of children and young people in home-based care.
Ursula Elisara
CEO & Co-Founder - Immerse
Ursula is the CEO of Immerse, a foster care and trauma-training agency designed to help create a transformed and transformational culture of foster care across New Zealand. Ursula is an experienced entrepreneur, with many years of serving within the space of foster care and adoption in New Zealand and abroad.
As a registered Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Practitioner, and the author of the widely distributed book, ‘Foster Care ~ Voices from the Frontline’, Ursula teaches social workers, caregivers, and other professionals about therapeutic, trauma-informed care.
She is passionate about using TBRI® and other trauma-informed approaches to deliver interventions that equalise opportunities for children in care alongside their more advantaged peers. Ursula and her husband George have been together for over three decades and have been active caregivers and adoptive parents for children and young people in foster care since 2003.
Plenary Keynote Session
Understanding Ourselves, to Best Serve our Children
Workshop
Amanda Thompson
CEO | Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT
Amanda is the Chief Executive Officer of Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT (FKCANT), where she leads the organisation’s efforts to support and advocate for foster and kinship carers throughout the Northern Territory. With over 20 years of professional experience across government and private sectors, Amanda has developed an extensive career spanning allied health, private enterprise, advertising, and marketing. For the past 11 years, Amanda has dedicated her focus to child protection, becoming a dedicated advocate for foster and kinship carers. She is committed to influencing meaningful change at both local and federal government levels, working tirelessly to ensure the voices of carers are heard and their needs addressed. Recognised for her strategic vision and passionate advocacy, Amanda works to strengthen partnerships, champion policy reforms, and drive initiatives that address systemic challenges in the child protection sector.
Bryan Smith
CEO | Queensland Foster and Kinship Care
Chief Executive Officer Bryan Smith has more than 30 years experience as both a carer and worker in Family Based Care and provides leadership for more than 20 staff and approximately 130 volunteer carers who all contribute to the organisation and Foster and Kinship Carer support through-out Queensland.
Sarah Naish
CEO | Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma
Sarah Naish is the CEO of The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma, which encompasses:
- The National Association of Therapeutic Parents
- True Fostering Ltd
- Safer Fostering CIC
- Fostering Attachments Ltd
- Inspire Training Group
- Wickselm Therapeutic Learning Provision
- The Haven- Parenting and Well-Being Services
Sarah Naish:
-
Uses her first-hand expertise and understanding, developed through her role as a former social worker, foster parent, and as an adoptive mother of a family of five profoundly traumatised siblings.
-
Is a multiple award-winning and sought-after media spokesperson in this country and abroad (particularly in the US), contributing to national publications. She is a keynote speaker and trainer at national and overseas conferences on child trauma, including in the USA, Malta, Australia, Singapore, Iceland, and Estonia.
-
Has developed models of specialised parenting that have had a national impact in increasing the recognition of the needs of traumatised children. She is widely recognised as a trailblazer in the field of Child Trauma and Therapeutic Parenting and is an international bestselling author within that field, with several books holding the No. 1 spot in the sector.
-
Has established and run three Therapeutic Fostering Agencies (Ofsted Outstanding), widely recognised as trailblazers in innovative practice, which is shared with Local Authorities and other agencies.
-
Has re-written the way Foster Parents are assessed in the UK, with a groundbreaking, streamlined process incorporating a comprehensive training platform and qualifications (now in use in England, Scotland, and Wales).
-
Has pioneered a new Kinship Care assessment and training tool, in partnership with Kinship Carers UK.
Plenary Session
Therapeutic Parenting: Strategies and Solutions
Workshop 1
Kinship Care – Survive and Thrive
Workshop 2
Compassion Fatigue – The Route Back to Connection
Fiona Endacott
CEO | Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA & Chair of The Collective Committee Meetings
Fiona Endacott is the Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA (CF&KC-SA), where she leads the organisation’s mission to support and advocate for foster and kinship carers across South Australia. With a deep commitment to child protection and community service, Fiona has dedicated her career to improving the lives of vulnerable children and the families who care for them.
With over 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Fiona has developed a reputation for her strategic leadership, innovative thinking, and passionate advocacy. Fiona has worked in areas spanning drug & alcohol, mental health and most recently child protection at the peak body CF&KC-SA. Under her leadership, CF&KC-SA has expanded its reach and influence, ensuring that the voices of foster and kinship carers are heard at both state and national levels.
Fiona’s approach to leadership is grounded in collaboration, empathy, and a deep understanding of the complexities of the child protection system. She is a strong advocate for policy reform and has been instrumental in driving initiatives that address systemic issues affecting carers and the children in their care. Fiona is dedicated to addressing the issue of financial security as a gendered issue for foster and kinship carers, working to shift the policy, practice and legislation to support volunteer Carers to provide care safely with dignity and respect.
A skilled communicator and strategist, Fiona is frequently sought after as a speaker and advisor on matters related to child protection, foster care, and community services. Her insights into the challenges and opportunities within the sector have made her a respected figure among policymakers, practitioners, and carers alike. Fiona holds a strong commitment to building a supportive and resilient community for foster and kinship carers, ensuring they have the resources, training, and recognition they deserve. Her work continues to make a profound impact on the lives of many, contributing to a more just and compassionate society.
Melissa
Jessica Hector
Lead Project Officer, Stability Post Care and Carer Services, Out of Home Care, Department for Child Protection
Jessica Hector is a qualified and experienced Social Worker with a strong background in child protection, case management, and policy development. With a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Australia and a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of Adelaide, she has held various leadership roles within the Department for Child Protection. Jessica has demonstrated expertise in project work, supervising teams, conducting complex investigations, and developing culturally inclusive practices. Her work is grounded in evidence-based methodologies and a deep commitment to the wellbeing of children, young people, and families. Jessica brings a unique blend of empathy, leadership, and strategic thinking to her work, and she thrives in environments that value collaboration, innovation, and social impact.
Emily Hikaiti
Lived Experience Advocate
Emily Hikaiti is a valued member of the CREATE community. Emily has been shortlisted for the ACYP Youth Advisory Council three years running and is an esteemed member of her local Youth and well-being Council. She has led our FACS Caseworker training and spoken at our Western NSW OOHC and Mental Health Interagency. Emily has been an MC at CREATE’s National Survey Launch and at the Their Futures Matter 2019 conference.
She is also an incredible parent to an adorable six year old and a successful entrepreneur with her two businesses including a photography business. Emily is passionate about reducing youth homelessness by extending the leaving care age in NSW and providing young people in care with better support networks, this has recently been executed through her newest business; providing advocacy and consultation on an individual, group, and systematic level around Australia.
Megan Chapman
Carer Events and Resources Officer at Carers for Kids
Megan Chapman is a team member from our Carer for Kids NSW program. She joined our team in late 2023 and been a valued support across multiple programs including recruitment, carer support, training and events. Megan has been in the family and community services sector for six years and brings with her sector experience including OOHC, youth homelessness and youth justice.
She is passionate about trauma-informed care and safeguarding children and young people.
Renée Leigh (Carter)
CEO | Adopt Change, including Carers for Kids NSW
Renée leads a team of Adopt Change Changemakers across a range of work nationally and operates the NSW government-funded Carers for Kids NSW program to recruit, support, train and advocate for carers (foster, kinship, guardian and adoptive) of children in care. National activities include the annual #THRIVE National Permanency Conference; campaigns including ‘A Home for Every Child’ to find more homes and support; MyPacks first night backpacks for kids entering care; Empower Change for providing education support to children in care; along with engagement with community, government, child welfare sector; and is regularly sought to speak with media about child welfare, trauma-informed care, permanency and adoption.
Renée is the Chair of the National Foster and Kinship Care Collective, and has held roles on advisory committees including as a member of the Institute Advisory Group for the independent research centre – Institute of Open Adoption Studies (The University of Sydney); various government and cross-sector advisory groups and taskforces; and was previously Vice Chair of NSW Committee on Adoption and Permanent Care (COAPC). She is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, with a background in communications and executive management, along with board level experience in corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Her experience includes three years as Chair of charity Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS), an organisation focused on early intervention, education and support of families and communities; and Managing Director of corporate, investor and creative communications specialists Designate Group.
Renée is committed to influencing child welfare policy and practice for social impact – to bring about timely and effective outcomes for children so they can have better childhood experiences and a brighter future.
Belinda Trimboli
Belinda Trimboli, Manager, Projects and Program Strategy, Out of Home Care, Department for Child Protection
Belinda Trimboli is a highly experienced public sector leader with a distinguished career spanning over two decades in child protection, emergency management, and strategic policy development. Currently serving as Manager of Projects and Program Strategy at South Australia’s Department for Child Protection, she leads initiatives that enhance stability and support for children in out-of-home care and carers. Belinda has played a pivotal role in implementing innovative programs such as the Stability Post Care Individual Packages and the Adoption from Care Pilot and has represented South Australia at national forums like the 2025 Homestretch Symposium. With a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and a Bachelor of Business in Banking and Finance, she brings a strategic, compassionate, and reform-driven approach to public service. Her proudest aspect of her life is a foster care Aunt, for Jacob.
Sarah Witty MP
Member for Melbourne
Sarah Witty was elected in 2025 as the federal Member for Melbourne.
Before entering Parliament, Sarah led a diverse career rooted in community service, business, and social justice. She has served as the CEO of The Nappy Collective, a grassroots charity delivering nappies to families in need. She also held a senior role with Homes for Homes, a social enterprise that helped raise more than $110 million for social and affordable housing.
Her background also includes working in the private sector—in insurance, banking, and small business ownership. A longtime Richmond resident of more than 20 years, and a foster carer of more than 10 years, Sarah has seen firsthand the challenges facing families and communities across inner-Melbourne.
In Parliament, her priorities include ensuring affordable housing, strengthening Medicare and health access, supporting children and families in vulnerable situations, and addressing cost-of-living pressures.
Maia Murray
Business Leader | Marketing Manager | MBA
Maia is an accomplished business and marketing professional with extensive experience across the not-for-profit sector. She specialises in strategic development and driving growth and impact through data-driven decision-making and innovation. Beyond her professional achievements, Maia is a dedicated long-term foster carer, providing stability, care, and advocacy for children in out-of-home care.
Her special interests include supporting neurodiverse children and championing the recruitment and retention of diverse foster carers to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and inclusive environment. Maia’s passion for societal change extends through both her career and personal life, ensuring meaningful contributions to organisations and communities alike.
Hon Katrine Hildyard MP
Member for Reynell | Minister for Child Protection | Minister for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence | Minister for Women
Growing up in a single parent family in the southwestern suburbs of Adelaide, Katrine understands the importance of being part of a community that is connected and inclusive, one where everyone is supported and empowered.
Katrine is driven by a visceral sense of fairness and deeply believes in equality of opportunity and strives to amplify community members’ voices, especially those who most need to be heard.
For most of her working life, Katrine has fought to improve the lives of South Australians. As Secretary of the Australian Services Union SA/NT branch, Katrine worked collectively to help secure equal pay for thousands community workers. For these efforts, she received theAustralia Day ‘Women Hold Up Half the Sky’ Award and the ‘Inspiring South Australian Women’ Award. She is also listed on the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll.
Immediately prior to entering Parliament Katrine was Chief Executive Officer of Together SA and is Flinders University, Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governor’s Leadership Foundation graduate.
Since 2014, Katrine has been the Member for Reynell representing people in the southern community.
Katrine is the Minister for Child Protection and Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
Katrine is determined to work across government and community to help ensure that everyone is empowered to play their part in improving the lives of children and families.
T.J. Thiel
Foster carer
TJ was a regulatory professional in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device regulatory space for over 25 years. After working for multinationals and national regulatory bodies, TJ now consults in this regulatory space for clinical trials, new medicines and medical device approvals and governmental advocacy. TJ has been involved in writing governmental guidance and legislation, as well as drafting grant and funding applications to support his clients, making productive and proactive change in Australians’ everyday lives.
After stepping away from his professional activities full-time, TJ is currently a foster carer for two sibling daughters, providing stability, support, and care for these vulnerable children. TJ is an advocate for children with disabilities, with direct experience for children with ADHD, PTSD, RAD, ASD, Intellectual Disability and PDA. TJ is the Central Coast and Hunter Region Carer Representative in the NSW Carer Advocacy Group allowing TJ to advocate against the disadvantage for children in the OOHC system, as well advocating for the carers themselves. TJ is also a Board member of the CASPA Foundation to help support their mission to ensure young people who have been within the care system will not be left behind on their continued journey to young adulthood and independence.
Hon Kate Washington MP
Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion
Kate Washington MP is a passionate advocate for children, young people, and families.
For the past ten years, Kate has represented her community of Port Stephens in the NSW Parliament.
Prior to Parliament, Kate was a partner in a Newcastle law firm specialising in health law, representing people with disability and their families. She turned to politics to make the positive changes needed to build stronger communities.
As Minister for Families and Communities, Kate is determined to improve outcomes for vulnerable families right across NSW.
Elise Saunders
Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW) Practitioner, Supervisor and Trainer. Chair of TLSW Australia
Elise completed her studies in psychology and post graduate training in therapeutic and trauma related fields. Elise is an expert TLSW practitioner who delivers conference masterclasses and workshops at numerous national and international conferences (2018-present). She is a contributing author to Richard Rose’s Innovative Therapeutic Life Story Work (2017). In conjunction with Richard Rose and Berry Street, Elise has delivers the TLSW Diploma and Certificate courses across Australia. Elise works closely with countries in the Asia-Pacific to deliver training, supervision and culturally safe and adaptable TLSW programs. Within Australia, Elise has worked alongside First Nations agencies, government and non-government agencies, and youth justice and corrections, to deliver therapeutic training, program development and implementation. Elise is the Chair of TLSW Australia (2019-present) and is responsible for the development of the program within an Australian context, advocacy for children and young people, as well as the membership management across Australia.
Sarah Dillon
Head of Therapeutic Services at True Fostering & SAfER Fostering, Keynote speaker, Author, Therapeutic Parenting Consultant
Sarah is a therapist and accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, with extensive experience supporting children and adults affected by attachment difficulties, developmental trauma and complex trauma.
As Therapeutic Lead at the Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma, Sarah specialises in trauma-informed practice and is an EMDR therapist, Certified Havening Practitioner and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy-informed practitioner. She also works as a Developmental Trauma and Attachment Consultant, supporting trauma-informed independent fostering agencies and local authorities to embed therapeutic approaches in their practice.
An experienced Therapeutic Parenting Consultant and accredited trainer, Sarah delivers therapeutic parenting programmes to adoptive parents, foster carers, kinship carers and professionals across the UK. She facilitates the Foundations for Attachments and Nurturing Attachments programmes and has previously served as Chair of a fostering panel.
An internationally recognised keynote speaker on adoption and fostering, Sarah is the author of several books, including Therapeutic Parenting: Rhyme & Reason, Therapeutic Parenting Essentials: Moving from Trauma to Trust, The Quick Guide to Therapeutic Parenting and The A–Z Therapeutic Parenting Professional Companion.
Sarah’s professional expertise is underpinned by lived experience. Having spent much of her own childhood in care, she brings a deeply informed understanding of the challenges faced by children and families navigating the care system. As a mother of four and grandmother of three, she combines professional expertise with personal insight to support children, families and the professionals who care for them.
Kellie Britnell
Manager Awareness and Capability | eSafety Commissioner
Kellie is an online safety expert with more than 15 years of experience delivering high-energy presentations about online safety. She leads a talented team that support eSafety’s education and training initiatives.
With a background in learning and development, her professional work spans across education and government both in Australia and overseas.
Her career highlights at eSafety include representing the agency on the online safety expert panel for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and working with three communities in Western Australia and Far North Queensland on eSafety’s Be Deadly project.
In her time at eSafety, Kellie has delivered professional learning and resources for a variety of audiences and sectors, including child protection. She has also created domestic and family violence related online safety initiatives and developed key partnerships with universities, education bodies, sporting organisations and support services.
As a speaker, Kellie has a unique ability to connect with her audience to ensure others see the importance of keeping ourselves and others safer online
Sarah Naish
CEO | Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma
Sarah Naish is the CEO of The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma, which encompasses:
- The National Association of Therapeutic Parents
- True Fostering Ltd
- Safer Fostering CIC
- Fostering Attachments Ltd
- Inspire Training Group
- Wickselm Therapeutic Learning Provision
- The Haven- Parenting and Well-Being Services
Sarah Naish:
-
Uses her first-hand expertise and understanding, developed through her role as a former social worker, foster parent, and as an adoptive mother of a family of five profoundly traumatised siblings.
-
Is a multiple award-winning and sought-after media spokesperson in this country and abroad (particularly in the US), contributing to national publications. She is a keynote speaker and trainer at national and overseas conferences on child trauma, including in the USA, Malta, Australia, Singapore, Iceland, and Estonia.
-
Has developed models of specialised parenting that have had a national impact in increasing the recognition of the needs of traumatised children. She is widely recognised as a trailblazer in the field of Child Trauma and Therapeutic Parenting and is an international bestselling author within that field, with several books holding the No. 1 spot in the sector.
-
Has established and run three Therapeutic Fostering Agencies (Ofsted Outstanding), widely recognised as trailblazers in innovative practice, which is shared with Local Authorities and other agencies.
-
Has re-written the way Foster Parents are assessed in the UK, with a groundbreaking, streamlined process incorporating a comprehensive training platform and qualifications (now in use in England, Scotland, and Wales).
-
Has pioneered a new Kinship Care assessment and training tool, in partnership with Kinship Carers UK.