Key Note Speaker Forum
The Changing Places program was successfully launched with over 200 Early Years and Family Support professionals attending the Key Note Speaker Forum on 26/10/04 at Atlantic South Wharf, Southbank.
The forum brought together important speakers presenting on a range of critical issues relevant to children and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
On this page you can read more about the speakers at the forum and download some of their presentations.
Speakers at the Forum
Hon Sherryl Garbutt MLA
Minister for Community Services
Sherryl Garbutt has been the Member of Parliament since 1992 and is the current Minister for Community Services. Politics, the environment and a strong sense of community touched her life from an early stage in her previous teaching career and she quickly became very involved in local concerns and environmental and women's issues. The Changing Places Professional Development initiative has been funded by the Victorian Government in an effort to improve outcomes for children in families who are experiencing homelessness.
Joe Tucci
Australian Childhood Foundation
Joe Tucci is the CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation. He has extensive experience in child protection, child and family therapy and child welfare research. He is currently completing his PhD on child emotional abuse. Joe is a member of the Australian Council for Children and Parenting, an advisory body to the Federal Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
Deb Tsorbaris
Council to Homeless Persons
Deb Tsorbaris is the CEO of the Council to Homeless Persons, the peak body for homeless organisations and those who have an interest/stake in homelessness. Deb has worked extensively in the Health and Welfare sector for 20 years and worked at senior levels in Community Sector organisations. She is on the Board of VCOSS and sits on the Ministerial Housing Council. Deb is passionate about partnerships and collaboration in bringing about change and believes strongly in the value of participation of disadvantaged people in the policy and planning processes. - Click Here to download presentation
Naomi McNamara
Northern Children's Resource Program
Naomi McNamara has extensive experience in providing case management services to both children and families experiencing homelessness. During this time she has worked closely with the homelessness sector at local, regional and statewide levels, providing support, training and resources around their work with children experiencing homelessness. Naomi is widely recognised as an active and committed advocate for children.- Click Here to download presentation
Jane Rowe
Mirabel Foundation
Jane Rowe is the CEO and founder of the Mirabel Foundation which was established in 1998. A drug and alcohol counsellor for many years Jane was a Director of the Windana Community Centre. During this time Jane witnessed many people dying from fatal drug overdose and realised there was no community awareness or service for the children who are left behind. Mirabel supports children orphaned or abandoned due to their parents illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family, more often than not grandparents. Mirabel has grown into a multi-faceted service provider and remains the only organisation solely addressing the needs of this vulnerable group of children.
Muriel Bamblett
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
Muriel Bamblett, a Yorta Yorta woman, has been employed as CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency since 1999. From 1997 -1999 Muriel was the Chairperson of VACCA. Muriel is active on many boards concerning children, families and the Indigenous community. Muriel is the current Chairperson of Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care - the peak agency representing Indigenous Child and Family Services; Chairperson of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Council for Child and Family Support. Muriel is the recipient of a number of awards including Robin Clarke Memorial Awards for inspirational Leadership in the field of Child and Family Welfare 2003 and was awarded an AM (Membership in the General Division) in the Australia Day Honours 2004 for her services to the community, particularly through leadership in the provision of services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. - Click Here to download presentation
Associate Professor Chris Goddard
National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Monash University
Dr. Chris Goddard is Interim Director of the National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work, Monash University. He has undertaken extensive research into child abuse and family violence. He has published widely in academic journals and has written for the broader media. He was recently acclaimed as one of Australia's 100 Top Thinkers by The Bulletin magazine for his contribution to advancing children's rights. His most recent books include Child Abuse and Child Protection: A Guide for Health, Education and Welfare Workers, (Churchill Livingstone 1998), and Responding to Children (Longmans, 1993). A further book with Janet Stanley entitled In the Firing Line (Wiley, UK) was published in 2002.
Robyn Moore
Actor
Robyn Moore is a multi-skilled Communicator who has been changing peoples' perception through the power of the word for almost 30 years. She has sold millions of dollars worth of products for thousands of Australian companies, entertained millions of Australians in this country's longest running radio comedy, enchanted children as the voice of Blinky Bill an animated series watched by children in 70 countries. Robyn was the National Communicator of the year, is an Australia Day Ambassador for the Australia Day Council, is the National Patron of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and an Ambassador for the Australian Childhood Foundation. She claims to have been in every home in Australia although no-one here will have a clue who she is ... until she speaks.
Rev. Tim Costello
World Vision Australia
Tim Costello, one of the nation's leading campaigners on social justice issues, commenced as Chief Executive of World Vision Australia in March 2004. In July, Tim was awarded 'Victorian of the Year 2004', by the Victoria Day Award for Public and Community Service. Tim is recognised for articulating the social conscience of many Australians on tough domestic issues such urban poverty, homelessness, problem gambling, reconciliation and substance abuse. For nine years he was the spokesperson for the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce and a member of the National Advisory Body on Gambling. He is the former national president of the Baptist Union of Australia. Currently Tim is Chairman of the National Australia Bank external Stakeholder forum, a member of the AMP Sustainable Funds Committee, the Aid Advisory Council and the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation.