CEO Commentary

Now, a record $4.8 billion price tag of not getting it right for every child

Feb 2017

The total recurrent expenditure on child protection, out-of-home care, family support services and intensive family support services in Australia has now reached a record level of $4.8 billion, according to figures released last week by the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission here.

As shown in the chart below, nat…

Three stronger families initiatives for 2017

Jan 2017

To kick-start the new year, I’d like to give you the ‘heads-up’ on three especially important upcoming events for Families Australia.
Advancing a child aware nation. On 14-15 May we will hold the Child Aware Approaches Conference in Brisbane. This will be an energetic, highly interactive conference, showcasing latest think…

No child should grow up like this

Dec 2016

For much of the past two centuries, our eyes, ears and hearts were firmly shut to the abuses inflicted on an unknown number of children who lived in orphanages and other institutions in Australia. With rare exception, those who spoke up about their experiences were ignored, silenced or not believed by governments, churches or th…

International children’s rights: Indonesia’s orphanages

Nov 2016

While Australia and many other countries continue to struggle with the legacy of having institutionalised children during the 20th century, I wanted briefly to draw attention to the present-day situation for children living in residential institutions in Indonesia.
Between 170,000 and over 500,000 children live in residential i…

Three reasons to get behind Family Matters

Nov 2016

Last week, SNAICC’s ground-breaking Family Matters campaign was officially launched at Parliament House, Canberra. Families Australia was proud to stand alongside SNAICC and scores of other community representatives and organisations.
The SNAICC Family Matters Roadmap (2016) states:
Family Matters – strong communities, stron…

Seeing the child: the COAG Summit and beyond

Nov 2016

The COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children was held in Brisbane on 28 October 2016. It was the first time that such a Summit had been convened involving all Commonwealth, State and Territory and local government leaders, as well as 160 of the nation’s leaders from the not-for-profit sector a…