National Coalition Update | March 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Safe and Supported briefing to members of the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing

Following the release of the Safe and Supported Action Plans on 31 January 2023, the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing will be holding a Safe and Supported briefing for members on Tuesday 28 March from 3:30pm-5:00pm (AEDT).Senior representatives of the four governance partners will discuss content of the action plans, the focus of immediate efforts and be available for general discussion & questions:

• Tim Crosier, Branch Manager, Children’s Policy, Department of Social Services (representing DSS)
• Fiona Ward, Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection, South Australian Government, (representing the States and Territories)
• Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC Voice for our Children (representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group); and
• Jamie Crosby, CEO, Families Australia (representing the National Coalition).

We encourage National Coalition members and interested parties to attend the online briefing. Register to attend via Eventbrite.

Appointment of disability expert to the steering group

The National Coalition recently held an EOI round, calling for a person with expertise in disability to join the National Coalition steering group. A robust selection process was undertaken by the Assessment Panel, who had the challenge of selecting a candidate to balance the skills and expertise of the existing steering group cohort.  

We are pleased to announce that the successful candidate is Ms Amber Ward, NDIS Practice Lead for Thrive House.   We welcome Amber and extend our thanks to our EOI Assessment Panel members: Deirdre Cheers, Chief Executive Officer, Banardos; Emeritus Professor Morag McArthur; and Tricia Murray, former CEO, Wanslea.

Steering group composition

Composition of the steering group for the next few years is:

Name	Position Title	Organisation
Professor Leah Bromfield	Director, Australian Centre for Child Protection	University of South Australia
Professor Amy Conley Wright	Director, Research Centre for Children and Families	The University of Sydney
Dr Lauren Lines	Lecturer in Nursing	Flinders University
Dr Rosa Flaherty	Manager, Practice Development	National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse
Ms Felicity Kime	President and Peer Worker	Family Inclusion Strategies Hunter (FISH)
Ms Catherine Liddle	CEO	SNAICC
Ms Annette Michaux	Director	Parenting Research Centre
Mr Paul McDonald	CEO	Anglicare Victoria
Ms Amber Ward	NDIS Practice Lead	Thrive House
Mr Jamie Crosby	Convenor	National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing / CEO Families Australia.

Not yet a National Coalition member? 

You can become a member by emailing admin@familiesaustralia.org.au or visiting the National Coalition webpage at https://familiesaustralia.org.au/national-coalition/.   Membership of the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing is free.

Thank you for your support and ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and families.

Regards,

Jamie Crosby 
Convenor, National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing 
CEO Families Australia