A recording of The Engaging Children’s Voice and Participation forum has been made available below
Tuesday 11 February 2025 14:00 – 15:30 (AEDT)
Join us for a policy forum to unpack evidence-based solutions for engaging children’s voice and supporting their participation.
61% of Young Australians have experienced one or more forms of abuse or neglect, with 1 in 4 having experienced 3-5 types of abuse/neglect by age 18 and 44% of Young Australians of witnessed domestic violence.
There are major systemic issues and challenges in how we prevent and respond to abuse and neglect in Australia, but whose voices are present when we seek to understand the problem of abuse and neglect and develop solutions?
How are children and young people involved in decisions that affect their lives within organisations, government and the child protection system?
How do we both draw – and act – upon what children have already told us are the solutions for child safeguarding and child protection in Australia?
And how do we continue to ensure their voice is at the table of decision makers in government, organisations and business? This policy forum unpacked evidence-based solutions for engaging children’s voice and supporting their participation.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Leah Bromfield, Director: Australian Centre for Child Protection and Chair of Child Protection
Professor Leah Bromfield, Director: Australian Centre for Child Protection and Chair of Child Protection is one of Australia’s foremost child protection experts, who has worked nationally and internationally with government and non-government organisations in establishing and implementing child protection reforms.
Prof Bromfield’s prominent work leading and supporting government reform and significant contributions to Inquiries and Royal Commissions has directly changed laws, policies and practices in the field of child protection. Her roles and appointments include as a current Commissioner in the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings, and Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, established by the Australian government, leading its extensive research program.
Followed by a panel discussion featuring
Panelist: Kate Bjur, Executive Director, Advocacy and Research, PeakCare
Kate Bjur has over 25 years’ experience working with and on behalf of children and young people in Japan, Canada, England and Australia. Her experience includes youth detention senior leadership, restorative justice, youth justice strategy and legislation, child safety policy, early childhood education, youth advocacy and family work.
In 2023, Kate travelled around the world as part of a Churchill Fellowship project investigating best practice in youth crime prevention, gang exit strategies and therapeutic models of youth detention. Kate meets regularly with young people with lived experience of the child protection and youth justice systems to inform her advocacy work.
Panelist: Phil Doorgachurn, General Manager of Strategic Child Safeguarding Initiatives, Australian Childhood Foundation
Phil has spent his career advocating for the rights of all children and young people across the world.
In his current role as the General Manager of Junior Adventures Group, Phil is working to lead the way in play for children in Australia.
Phil has an extensive background in child safeguarding having held prestigious roles as the Head of Safeguarding at Arsenal FC, British Tennis and more recently as the CEO of YMCA Safeguarding.
Phil is a passionate speaker and has travelled the world providing thought provoking speeches on children’s rights and safety.
Phil also sits on the Advisory Board to the Australian Government’s National Office for Child Safety and is a Director for Safe Sport International and LimeCulture UK, two of the world’s leading charities in responding to sexual violence and safeguarding.
Panelist: Rosa Hessabi, NAPCAN Youth Advisory Council
Rosa Hessabi is a passionate advocate for human rights, youth leadership, and social justice. Named Burnside Young Citizen of the Year 2025, she is dedicated to service and creating meaningful change. As South Australia’s representative on NAPCAN’s National Youth Advisory Council, Rosa works on media initiatives, parliamentary engagement, and education to prevent child abuse.
Panelist: Aimee Hele, Policy and Engagement Officer, First Nations and Child Right Advocacy
Panel Chair: Mr Jamie Crosby, CEO, Families Australia
Panelist: Aimee Hele, Policy and Engagement Officer,First Nations and Child Right Advocacy
Jamie brings an extensive network of community sector, government and business relationships and community advocacy experience to his role as CEO Families Australia. Jamie has worked in youth and family accommodation services, juvenile justice, housing and homelessness support programs, and organisations delivering community services management and member-based advocacy. He also has deep experience in the Federal public service having spent the past decade working in Indigenous Affairs within the National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He also convenes the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing.