SNAICC National Conference

For Our Children
‘Ngadluko Ngartunnaitya’
If you work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people then make sure you attend this conference!
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
(SNAICC)
2007 National Conference
19th to 21st September 2007
Adelaide Convention Centre

Conference Features

• Keynote speakers – international and Australian Choose from 30 concurrent sessions including stories, case studies, papers and workshops
• Discussion circles
• Displays, children’s art space, audiovisuals
• Conference dinner
• Indigenous entertainment

Conference Aims and Objectives

The Conference aims to provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, and also policy makers, researchers, government representatives, other non-government organisations and various industry representatives to gather and make renewed commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children.

The Conference Objective Are:

• To gather and share stories with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and learn about the role of culture, spirituality, Elders, families and communities in raising children and supporting families.
• To learn through discussions and displays about different models of successful and culturally strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family services in Australia and services for Indigenous peoples overseas.
• To talk about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family needs and issues in the areas such as culture, child care, child development, kinship care and foster care, child abuse and family violence in metropolitan, rural and remote communities.
• To celebrate the achievement of families and communities in caring for their children, the role of culture and the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children to the nation.
• To challenge governments and others to act in a way to develop policies and responses that acknowledge history, respect culture and provide the services and support families and communities need for bringing up Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Invited International Keynote Speakers Are:

• Cindy Blackstock from Canada is a member of the Gitksan Nation. Cindy has worked in the field of child and family services for over twenty years on the front line, in professional development and research. In her current capacity, Cindy is honored to be the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. Other professional interests include serving as the Co-convenor of the Indigenous Sub Group of The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Co-director of the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, and a member of the Board for Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and the Canadian Education Association.
• Terry L Cross (MSW, ACSW, LCSW (Seneca) from the United States is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and is the founder, and Executive Director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association. He has 33 years of experience in child welfare, including 10 years working directly with families and is the author of several culturally based publications on tribal child welfare and cultural competence. Mr. Cross believes that tribal children receive better services when the adults that make decisions about their lives work cooperatively to empower their families and communities to care for them.

Invited Australian Speakers Include:

• Muriel Bamblett - Chairperson of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care and Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.
• Jack Beetson - former Executive Director of the Tranby Aboriginal College and now runs ‘Linga Longa’ to make a difference in the lives of Street-kids.
• Brian Butler - interim Chairperson of the National Indigenous Disability Network Working Party and State Representative of the Aboriginal Disability Network.
• Tom Calma - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and acting Race Discrimination Commissioner.
• Tania Major - Youth Development Project Officer at the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership and 2007 Young Australian of the Year.
• Dr Helen Milroy - Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Bentley Family Clinic and Families At Work residential programme and Associate Professor and Director for the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) at UWA.
• Dr Chris Sarra - is a leader in Indigenous education, and Director of the Indigenous Education Leadership Institute based at Cherbourg, Queensland.

Invited Workshop Presenters Include:

• Kathy Abbott - established the Health Workers Association of the Northern Territory and operates Akeyulerre a traditional healing service.
• Professor Judy Atkinson - Chair of the College of Indigenous Australian Peoples at Southern Cross University and author of Trauma Trails – Recreating Songlines: The Transgenerational Effects of Trauma in Indigenous Australia.
• Craig Hammond - Engaging Fathers Program, Family Action Centre University of Newcastle.
• David Vadiveloo - has made a number of films depicting aspects of Aboriginal life, most notably the shorts Trespass (2001) and Bush Bikes. David is also the creator and director of UsMob which spans documentary, interactive new media and docudrama and centres on teenage characters. Films were created and shot in collaboration with Aboriginal children.

For more details and registration forms go to:

www.snaicc.asn.au

Or contact the Conference Secretariat: Sharyn Low
Phone: +61 2 4572 3079
Fax: +61 2 4572 3972
Email: sharynlow@pacific.net.au
Post: SNAICC, PO Box 4242, Pitt Town NSW 2756