Child protection conference gains strong response
Organisers of a free professional development conference for those working in the area of child protection on the Sunshine Coast have been delighted by strong interest in the event.
More than 150 people have registered for the Child Protective Practices Conference that will be hosted by the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Department of Child Safety on Friday 26 September.
The conference – the first of its kind to be held in the region – will have the theme “Good Outcomes for Kids” and will address some of the issues raised during Child Protection Week this week (7-13 September).
Keynote speakers will include Pine Rivers Child Safety Service Centre manager Sandy Wilson and there will be presentations by a variety of groups including the Pyjama Foundation (which trains volunteers to read to children in foster care) and Wanna Be Deadly (a sport and recreation project for Indigenous youths).
Conference delegates will include staff from government agencies like the Department of Child Safety, Disability Services, Queensland Health and Education Queensland, and from Lifeline, Relationships Australia, TAFE colleges and University students and staff.
USC Social Work academic Jo Roff said the conference aimed to boost child protection practice, knowledge and skills on the Coast, promote innovative and responsive practice, and encourage a greater partnership between research and practice.
“This conference is all about improving services for vulnerable children and families in the region, and about developing a better awareness of the services that are available,” she said.
Ms Roff said the popularity of the conference was due to the fact that many people working in child protection in this region were seeking professional development opportunities but had little time to travel to conferences elsewhere.
— Terry Walsh