Celebrating carers and exploring solutions to shape a better care industry.
Image: Life Without Barriers carers and staff standing together at the National Foster and Kinship Carer Conference 2023, Hobart.
Life Without Barriers is pleased to be bringing carers from across the country, together with staff and presenters, to The National Kinship, Permanent & Foster Care Conference 2024 (NCC).
This year, NCC is being held in Melbourne from 9-11 August at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and is set to recognise the indispensable role that carers play in the lives of the children and young people in their care.
The annual conference is an incredible opportunity to explore existing and emerging thinking on a range of topics including education, cultural care, and how to best support children and young people with a disability.
Life Without Barriers staff are set to lead three sessions, across Friday and Saturday, to an audience of policy-makers, community leaders, researchers, advocates, practitioners and, of course, carers. We will also have a booth with carers ambassadors and the Child, Youth and Family team ready to chat about foster and kinship care.
Life Without Barriers sessions
Anthony Raitman, Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives, Child, Youth and Family and Shannon Mackie, State Director Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Practice and Partnerships, will discuss the Life Without Barriers' Transformation Project with SNAICC.
"As the only community services organisation in Australia with an Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan which commits us to progressively step away from providing out-of-home care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children we have learnt much about how this might be achieved." Said Anthony.
"We look forward to sharing our learnings to date in an attempt to motivate others to follow our lead."
When: Friday 9 August, 1:30pm - 2:00pm
Session: Transition to Community: The most “culturally competent” approach to Home Based Care
Emma Meale, Education Consultant, Learning Without Barriers, will be discussing our commitment to education and current research activity Life Without Barriers is taking to ensure children and young people meet their learning potential.
"Our vision is that children and young people are supported to build brighter futures through education, ‘Every Day, Every Way’."
When: Saturday 10 August, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Session: Enhancing school attendance for students in OOHC
As a major provider of out-of-home care for children and young people in Australia, Life Without Barriers' recognises that we play an important role – not only are we responsible for ensuring children and young people have the best start in life, but also to support them reach their learning goals and full potential.
Find information on Learning Without Barriers and our approach to education here.
Image: Two children sit outdoors, holding up books.
Chris Skinner, Manager Practice Advancement & Implementation - MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™, will be leading a Panel Discussion on the innovate support model. This approach focuses on foster and kinship carers create caring homes with family, culture and community.
When: Saturday 10 August, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Session: Establishing Carers, Children and Families in a supportive community – MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™
“It is a privilege to present MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ at the Conference with an amazing panel of carers and practitioners who are seeing great results in their everyday experience," Chris said about the upcoming session.
Keynote Speakers
Liana Buchanan, Victoria’s Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People
As Principal Commissioner Liana is responsible for promoting children’s rights, regulating organisations that work with children to prevent child abuse, and monitoring services for children and young people, including those in the out-of-home care, child protection and youth justice systems.
Sam Bloom, World Para Surfing Champion & Best Selling Author of Penguin Bloom.
Sam Bloom is a 2 x World Para Surfing Champion, bestselling author, and inspiration behind the Australian box-office hit and global Netflix sensation Penguin Bloom.
Emma Goodall, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Emma has worked extensively in the area of autism, education, research and public policy and teacher training across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and mainland Europe. Emma is an autistic researcher, writer, educator and parent of an autistic adult.
You can view the full National Care Conference 2024 Program here which outlines further topics including:
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Carers
Innovation, New Ideas, and Creating New Evidence
Trauma and Grief
NDIS, Disability support and Early Intervention
Issues Impacting Young People
The National Kinship, Permanent & Foster Care Conference is a wonderful opportunity to network with sector colleagues and carers, and to be inspired by the people who are changing the lives on children and young people.
We appreciate the unwavering dedication and resilience of carers and celebrate the contributions they make to the wider community!
Image: A young girl and boy brushing their teeth and smiling at the mirror in a bathroom.
If you are considering becoming a carer, please find more information about your relevant state below:
Become a foster carer in New South Wales
Become a foster carer in South Australia
Become a foster carer in Tasmania
Become a foster carer in Victoria
Become a foster carer in Western Australia
Life Without Barriers is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the National Kinship, Permanent and Foster Care Conference 2024.
