Australian Centre for Child Protection

Join us for the 21st annual Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) Oration to be presented by Professor Leah Bromfield on Have we got it wrong? The public health approach and child protection.

Thursday 16 October, 6.00-8.00pm, Napier 102 lecture theatre, Napier building, 1st floor, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace.

Since the early 2000s, the public health approach has been heralded as the key framework to inform systemic responses to abuse and neglect and address demand pressures on child protection – but have we got this right? Professor Leah Bromfield will discuss the application – and misapplication – of the public health approach, and practical ways forward to realise the intent of a transformed approach to child protection.

OUR ORATOR
Professor Leah Bromfield, Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia.

Professor Leah Bromfield is an internationally recognised leader in the field of child abuse and neglect, child sexual abuse and issues affecting child protection systems. Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, she is routinely called upon to provide advice to governments and as a Commissioner has led a state Inquiry. She currently Chairs the Tasmanian Uplifting Care Independent Expert Panel and South Australian Child Protection Expert Group, and Co-Chairs the National Advisory Group for the National Strategy for Child Sexual Abuse. The impacts of her research have been profound with lasting national and international changes to law, policy, and practice. Leah is the 2025 Australian of the Year for South Australia.

OUR CHAIR
Professor Carol Maher (HDA Co-Convenor), Professor of Population and Digital Health, Medical Research Future Fund Investigator / Director of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia.

Networking and light refreshments will follow the session from 7pm.

Register now on Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/have-we-got-it-wrong-the-public-health-approach-and-child-protection

The Australian Centre for Child Protection is deeply honoured to welcome Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, as our new Patron.
ACCP Director Professor Leah Bromfield met the Governor-General when visiting Canberra for the Australian of the Year Awards in January. “Speaking with the Governor-General it was evident she was passionate about the safety and wellbeing of children and supporting families, as was His Excellency Mr Simeon Beckett SC,” she said.

“We have since discussed the epidemic of child abuse and neglect in Australia, and the importance of a transformative approach that prioritises help and care, particularly in the context of our most vulnerable children and families.”

The Governor-General said she was delighted to accept the ACCP’s invitation to serve as Patron. “Child abuse and neglect is one of the most confronting issues in our society, which is why the work of the Australian Centre for Child Protection is so important.”
“One of the roles of a Governor-General is to connect with and listen to Australians, to hear what is good and bad and to reflect that back to our community. I look forward to supporting the Australian Centre for Child Protection in highlighting issues affecting children and families, and the hope that lies in evidence-based solutions developed for and by Australians.”

The ACCP is delighted by how the patronage can help amplify their efforts across the community having heard the Governor-General speak about the importance of care and the many ways it manifests – through inclusive workplaces, in a renewed focus on mental health, celebrating cultural, sexual and gender diversity in all its forms, and treating the most vulnerable members of our community with kindness, respect and dignity.
“Across my career, I have seen how care can be an uplifting force, and I am proud to be Patron of an organisation dedicated to the best possible care of our nation’s children,” the Governor-General said.

University of South Australia
Governor-General of Australia

Tomorrow our webinar on Empowering Young People’s Lives Beyond Out-of-Home-Care (OOHC) will go live.

There’s still time to sign up for the free session, to hear from experts including ACCP Deputy Director Research, Professor Melissa O'Donnell, who will be speaking on improving support for care leavers, and the work of the Home Stretch campaign.

Register for the free webinar and see other presenters here: https://events.humanitix.com/accp-oohc-transition-webinar

A recording of the webinar will be available to watch afterwards on the ACCP's YouTube channel.


University of South Australia

Yesterday ACCP Director Leah Bromfield and Centre Manager Lisa McDonald enjoyed a private meeting with Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC at Government House.

They discussed the epidemic of child abuse and neglect in Australia, and that our child protection systems - designed in the 1960s - are outdated and not designed for the contemporary nature and scale of the problem.

They spoke at length with the Governor-General about the importance of an approach that prioritised help and caring in the context of our most vulnerable children and families.