As a developing professional organisation, the college is truly multidisciplinary and aims to contribute to the debate on child and family preservation whilst striving for excellence in practice.

As such, the conference provides a valuable forum for discussing the issues which are shaping contemporary practice and career landscapes. The conference reflects these dual aims with presentations by informative and stimulating speakers as well as skills transfer workshops. Key leaders in the field of child and family work have pledged their continued support and the Adelaide-based organising committee are enthusiastic about putting together an exciting and challenging event.

Themes
The conference theme “Ethical Responsiveness” reflects the broad contexts of Australian child and family practice. Workers in the child and family welfare sectors are generally ethical and responsive. This conference celebrates the work done by both statutory and non-government agencies alike in supporting vulnerable children, young people and their families. As debates continue within the child and family welfare system about the effectiveness of strategies to support vulnerable children, the professions are instead struggling to reconcile the need for appropriate supportive relationships with
clients against ever increasing compliance bureaucracy.

This conference supports the presentation and testing of practice frameworks and is interested in hearing about approaches which make a real difference to people’s lives. Conversely presentations on practice issues are also welcomed to improve the evidence base of the profession.