4th Annual Sector Research & Evidence Symposium

Research in a Changing Environment: Challenges and Possibilities

The Child and Family Services sector is in an environment of change and reform. This symposium will explore the critical role research will play in evidence informed change processes that promote good outcomes for children, young people and families. 

Key Note Presenter:

Sally Cowling  B.Ec (Hons). M.Comm (Melb Uni)

Manager, Research and Program Development UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families, NSW.

Sally is focused on building an evidence base to foster high quality practice, policy frameworks and research based advocacy which best support children and their families experiencing acute disadvantage.  Sally is joint project leader for Newpin Social Benefit Bond – an Australian first project to support the restoration of children in care to their families.  She was Research Fellow, the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic & Social Research, Melbourne & Newcastle Universities, Senior Policy Advisor – Federal Labor Party and a member of the Expert Advisory Committee to NSW Commission for Children and Young People.

Symposium Provisional Program includes:

Research Driven Practice – Program innovation

• Monash & Shine for Kids – Animating Research Findings: An Example of Research Translation to Benefit Marginalised Young People
• Wesley Mission – An Exploratory Investigation into the Experiences of Foster and Kinship Carers within Wesley Mission
• Windermere – Practical Methodology for Collecting & Utilising Feedback from Children
• Anglicare – Anglicare Victoria’s TEACHaR Program – Closing the Education Gap for Children in Care and the Value of Research Informed Innovation
• Good Shepherd  – From Evidence to Practice: The Example of Yarra Community Friends
• CFECFW, OzChild & Melbourne University – Kith and Kin Care – What’s the Story with the Kith?

Research & the Skilled Worker – Workforce development

• Deakin University & Berry St – Food Symbolism & Promoting Healthy Eating & Physical Activity within Residential Care
• University of Melbourne – Addressing Child and Adolescent Health Needs in Home Based Care: Messages from an Australian Research Study with Health Professionals
• Mackillop Family Services – Building Trauma Informed Practice
• Anglicare – The Being A/Part Study
• CAFS & University of Melbourne – KContact: Keeping Contact between Parents and Children in Care

Research & Outcome Effectiveness – Results accountability

• St Luke’s – The Youth Movement Initiative: Spaghetti Bolognese on a Tuesday Night
• Brotherhood of St. Laurence – The Evaluation of the Youth Foyer Program
• Monash University & Berry St – Promising Practice: Berry Street’s Stand By Me Leaving Care Program
• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute & Berry St – Adapting to Complex Environments: Using Developmental Evaluation to Build a Place Based Approach to Child Wellbeing
• Lighthouse Institute – Developing Outcomes Based Practice in Therapeutic Care: The Evaluation of the Lighthouse Therapeutic Outcomes Assessment
• Latrobe University – Care Leavers Pathways into Further Education

Panel Discussion – Sarah Wise
Sector Development in IT Focused Knowledge Management 
Mackillop, Uniting Care Burnside, Mallee Family Care. Lantara Uniting Care, Life Without Barriers, DHS, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare

Date: Friday 31st October – 9:30am to 4:00pm (Registrations from 9:00am)

Venue: University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Auditorium
Cnr Grattan & Berkeley Streets, Carlton, Vic