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overview
Join us for the Children and Young People at Risk Summit 2025 will take place on 28-29 October 2025 at the Crown Promenade Melbourne where leading experts, advocates, and professionals will gather to address critical issues facing at-risk young people in Australia. This comprehensive two-day event will explore innovative approaches, share successful case studies, and foster collaborative discussions on supporting vulnerable youth across various contexts.
The summit will feature dynamic, practical, and solution-driven discussions highlighting effective programs, invaluable insights, and essential learnings. From child protection and out-of-home care to educational pathways and mental health support, this conference aims to strengthen our collective capacity to protect and empower vulnerable young people. Gathering a national audience, the summit welcomes key stakeholders and decision-makers from government departments and agencies, not-for-profits, NGOs, legal professionals, police, health practitioners, educators, and more.
KEY TOPICS INCLUDE
- Out-of-Home Care and Foster Care
- Lived experiences in the care system
- Child privacy protection in the digital age
- Language and perspective in child protection approaches
- Alternative schooling models for disengaged students
- Managing complex cases within educational settings
- AI integration in educational support systems
- Rehabilitation pathways for justice-involved youth
- Youth mentorship approaches and outcomes
- Young carers vulnerability and support needs
- First Nations children and culturally safe systems
- Multicultural perspectives on youth vulnerability
- Inter-professional partnerships for youth engagement
- Successful programs and solutions from across sectors
2025 Speakers
Emma Gierschick OAM
Child & Young People Advocate
Luke Twyford
Chief Executive and Principal Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission
Shona Reid
The Guardian, Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People SA
Jodie Griffiths-Cook
Children and Young People Commissioner, ACT Human Rights Commission
Elissa Scott
Chief Executive Officer, Blue Light
Chris Lacey
General Manager – Programs, Les Twentyman Foundation
Dr Stephane Shepherd
Co-CEO & Co-Founder, 16 Yards
Shayne Hood
Co-CEO & Co-Founder, 16 Yards
Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw
7NEWS Young Achiever Awards Winner; 2024 Young Australian of the Year for Warrego; 2024 Darling Downs Child Protection Award Recipient, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Queensland Youth Parliament
Neda Erjaei
Child Safety Compliance Officer, Community Languages Australia / Victoria
Carolyn Blanden
Principal, Warakirri College
Sally Lasslett
Executive Principal, Hester Hornbrook Academy
Dr Jodie Long
Assistant Principal – Research and Advocacy, Brotherhood of St Laurence, David Scott School
Cassandra Hadson
GM – Strategy & Performance, The Huddle
Shorna Moore
Head of Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations, Melbourne City Mission; and Coordinator, Home Time Campaign
Professor Leah Bromfield
Director & Chair, Child Protection Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia
Judith Atkinson
Chief Executive Officer, Concern Australia
Yusuf Liban
2025 Young Australian of The Year Finalist, Director, Multicultural Youth Group
Abraham Kuol
Co-founder & Director, Black Rhinos
Akuol Alaak
Community Liaison Officer, Melton Secondary College
Natalie Garcia de Heer
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary, Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce, Department of Education Victoria
Anne Howard
Director of Education, Foundations, Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute (BKI)
Shelley Wall
Board Chair, NTRCA; Chief Executive Officer, Infinity Community Solutions
Brett Smith
Board Member, NTRCA; Executive Officer Operations, Allambi Care
Dr Tatiana Corrales
Reference Group Member, NTRCA; Researcher, University of Technology Sydney: Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
Kym Langill
Reference Group Member, PeakCare Board Chair, National Therapeutic Residential Care Alliance
Rohan Parrant
Health & Wellbeing Consultant, Speaker and Facilitator
Jacqueline McGowan-Jones
Commissioner, Children and Young People, Western Australia
Matthew Smith
Founder, Fostercare FC
John Macmillan
Chief Executive Officer, Yfoundations
Kate Crowe
Churchill Fellow & Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne
Jonasi Eangano Singehebhuye
Chief Executive Officer, Acts Of Random Kindness Victoria
Jared Sharp
Former Principal Legal Officer, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
Tony FitzGerald
Virtual Services Manager, yourtown and Kids Helpline
Dr Mindy Sotiri
Executive Director, Justice Reform Initiative
Luke Wilson
Founding Director, Paylos
Andrea Dwyer
Director of Innovation, Anglicare Victoria
Amalia Fawcett
Assistant Director, ACT Human Rights Commission
Dr Robyn Miller
Chief Executive Officer, MacKillop Family Services
Stephen Mason
Chief Executive Officer, Award Victoria
Jo Watson
Director, Quality Innovation Performance
Alexander Paterno
Registered Nurse, Queensland Health (Provisionally Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland)
Alison Turner
Youth Advisory Council, Satellite Foundation
Elaaf Gill
South Australian Young Carer and Lived Experience Advocate
Jacqueline de Mamiel
Young Carer Voice Lead, Little Dreamers Australia
Sarah Lesses
Senior Manager, Carer and Community SA’s Young Carer Support Services
Liana Buchanan
Deputy Commissioner, Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission
Heba El-Hakim
Projects & Communications Officer, Community Languages Victoria
Emily Scott
Investigations Manager, Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission
Sue-Anne Hunter
National Commissioner, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People
Issiah B. Burckhardt
Consulting Technical Philosopher, Multicultural Youth Group, Genius.Tools
Sally Cordina
Executive Director, Y Safeguarding and Youth, Y Australia
Jane Gaetani-Black
Chief Executive Officer, Karinya Youth Services Tas
Clementine Shorten
Youth Advocate, Ambassador, and Student
Krushnadevsinh (Kano) Ravalji
Chief Executive Officer, Third Culture Australia
Testimonials
The Inaugural Children & Young People at Risk Summit was so much more than just a conference. It was literally an EXPERIENCE. Listening to & learning from so many industry leaders across so many different sectors made this a unique & incredibly valuable event. Can’t wait for next year.
Delegate, 2024
The event was amazing. So many great speakers and an awesome opportunity to network with like-minded professionals.
Delegate, 2024
Hearing from those willing to share their own experiences was very moving, creating a call to action so that together we can improve the lives of children and young people. Another highlight of the summit was the opportunity to hear from professionals across a range of sectors, which helped to build a larger picture of what is happening across the nation for many children and young people at risk. Speakers were knowledgeable and deeply committed to their causes, and their presentations were both informative and motivating.
Delegate, 2024
The Children & Young People at Risk Summit 2024, was a fabulous event, extremely well organised with fantastic speakers that have excellent knowledge in their field. I would highly recommend the summit to colleagues and peers in the future.
Delegate, 2024
Thanks so much for the opportunity I loved it. I truly believe that it was one of the best conferences I have ever been to.
Neil Milton, Speaker, 2024.
ConnectMe + Streamly
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Streamly • On-Demand video vault
Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive year round access to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event.
* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.
Sustainability
Our Commitment to Sustainability
In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.
We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.
To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
when & where
28 - 29 Oct 2025
The Crown Promenade Melbourne
8 Whiteman Street
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION RATE
We have secured a special accommodation rate from $255* per room per night, room only, for conference attendees at the Crown Promenade for the nights of the 28 & 28 October 2025 inclusive.
To book this rate, click here.
* Room availability and rates are subject to availability and valid until 7 days prior to the event, unless sold out prior.
Book early to avoid disappointment.
contact
Still have a question?
General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 (0) 2 9080 4307
[email protected]
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Lily Doherty
+61 (2) 9080 4340
[email protected]
Speaking Enquiries
Irene Amo
[email protected]