Topics will include: accessing sustainable housing, employment and education, the role of government in the ongoing support, and further policy reform for care leavers.
The Home Stretch Symposium #4 will bring together a diverse range of experts, policy makers and the lived voice, to explore the successes, innovations and further reform to supporting care leavers in Australia.
Featuring young people with a care experience and Australian and international experts in out-of-home care research and policy present the latest research and evidence-based best practice in care leaver policy.
The program will be a mix of keynote presentations, panel and Q&A sessions. The program has been structured to engage the audience and provide an opportunity for an informed discussion.
Day 1 – 15th May 2025
| 09.00 | REGISTRATION |
| 09.25 | WELCOME MC’s – Care Leaver Dylan Langley and Jasmin Malham |
| 9.30 | WELCOME TO COUNTRY |
| 9.40 | OPENING REMARKS: ‘IN THE ROLE OF THE PARENT’ Care Leaver reform in Australia and next steps Paul McDonald, Chair Home Stretch & CEO Anglicare Victoria |
| 10.05 | KEYNOTE: LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE THRIVING Promoting the educational, employment and social progress of Care Leavers Emeritus Professor Robbie Gilligan, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland |
| 11.05 | MORNING TEA |
| 11.30 | THE VOICE OF CARE LEAVERS Support for leaving care, what’s missing? Facilitated by Jasmin Malham with a panel featuring Care Leavers from around the country |
| 12.00 | CREATE SHOUT OUT Imogen Edeson, CEO CREATE |
| 12.05 | CAN WE SECURE HOUSING FOR THOSE TRANSITIONING OUT OF STATE CARE? A closer look at housing pathways currently available for young people in extended care and recommendations. Facilitated by Paul McDonald and panel featuring Scott Langford, CEO Housing Australia; Kate Colvin, CEO Homelessness Australia; Sherri Bruinhout, Executive Director Homes Victoria; Sally-Anne Keipert, University of South Australia; and Michael Traill AM, Executive Director For Purpose Investment Partners |
| 12.55 | LUNCH |
| 13.40 | KEYNOTE: CHARTER FOR YOUNG PARENTS LEAVING CARE Dr. Louise Roberts, Reader, Cardiff University (UK) |
| 14:10 | CARE LEAVER REFLECTION | Dylan Langley |
| 14:15 | AROUND THE GROUNDS: STATE & TERRITORY GOVERNMENT UPDATES – EXTENDED CARE & SUPPORT POLICIES Implementation, progress, next steps | Part 1 Facilitated by Paul McDonald with commentary from Mark Riddell MBE, National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers, UK and featuring officials from Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Northern Territory |
| 15.00 | AFTERNOON TEA |
| 15.20 | A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO CARE LEAVERS Supports and special provisions for Care Leavers Facilitated by Philip Mendes, Professor at Monash University with presentations from Jamie Crosby, CEO Families Australia; Susan Baidawi, Associate Professor at Monash University; and Sruthi Srikanthan, Partner at Deloitte |
| 16.05 | CARE LEAVER REFLECTION | Jasmin Malham |
| 16.10 | PATHWAYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR CARE LEAVERS Facilitated by Sarah Morris, Research Fellow at Monash University, with a panel featuring Andrew Harvey, Academic Director, Griffith University; Pearl Goodwin Burns, Senior Manager ‑ Education, Raising Expectations; and Emily Fuller, Practice & Research Convenor, University of Newcastle |
| 16.45 | HOME STRETCH AWARDS The inaugural Home Stretch Awards, presented by Jasmin Malham and Dylan Langley Home Stretch Individual Award | Home Stretch Organisation Award | Home Stretch CREATE Award |
| 17.15 | DAY ONE REFLECTIONS Paul McDonald, Jasmin Malham and Dylan Langley |
| 17.25 | END OF DAY ONE NETWORKING DRINKS 17.30 – 19.00 |
Day 2 – 16th May 2025
| 09.00 | WELCOME MC’s Jasmin Malham and Dylan Langley |
| 09.10 | KEYNOTE: CORPORATE PARENTING The role of government & other institutions in the provision of services for Care Leavers Mark Riddell MBE, National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers, UK |
| 10.10 | EXTENDED CARE & SUPPORT POLICIES FROM A FIRST NATIONS PERSPECTIVE The needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care Leavers from a First Nations perspective Facilitated by Grant Hansen, Director Taungurung Land & Waters Council, with a panel featuring Muriel Bamblett, CEO VACCA; George Selvanera, Director AbSec; Maree De Giambattista, Executive Manager Yorganop; and Decoda Anderson-Knowles, Team Leader Moorumbina Mongurnallin |
| 10.55 | MORNING TEA |
| 11.15 | KEYNOTE: THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND CARE LEAVERS Anne Hollonds, National Children’s Commissioner, Australia |
| 11.45 | CARE LEAVER REFLECTION | Jasmin Malham |
| 11.50 | AROUND THE GROUNDS: STATE & TERRITORY GOVERNMENT UPDATES – EXTENDED CARE & SUPPORT POLICIES Implementation, progress, next steps | Part 2 Facilitated by Paul McDonald with commentary from Mark Riddell and featuring officials from New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia |
| 12.35 | THRIVING, NOT JUST SURVIVING Perceptions of young people with lived experience Facilitated by Dylan Langley with a panel featuring young people and representatives from the CREATE Youth Expert Advisory Group |
| 13.05 | LUNCH |
| 13.45 | KEYNOTE: MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THOSE TRANSITIONING OUT OF STATE CARE Prof. Pat McGorry AO, Executive Director Orygen |
| 14.25 | CARE LEAVER REFLECTION | Dylan Langley |
| 14.30 | NEXT STEPS FOR CARE LEAVER REFORM IN AUSTRALIA What further preferencing, prioritising and proactive policy do we need to address the needs of Care Leavers Panel including Paul McDonald, Deb Tsorbaris, Chair of Families Australia and CEO Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Robbie Gilligan, Mark Riddell, Imogen Edeson and Philip Mendes |
| 15.15 | REFLECTIONS AND WRAP UP Paul McDonald, Dylan Langley and Jasmin Malham |
| 15.25 | END OF SYMPOSIUM |
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