ChildFIRST

The Centre convenes a forum for ChildFIRST/Integrated Family Services (IFS) five times a year. Forums are open to ChildFIRST and IFS staff from community-based child and family welfare organisations.

ChildFIRST and IFS Alliances play a unique and vital role supporting services for vulnerable children and their families in a complex and rapidly evolving environment. The format, topics and intended outcomes of the forums are flexible, so we remain relevant, useful and effective. Participants attend in their capacity as committed professionals and do not officially represent Alliances.

The forums provide opportunities for:

• Exchanging information
• Receiving updates about new programs and initiatives
• Collectively exploring issues and challenges
• Gathering evidence as the basis for advocacy
• Brainstorming ideas for responses
• Sharing instances of local arrangements, structures and procedures
• Receiving feedback on proposals and strategies
• Formulating a co-ordinated course of action.

Meetings are held from 10:00am–2:00pm with a lunchbreak for informal networking, in the Centre’s Training Room at Level 5, 50 Market Street, Melbourne.

The forum dates for 2012 will be:

• Monday, 5 March
• Thursday, 3 May
• Thursday 26 July
• Monday 9 October
• Thursday13 December

Further information can be obtained from Angela Scarfe on 03 9094 3514 or angela.scarfe@cfecfw.asn.au. (Angela works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.)