A big turn-out signalled strong sector interest in the Centre’s PVVC Inquiry Forum held last Tuesday 20 March at the Spring Street Conference Centre in Melbourne.
More than 150 sector representatives, including many CEOs and senior managers, engaged in an in-depth discussion of major themes and recommendations from the Inquiry, and what the sector can do to ensure real outcomes that benefit vulnerable children, young people and their families in Victoria.
"We were very impressed by such a popular response and the lively discussion of the Inquiry by the sector. It’s clear that our members want to have a say in what happens from here, in which recommendations are adopted, and how they are implemented," said the Centre’s CEO, Dr Lynette Buoy.
The views expressed at the Forum will inform the Centre’s detailed response to the Inquiry report, together with feedback from an online survey now open to Forum participants.
Introduced by Dr Buoy, the Forum began with an overview panel comprising Inquiry Panel Member, Bill Scales AO, DHS Executive Director of Children Youth and Families, Chris Asquini, and Centre President, Angela Forbes. They each were asked to reflect on what they respectively considered the three key recommendations. There were then questions from the floor moderated by the Centre’s Director of Policy and Research, Marilyn Webster.
Additional panel members were then invited to the stage (see photograph), including VACCA CEO, Professor Muriel Bamblett AM, Berry Street CEO and Centre Life Member, Sandie de Wolf AM, and David Murray, Director of Youth Partnerships with the DEECD. A second question session followed, before afternoon tea and a presentation on the opportunities and challenges of the Inquiry by Professor Marie Connolly, Chair and Head of Social Work at the University of Melbourne.
Slides and audio from Professor Connolly’s presentation are available below. To view the presentation in full screen, click the control in the bottom right-hand corner (opens in a new window).
If you attended the Forum and would like to send us your feedback, you are invited to complete a brief online survey by close of business on Thursday 5 April. The survey will assist us to evaluate the event and to shape our further response to the Inquiry.
You can also send comments or questions using the comment form below, or by sending an email to inquiry@cfecfw.asn.au
