Date: Wednesday 7 June 2023
Time: 8.45am to 3.45pm
Place: Rydges Hotel, Sydney International Airport

ACWA, in partnership with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and AbSec, invites you to attend this one day event designed to support and enhance your practice in supporting vulnerable children and young people living with disability. Join us for a day of listening, learning, sharing and reflection, drawing on the knowledge of experts and participating in shared problem-solving to address challenges.

Over the past two and a half years, ACWA has led a project focused on enhancing outcomes for children and young people in out of home care living with disability. This Symposium aims to bring together a diverse range of practitioners and experts from across NSW to identify innovative emerging practice and further explore ongoing challenges.

With the benefit of expert presenters and facilitators, participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn about innovative models and practices that are being developed and implemented by some agencies and that appear to be creating good outcomes
  • Understand further research and development that is underway and how they may be able to contribute to and benefit from that research agenda
  • Collectively problem solve and share ideas and develop networks to support a positive response to ongoing challenges in this area
  • Reflect on opportunities to leverage these insights in their own practice and across their organisation.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The symposium will be of value to Caseworkers / Case Managers, Youth Workers, Therapeutic Specialists, ITC House Managers, ITC-SD staff, early intervention specialists, Managers, leaders and other team members from across the continuum of care from NGOs and DCJ.

The symposium aims to bring together a diverse cross-section of practitioners who are currently working in the areas of Family Support, Family Preservation, PSP (Foster Care, residential care, ITC-SD, restoration), AfterCare, extended care, MST-CAN.

THE PROGRAM
A detailed program can be viewed here.

Morning Session 1:
Short keynote addresses on the importance of enhancing knowledge and practice around vulnerable children and young people with disability.

Morning Session 2:
Short presentations by providers demonstrating elements of innovative good practice followed by Q & A from the floor.

Afternoon Session:
Each participant will have the opportunity to attend two workshop sessions from a selection of 8 available. Targeted topics include:

  • Working effectively with children with autism
  • Leaving care / extended care—making the most of the opportunity for YP with a disability
  • Understanding early intervention supports—NDIS & Mainstream
  • Supporting parents who are living with disability
  • Connecting with community—supporting Aboriginal children and young people with disability
  • Leveraging data to maximise NDIS outcomes and plan utilisation
  • Accessible resources for children, young people and families
  • Working with vulnerable CALD children and families.

In each workshop expert facilitators will present insights and case studies for discussion and the group will engage in reflective practice to embed understanding.

It is anticipated that the sessions will be recorded and made available to participants after the event so that everyone has the benefit of all sessions.

REGISTRATION
Registration is FREE. However the number of attendees is limited to 85 by the venue. Please register as soon as possible and no later than COB 21 May 2023. Registration will be on a first come basis and a waitlist will be established. Registration can be transferred to another member of your organisation if you are unable to attend at the last minute. You can also share registration i.e. one person attends in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Use this link to REGISTER NOW:

https://www.ccwt.edu.au/course/ACWA202301

We look forward to you joining us for this important event. Please share this widely amongst your colleagues.

If you would like further information, please contact:
Lyn Ainsworth
Disability Project Director
lyn@acwa.asn.au
0403 164 334