National Conference to address child and youth homelessness—IT's TIME
Registrations closed
Shape the future of children and young people in Australia— join the 2023 national conference on child and youth homelessness.
How do we address child and youth homelessness in Australia once and for all?
Learn
Listen and learn from a range of perspectives on what actually works to reduce child and youth homelessness.
Plan
Act
Lobby federal, state, and territory governments to commit to a national joint plan to address child and youth homelessness.
WHY ATTEND the NCHYC2023?
The incidence of children and young people needing and seeking help from homelessness services has not reduced significantly since the Rudd government in 2008 committed to halving homelessness by 2020.
All governments since have failed to take responsibility or meaningful action on this issue. The existing approach has not been able to reduce the incidence of homelessness nor guarantee to every child and young person who experiences homelessness a changed life course. There is a compelling case for reform but, what could a reformed system look like?
The time for waiting is over. It's time that the Australian government committed to developing a national plan to address child and youth homelessness. This conference will mobilise a collective commitment to developing a joint government-NGO strategy to address child and youth homelessness nationally.
At NCYHC you will:
- Engage with Ministers, senior practitioners and policy makers on the emerging ideas in homelessness services.
- Join others in exploring how it is you can become part of a movement which calls on the Australian government to resource the development of a joint Government/NGO national plan to address child and youth homelessness.
- Deepen your own knowledge base on child and youth homelessness.
- Attend alongside young people with lived experience, CEOs, program managers, case workers and more - this conference is for all levels of experience and not exclusive to only a few.
- Foster networks and connections with people in all areas of children and youth homelessness including nonprofits, government, philanthropy, educators, academics and more.
- Contribute your own knowledge, ideas and experiences.
- Actively participate in sessions - this is not just a talking conference.
Speakers and Presenters

Adongwot 'AD' Manyoul
South Sudanese Youth Advocate, Community Development Professional and (Bi-Cultural Consultant)

Elvis Martin
Youth, Inclusion and Diversity Advocate

Keith Waters
CEO Youth Development Australia and National Youth Commission

Stephen Nash
CEO Kids Under Cover

Prof. Brian Burdekin AO
Former Federal Human Rights Commissioner

Nicole Hucks
A/Children’s Commissioner of the Northern Territory

Brea Dorsett
Lived Experience Mentor, Advocate and Foyer Foundation Ambassador.

Vicki Sutton
CEO Melbourne City Mission

Leanne Nicholson
Head of Youth Homelessness Services | Melbourne City Mission

Shorna Moore
Head of Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations Melbourne City Mission

Prof. Paul Flatau
Director of the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia

A/Prof. Catherine Robinson
Associate Professor University of Tasmania

Pam Barker
CEO Brisbane Youth Services

Trish Connolly
CEO Yfoundations

Liz Cameron-Smith
CEO Foyer Foundation

Maggie Toko
Commissioner of Lived Experience at Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Nada Nasser
Mission Australia State Director NSW, ACT and Victoria

A/Prof. Jess Heerde
Associate Professor University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital

Ash Cook
Youth Ambassador The Foyer Foundation Port Adelaide

Kyzar Jing
Mentor in Youth Justice at Confit Lived Experience Advocate for Children and Young People inciting systemic change in NSW

Carla Raynes
CEO Bridge It

Sharon Gough
CEO Indigo Junction

Dianne Underwood
CEO Colony 47

Paul Mcdonald
CEO Anglicare Victoria

The Hon Josh Burns MP
Federal Member for Macnamara, Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

Senator Jana Stewart
Senator for Victoria, Qualified Family Therapist, Former employee for the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and the Child Protection System

Dr. Monique Ryan
Member for Kooyong and Former Director of the Neurology Department of the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne

Senator David Pocock
Independent Senator for the ACT, Former Wallabies Rugby Captain and Brumbies Vice Captain

Dawyte Hart-O’neill
Founder Freedom Fight Project NTNational Youth Steering Committee Member

Zoë Robinson
Child and Youth Advocate NSW

Donna Bennett
CEO Hope Street Youth and Family Services

Dr. Tom Mcclean
Head of Research and Social Policy at Uniting ACT/NSW

Rebecca Maward
Research Specialist in Youth Homelessness, UoS Research Centre for Children and Families NSW/ACT

Cindy Young
Senior Managerof Services at Conflict Resolution Service, ACT

Richie Goonan
Executive Manager Community HealthYouth Projects

Michelle Ackerman
Acting Director of Youth Support Services at Youth Off The Streets

Aunty Jill Gallagher AO
CEO Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

Helen Waters Silvia
CEO Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC)

Meena Singh
Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria

Justin Barker
CEO Youth Coalition of the ACT

Rob Ellis
The Salvation Army Victorian Youth Services State Manager

Justene Gordon
CEO Burdekin Association

Tracey John
AnglicareNT/ Regional Operations Manager, Katherine

Rebecca Oelkers
CEO of BHC, one of the largest Community Housing Providers in Queensland

Tyrah Chan-Hampton
Youth Ambassador The Foyer Foundation

Lee Carnie
Executive Director of Advocacy & Campaigns | Foundation for Young Australians

Michael Perusco
CEO of Berry Street

Dave Saint
Foyer Foundation Ambassador and Lived Experience Advocate for Mental Health and Homelessness