Family Matters Co-Chair Natalie Lewis invited Shannieka Martino, a young girl currently living in out-of-home care, to join her in delivering a keynote address to the 2017 Child Aware Approaches Conference.
This keynote address spoke to the urgent need for transparency and accountability from all Australian Governments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities, offering community-led, practical solutions to some of the endemic issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities when they come into contact with child protection systems.
The keynote address, Respect our rights, nurture our children, hear our voices – Government accountability to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, was presented at the 5th national Child Aware Approaches conference – a vibrant gathering of thought leaders addressing themes of:
- advancing children’s development and wellbeing in the first 1000 days,
- building child safe organisations and environments, and
- supporting young people in out-of-home care to flourish in adulthood.