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Day 2 recordings and presentations

We're currently updating this page with presentation slides as they become available. Please check back regularly for new content.

The presentations below represent a selection of conference sessions that presenters have approved for sharing. This is not a complete collection of presentations from AIFS Conference 2026.


Keynote – Hon Professor Cathy Humphreys

Disrupting established policy and practice: addressing the intersection of DFV and substance use

Panel: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination in child protection and systems reform

  • Facilitator: Prof Paul Gray, Child Protection Advocacy Hub, Uts Jumbunna
  • Speakers:
    • Catherine Liddle, Chief Executive Officer, SNAICC - National Voice For Our Children
    • Olga Havnen, Chief Executive Officer, Our Ways Strong Together
    • Sue-Anne Hunter, Commissioner, National Commission For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Children And Young People

Defence and veteran family wellbeing

  • Psychosocial wellbeing and family functioning of Australian Defence families during military-to-civilian transition
    Amber B. Cohen, Gallipoli Medical Research
  • Adapting evidence-based relationship education for Defence and veteran couples
    Dr Melissa Bakhurst, La Trobe University & Karen Green, Open Arms
  • Application of single session thinking for military and veteran families
    Dr Martine Cosgrove, The Bouverie Centre
  • ‘The family joins too’ ... and Defence joins the family
    Ruth Clare, Monash University

Socio-economic disadvantage and child and family wellbeing

  • Interactions between household and neighbourhood socio-economic disadvantage in early childhood development
    Dr Sarah Gray, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
  • The $60 billion price tag: Economic impacts of child poverty in NSW 
    Neha Shah, NSW Council of Social Service & Brad Ruting, Equity Economics
  • The purpose of social services and why Australia needs progressive universalism
    Barbara Honeysett & Dr Ryan Martin, both from the Centre for Policy Development
  • Australia’s accommodation responses to Family and Domestic Violence – a contemporary review 
    Dr Renee Lane, AHURI

Child safety/protection and intersections with DFSV

  • Addressing systemic disadvantage for Muslim communities within Victoria’s child protection system 
    Dr Kate Hammond & Mariyam Fahmy, both from the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre For Human Rights
  • Strengthening service system responses for migrant children affected by family violence
    Gemma Tarpey-Brown & Prof Karen Block, both from the Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne
  • Improving cultural safety: Recommendations for child protection practitioners
    Stephanie White, Deakin University & Kaitlyn McVicar, Monash University
  • Keeping kids connected to culture: The C4 model for reflective multicultural practice
    Kathy Karatasas, CulturalWorks,

Children’s voices and codesign for policy and practice

  • Children first, always: Children first, always: Building courts that listen
    Janet Carmichael, FCFC Children’s Committee & Judge Kylie Beckhouse, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA)
  • Children in their own right: Young people’s voices shaping policy and practice
    Kirra, Berry Street & Youna Kim, ANROWS
  • Measuring safety: Co-designing national indicators with children and young people
    Imogen Williams and Rachel Aston, both from ARTD Consultants

Experiences of migrant and refugee families in Australia

  • Navigating new forms of bargaining in nuclear homes post-migration 
    Sana Ashraf, University of Melbourne
  • Family structures and transitions in Iraqi refugee families: Implications for educators
    Dr Seham Shwayli, Victoria University
  • Strengthening social capital and cohesion of humanitarian entrants through Community Supporter Programs
    Dr Charlotte Young, The University of Queensland
  • The dynamic relationship between social connectedness and health: A multilevel longitudinal analysis
    Jingyeong Song, The University of Queensland

Work and family

  • Exploring parents’ views and experiences of working from home: A qualitative study
    Dr Stacey Hokke, La Trobe University
  • Family joblessness in Australia: Trends and comparisons
    Prof Peter Whiteford, ANU
  • Unequal pathways: Post-separation care trajectories and gendered financial costs of sole parenthood 
    Dr Sandra Buchler, The University of Queensland
  • Employment transitions among humanitarian migrants: Evidence from a decade of BNLA data
    Dr Salma Ahmed & Dr Sheenagh McShane, both from AIFS

Gambling harm, lived experience, and recovery

  • Coping to control: Understanding gambling experiences to inform harm minimisation policy
    Dr Sheenagh McShane and Jas Lowe, both from AIFS
  • Community-led, culturally informed gambling harm recovery for families: ‘Take the Lead’
    Michelle Hage, Arabic Welfare Inc.
  • Disintegrating families: Financial counsellors as catalysts for recovery from gambling harm
    Pam Mutton & Vaishali Kedar, both from the Better Health Network
  • Gambling and harm to families - lived experience presentation 
    Judy Avisar & Nelson Nghe, both from SHARC (Self Help Addiction Resource Centre)

Disability and service delivery

  • Co-designing safety: Diverse experiences of family violence among young people with disability
    Dr Tess Altman & Madeleine Gay, both from Children and Young People with Disability Australia
  • Building FASD-informed capability across child and family services to strengthen family wellbeing
    Simone McKenry, NOFASD Australia
  • Inclusive home based early learning: Insights from the HIPPY disability inclusion project 
    Siska Frederick & Cara Nolan, both from the Brotherhood of St Laurence
  • Peer-led support for parents of children with disability: Early RCT Findings 
    Dr Tim Moore, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute & Dr Amit Arora, Western Sydney University

Enhancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child wellbeing

  • Using Aboriginal participatory action research to develop a trauma-informed Aboriginal parenting program
    Dr Celeste Duff & Raheen Williams, both from The Kids Research Institute Australia
  • Cultural safety as early intervention: Strengthening Aboriginal child and family wellbeing
    Jodie Clarke, City of Armadale
  • Evaluating the Ngala Nanga Mai Parenting Program: An Aboriginal community perspective
    Brittany Wilson, Sax Institute
  • Learning on Country: Martu-Led early childhood and family wellbeing
    Phoebe Harrison, Julie Ann Thomas & Revina Dunn, all from Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa & Maxine Gross, The Kids Research Institute Australia

Men's health and wellbeing

  • Disability trajectories and employment outcomes in a cohort of Australian men
    Dr Sean Martin & Dr Swen Kuh, both from AIFS
  • The Men’s Table: Healthy masculinities and their impact on families and children 
    Luke Odgen, The Men’s Table
  • How men engage with online platforms to navigate fatherhood – Scoping review 
    Michael Wilson, Movember, Institute of Men’s Health
  • Adverse childhood experience profiles and pathways to adult mental health in men
    Dr Mulu Woldegiorgis, AIFS

Family law - spotlight on DFV

  • The recognition of family violence in property proceedings: Has change brought improvement?
    Prof Lisa Young, Murdoch University
  • Safety from family violence through and beyond family court involvement: New evidence
    Prof Jenn McIntosh, The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University
  • Participatory action research to improve children’s participation: Family Law 4 Kids
    Dr Georgina Dimopoulos, Southern Cross Uni & Gianna Ziero, Family Law 4 Kids
  • Evaluation of the Family Law Amendment Act 2023 Assoc Prof Deirdre Howard-Wagner & Mia Stone, both from ANU & Dr Jessica Lothian, Attorney-General’s Department

Practitioner insights on DFV and child maltreatment

  • Reducing maltreatment risk for children with a disability: Attachment-focused early childhood intervention
    Dr Stacey Alexander, Noah’s Ark Inc
  • Standing in strength and survival: The Kunga Stopping Violence Program practice framework
    Rachel Neary & Chelsea Hayes, both from NAAJA
  • Domestic violence professionals’ views on co-occurring child sexual abuse and domestic violence 
    Prof Molly Dragiewicz, Griffith University & Angela Lynch, DV-alert, Lifeline Australia
  • It’s never too early to talk about child sexual abuse prevention 
    Hayley Natoli, Project Paradigm

Changing families in changing times

  • Couple relationships in Australia today: Changing attitudes, influences and sharing of assets and responsibilities
    Dr Rachel Carson, AIFS
  • The Australian Law Reform Commission’s review of surrogacy laws
    Dr Ronli Sifris & Jacinth Pathmanathan, both from the Australian Law Reform Commission
  • Rethinking family and belonging 
    Nikki Hartmann & Sharna Ciotti, both from Relationships Australia SA
  • Are pets truly members of the family? ‘Companion Animals’ in the FLA 
    Taylor Jobling & Courtney Dolphin, both from Adelaide University
  • Who cares? Trends in the division of childcare among separated parents
    Dr Sandra Buchler, The University of Queensland
  • Health and wellbeing spillover effects of informal care in Australian veteran families
    Dr Jie Hu, Gallipoli Medical Research
  • Families, ageing and the new Aged Care Act: Reform meets multicultural reality
    Samhruta Narayanan, FECCA
  • Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold: Why sibling support is intrinsic
    Dr Shannon Schedlich, Siblings Australia

Changing the Narrative: Empowerment, Masculinity and Youth Voice in Gambling Harm Prevention

  • A dual approach to gambling harm prevention for young people 
    CB Nyko & Mark Riddiford, Victorian Department of Health
  • The value of self-care in the face of gambling harm 
    Claire Emmanuel, Better Health Network
  • Guys and gambling: The need for a masculinities-informed approach to sports gambling 
    Dr Vincent Mancini, The Kids Research Institute Australia
  • Case study for co-design, centering youth voice reducing normalisation of gambling harm
    Sarah-Jane Blunt, IPC Health, Gamblers Help – Young Leaders of the West

Panel: How longer lives, care needs and changing family forms are reshaping wealth and financial security across generations

  • Facilitator: Catherine Andersson, AIFS
  • Speakers:
    • Dr Liz Allen, Demographer, The Australian National University
    • Patricia Sparrow, COTA Australia
    • Matt Flavel, Deputy Secretary, Department Of Social Services
    • Prof Wendy Stone, Professor of Housing & Social Policy, Swinburne University of Technology

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