VCOSS

As Director of the Social Exclusion Task Force in the United Kingdom (UK), Naomi Eisenstadt CB was responsible for the 2008 landmark publication Think Family: improving the life choices of families. It stated that:

A system that ‘thinks family’ has no ‘wrong door’: contact with any one service gives access to a wider system of support. Individual needs are looked at in the context of the whole family, so clients are seen not just as individuals but as parents or other family members…Support is tailored to meet need so that families with the most complex needs receive the most intensive support.

Earlier, Naomi led the rollout of the UK’s Sure Start program, regarded as one of the most ambitious attempts of any government to improve the outcomes of children living in disadvantaged areas. Other work has focused on the relationship between young people’s aspirations, their neighbourhoods and educational outcomes; and women in the criminal justice system.

Now a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University, Naomi’s key interests are in children’s services, poverty and its impact on children, and family policy.

Her upcoming book, Providing a sure start: How government discovered early childhood will be published by The Policy Press in September 2011. Offering insight into the key debates on services for young children, as well as how decisions are made in a highly political context, it will be of keen interest to both policy academics and senior managers of public services.

Naomi’s address will focus on how to generate and maintain the momentum for reform in a changing political environment. From her strong background in driving social policy reform, she will reflect on the opportunities and risks that political change presents to addressing long-term social changes, and ways to reframe debate around some of the key tensions inherent in policies that try to achieve too much change too quickly.

Since 2002, Cath has been Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS). VCOSS is the peak body for the social and community sector in Victoria and has more than 460 members. Cath has been actively involved in the Australian and international not-for-profit sector for nearly 30 years, committed to the advocacy of those experiencing disadvantage and seeking to promote a more just and equitable society.

Cath is a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and co-chairs the DHS-Human Services Partnership Implementation Committee, participates in the Reference Group to the Office of the Community Sector, and convenes the Peaks and Statewide Networks Forum, a key network for the community sector in Victoria. Cath represents VCOSS and its constituency on numerous other Victorian Government advisory and working groups.

Following her election to State Parliament in 2006, Mary was immediately elevated to the Shadow Ministry, taking on multiple portfolios, including mental health, drug abuse and ageing. In opposition she was the Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Community Services and Women’s Affairs.

Following the election of the Coalition Government in 2010, Mary was appointed the Minister for Mental Health, Women’s Affairs and Community Services.

Prior to entering Parliament Mary was the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Young Australians and Chair of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness. Mary has also been a manager at McKinsey and Co. in New York, and an executive director at both Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and Consolidated Press Holdings in Sydney. She worked as a senior advisor to the Federal Industry Minister from 1999 - 2001.

Mary is currently a Director of the Otis Foundation and has previously served on the Boards of the Breast Cancer Network Australia, Foundation Boroondara and Trinity College. She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Melbourne University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University in the USA.

Micaela Cronin is the Chief Executive Officer of MacKillop Family Services - one of the largest providers of specialist services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families in Victoria, and more recently with branches in NSW.

Micaela has worked in the community sector for over 20 years. She has extensive experience in the delivery and management of a broad range of community services, and has previously held senior management positions with Wesley Mission Melbourne and St Vincent de Paul Aged Care and Community Services. She has a passionate commitment to social justice issues and wants to see children and young people’s voices heard in strong, inclusive communities.

Micaela enjoys working in partnership with other community sector organisations, and is President of the Victorian Council of Social Services, Council member of Catholic Social Services Victoria, and Board Member of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.

Dr Cindy Blackstock is Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and Associate Professor at the University of Alberta. A member of the Gitksan Nation, Cindy has worked in the field of child and family services for over 20 years.

Cindy is a dynamic social change leader, a clear innovator in action who is much sought after internationally for her bold and innovative views on key social challenges.

An author of over 50 publications, Cindy’s key interests include exploring and addressing the causes of disadvantage for Aboriginal children and families by promoting equitable and culturally based interventions. The First Nations child welfare case, currently before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, has become one of the most watched legal cases in Canadian history.

Helen Szoke is the Commissioner with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and has worked with the Commission since December 2004.

She previously held positions relating to management, community development, organisational development and regulation in the education and health sectors.

Helen is currently a board member of Multicultural Arts Victoria. She has held various other statutory and directors positions including the Adult Migrant Education Services, National Health and Medical Research Licensing Committee, the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Key Centre for Women’s Health, Women’s Health Victoria and various community agencies.