Families Australia regularly host interactive policy forums with members and sector colleagues, including Government officials and researchers. The aim is to discuss issues facing children and families and to provide the latest information on national family policy, practice or research.

On Thursday 20 June 2024 Families Australia invites you to join their next policy forum on the foster carer shortage across Australia.

Keynote presentation and a facilitated Q&A discussion will be with Simon Kuestenmacher, co-founder and director of The Demographics Group, who is assisting the sector in better understanding the changing demographics of Australia now, and into the future.

The Demographics Group have researched, extracted and analysed demographic and socio-economic variables that relates to the foster carer pool in Victoria and Queensland, and soon NSW. Simon will provide candid insights into how these variables have changed, are likely to continue to change and the impact this will have on the future of foster care, and the child and family sector broadly.

Following that, Families Australia CEO Jamie Crosby and the recently established National Foster Care Sustainability Group chair, Dr Lisa J. Griffiths, will discuss the work being undertaken in 2024 to harness Commonwealth opportunities and the change needed to sustain and enhance the pivotal role foster carers play in the child protection system.

We hope you can join us!

Preserving a Vital System; The Future of Foster Care

When: Thursday 20 June 2024

Time: 3.00pm-4.30pm

Where: Microsoft Teams