The Centre welcomes you to our OPEN International Speaker Series | Session 1

In Conversation: Exploring International perspectives of Out-of-Home Care, with Professor Lisa Holmes (UK)

OPEN, an initiative of The Centre, is proud to launch our International Speaker Series on all things Out of Home Care, with a special in-person roundtable featuring Professor Lisa Holmes, Director of Research at the University of Sussex and founder of both the International Work Group for Therapeutic Residential Care and the Children’s Social Care Data User Group.

Victoria has long been a leader in residential care reform and evidence-informed practice. This session offers an opportunity to explore how shared challenges are being approached internationally. For those working in out-of-home care in Victoria, this conversation brings a valuable outside-in perspective — a chance to connect local expertise with international insights.

Drawing on her latest research from the UK, Prof. Holmes will lead a conversation on building evidence, valuing relationships, and using data to shape more effective and meaningful care systems.

Key topics will include:

Rethinking the use of residential care in child welfare: beyond binary comparisons with family-based care.
Promoting relational stability: mechanisms for maintaining meaningful relationships for children in care.
Defining and measuring value: how do we understand and assess value for money in out-of-home care?

This is a unique opportunity to engage with international insights and contribute to a forward-looking conversation about care, evidence, and impact. The session will provide a lovely break to get off our screens and have a deeper conversation in person – don’t miss out. (In person only)

Who should attend?

Practitioners, policy-makers, and leaders in out-of-home care.