Using Life Story Work to support children and young people in out-of-home care

Thursday 17th September 2026, 12:00pm-1:00pm AEST, online via Ms Teams

Hosted by Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR)

Details

Life Story Work is a biographical approach used across health and social care settings to help individuals reflect on, share and make meaning of their life experiences. While Life Story Work is embedded in out-of-home care (OOHC) policy both nationally and internationally, there is limited understanding of how it is implemented in practice and how it is experienced by children, carers and practitioners. Given the limited evidence base for effective therapeutic interventions in residential OOHC, research in this area is both timely and important.

In this FACSIAR Lunch and Learn webinar, Soula Kontomichalos, PhD candidate from Deakin University, will present her research on Life Story Work and Therapeutic Life Story Work. Soula will explore how these approaches support children and young people in residential OOHC, including those often described as treatment-resistant, to engage in therapeutic intervention. She will also discuss the broader benefits of Life Story Work and Therapeutic Life Story Work for individuals who have experienced repeated trauma, highlighting their potential to support healing, identity formation and positive life outcomes.

Following the presentation, a panel including an Aboriginal practice expert and young people with lived experience of OOHC will explore practice implications and share real‑world examples to support implementation.

The webinar will be chaired by Peter Reily, A/Executive Director, FACSIAR, Department of Communities and Justice

Presenter

Soula Kontomichalos – PhD candidate, Deakin University and General Manager, Youth Justice East and Children’s Court Youth Diversion Southeast Metropolitan Region, Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS), Victoria

Panel

Paige and Izaak – UC Change Consultants
Stevie Kirby - Senior Project Officer, Aboriginal Culture in Practice, Child Protection Practice Office, Department of Communities and Justice

Automated captioning via MS Teams is available on event day. The session will then be fully captioned and available on YouTube within one week of the live event. A link will be sent to all those who register.

Questions or comments?

Contact: ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Contact the host of Using Life Story Work to support children and young people in out-of-home care