Speakers
Key Note Speaker - Professor Saul Becker
Hosted by Julie McCrossin
Other Speakers (in alphabetical order of surname):
Key Note Speaker - Professor Saul Becker
Director of Research & Professor of Social Policy and Social Care
University of Nottingham
United Kingdom
Saul Becker is Director of Research and Professor of Social Policy and Social Care in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, UK. For 15 years he has been researching, writing and working on young carers issues in the UK and internationally. He has directed 30 research projects; published nearly 300 books, chapters and articles; and he has spoken at 150 conferences. During his childhood, Saul was a young carer. He is passionate about and committed to the development of research-informed and outcomes-based policy for young carers and their families.
Julie McCrossin
Julie McCrossin talks to people for a living.
She presented the radio show Life Matters on ABC Radio National for 5 years until 2005, initially with Geraldine Doogue and then as solo presenter, covering countless health, welfare and educational topics with a frequent rural focus. Julie was also a team leader on the media quiz show “Good News Week” for 5 years on Network Ten and ABC TV. Julie began working for the ABC in 1983 and she’s presented many Radio National programs including “Background Briefing” and “Arts National”, as well as stints on ABC Rural Radio and 702ABC Sydney.
Currently Julie presents a travel program called Up and Away for Qantas in-flight entertainment on Radio Q, writes for the new ABC magazine Life Etc and facilitates conferences and training seminars nationally. For over 20 years Julie has hosted hundreds of public events. Julie has university qualifications in the arts, education and law and she is an Ambassador for NAPCAN (The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect).
Vivian
Executive Officer
Community Options NSW
Vivian has held this position for the past 10 years her journey has been through both the Community and Health sectors. Vivian currently sits on the Case Management Society of Australia Executive and is an active member of the Community Care Industry Council , the HACC Issues Forum, and acts in an advisory role to a variety of current policy and practice initiatives.
Hayley Bester
Young carer sponsored by beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Over the last four years Hayley has been both a consumer and a carer. During this period she has learnt the importance of listening rather than just speaking; the importance of ensuring that as much as you need to look after the person going through a tough time you also need to look after yourself. She now uses her experiences to try and provide advice and equip other young Australians with the correct information and skills to look out for a mate.
Maria Bohan
CEO
Carers Victoria
Maria Bohan has held this position for 13 years. Maria’s career has journeyed through teaching in primary and secondary schools, adult education on international development issues, and education of women’s health workers about empowerment and adult learning principles. She is passionate about working from a community development, system change and social justice perspective.
Connie Bruckard
Manager
Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre (CRCC)
Connie Bruckard has been the Manager of the CRCC in Hobart for over 11 years. Prior to this she spent time in the aged care sector. Connie also worked with young children and adolescents at Westmead Hospital in Sydney for 8 years. Connie has an MBA, a Masters of Health & Human Services and is a GAICD.
Professor Bettina Cass
Professorial Fellow, Social Policy Research Center, University of NSW.
Research undertaken by Bettina Cass is concerned with analysis of caring, work, family, children and young people’s well-being and social policies in Australia and internationally. She is currently carrying out research about the wellbeing, experiences and needs of young carers through an ARC Linkage grant with colleagues at the Social Policy Research Centre on “Young Carers: life-course impacts of the caring responsibilities of children and young adults.
Paul Cowan
Acting General Manager Families, Seniors and Service Delivery Support Centrelink
Paul is responsible for the management nationally of payments to families, the Aged Pension and Carer’s Programs. Paul has a diverse background in the development and implementation of social policy. He has many years experience in the employment, education, seniors and carers program and policy spheres. Immediately prior to commencing in Centrelink in 2002 Paul held the post of Counsellor, Employment Education and Training at the Australian Delegation to the OECD in Paris.
Chantelle Day
Young Carer
Chantelle is 20 and cares for her mum. She recently received a scholarship to study Medical science at Griffith university and has to balance her caring role with her university commitments which can be very challenging at times. Chantelle is very passionate about speaking out to try and better services for young carers.
Annette Ellis
Member of Parliament
Annette has been the Federal Member for the southern Canberra area since 1996 when she was elected to the seat of Namadgi. She is currently chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee Family, Community Housing and Youth. This Committee is overseeing the Inquiry into Better Support for Carers. Prior to entering Federal Parliament, Annette was a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1995.
Raynar Foldesi
Young Carer
Raynar Foldesi is 22 and cares for her 19 year old brother. She has accessed a range of services through Carers WA, Red Cross home help and respite from Gosnells Home Help and Identity.
Kerry Graham
CEO Inspire Foundation
Kerry Graham joined Inspire Foundation in April 2007 anb has over 15 years experience working with children and young people. A lawyer by training, Kerry has commiteted herself to service delivery and systems reform. She worked for a number of leading nonprofit youth services before undertaking leadership roles for the National Aboriginal Sports Corporation Australia (NASCA) and Good Beginnings Australia.
Dr Geoff Holloway
Research Manager Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth
Geoff has a PhD in sociology (University of Tasmania). He has taught in Curtin University, with specialties in Applied Sociology and the Sociology and Anthropology of Health and Illness, with a focus on people with disabilities and people from multicultural backgrounds. Geoff has also worked with the Disability Services Commission in Western Australia; Child and Family Services and the Children’s Commissioner - both in Tasmania.
Joanne Howard
Acting Executive Director, Schools ACT Dept of Education and Training
Joanne Howard has responsibility for providing strategic educational leadership and management of ACT public school sectors (preschools, primary schools, high schools, colleges, special schools and early intervention centres), and the delivery of educational support services in these schools and settings.
Joan Hughes
Chief Executive Officer Carers Australia
Joan Hughes was appointed CEO in July 2006. She is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Nursing Research Centre, University of Sydney, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2004, and from 1993 until 2006, Joan was CEO Carers NSW. In 2008, she was selected to attend Australia’s 2020 Summit. Joan serves on many federal government committees as well as international carer advisory committees.
Jenny Macklin
The Hon Jenny Macklin, MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Jenny Macklin is the government Minister with primary responsibility for carers. Ms Macklin has been the Member for Jagajaga in Victoria since 1996 and has demonstrated a strong interest in social and community issues throughout her political career.
Tim Moore
Research Fellow and Lecturer
Australian Catholic University
In 1997, Tim founded the ACT Young Carers Network and established St Nick’s Young Carers Program, running camps and activities for young carers in Canberra. Tim has managed research projects to explore young carers’ experiences in education, with service delivery and in 2008, the needs of those caring for a parent with a drug or alcohol issue.
Sam O’brien
Young Carer
Sam is 17 and cares for his mum. He has a range of interests including football, writing and music. In his caring role he has accessed a range of services through organisations such as the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre.
Sam Page
Executive Director of Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA)
Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) is the national peak body for organisations that deliver family relationship services. Former roles have included social policy, service delivery and management consulting working with both government and non-government agencies. Her work has been characterised by a capacity to engage diverse stakeholders in policy and service innovation.
Aaron Paul
Young Carer
Aaron Paul is a young man who has provided care for his mother since age 11, studies Medicine at University and hopes to become a doctor. Aaron works with other young carers as a mentor and peer leader, and is a Carers Australia Ambassador.
Judy Phillips
Director of the Young Carer Respite and Information Services Program
FaHCSIA
Judy has tertiary qualifications in psychology, special education and public administration. She has a background of working in the community with people with a disability. Areas of work include training people with disability in sheltered workshops in the 1980’s; supporting people with a severe or profound disability to participate in their community through a community access program and nearly eight years as an advocate for people with a disability, people who are aged and their carers.
Pam Webster
President Carers Australia
Pam Webster is the President of Carers Australia and has been a member of the Carers Australia Board since 2005. She has extensive personal experience as a carer, including having been a young carer for her younger sister who had serious, chronic ill health and who eventually died aged 32. She has also cared for her own daughter who has a severe, chronic illness and for several frail aged relatives.
Kylie Whitehill
Youth Support Worker Caroline Chisholm School, Canberra
Kylie has had extensive training in the community development sector and is very passionate about young carers. Kylie first became involved with young carers when she started working at Lanyon High School in 1995. She started the support group for young carers based in schools. This group grew to encompass all Tuggeranong high schools. Kylie is now at Caroline Chisholm School where she started a Young Carers Support Group in term one with three Young Carers. There are now two groups with over twenty in each Group. These Programs are in conjunction with LITMUS and CYCLOPS Programs Angilcare Canberra and Goulbourn.
Meghan Williams
Young Carer Worker
Carers Northern Territory
Meghan Williams has worked for Carers NT since 2003. Meghan is the parent of a 17 year old child with Special Needs as well as two children adopted from overseas. She has been active in the areas of Disabilities in her role as a Member of NT Disability Advisory Council from 2003 and Secretary / Chairperson and Cofounder of Nemarluk & Henbury Outside School Hours Care since 1997. Formerly Meghan’s background was in the area of Health as an Associate Charge Nurse .
Jessica Willis
Young Carer
Jessica Willis is a 23 year old young woman who has been the primary carer for her mum. She has recently taken up a temporary part time post with Carers NSW as a “Young carer Intern with policy and media focus”.
Dr Hester Wilson
General Practitioner
Hester is a Fellow of the Royal australian College of General Practitioners, and a Fellow of the Chapter of Addiction Medicine in the Royal Australian College of Physicians. She has extensive clinical experience working with drug and alcohol and mental health co morbidity. Currently working in private general practice in Newtown, she believes that mainstream general practice is ideally placed to assist young people and their families and carers. Hester’s involvement in the Forum has been supported by the Australian General Practice Network.
Tabitha Wilson
Young Carer at High School
Tabitha Wilson is 16 and lives in Wagga in New South Wales. She cares for her dad and older sister. Tabitha enjoys art, music, photography, reading, cooking, dancing, shopping, and being involved in things that she is passionate about such as the great outdoors.