Batiba Guwiyal are traditional words meaning to ‘Extinguish the Flame’, from the Dunghutti people of the Macleay Valley area of the Mid North Coast of NSW. The Batiba Guwiyal conference is focused on facilitating collaborative efforts to tackle the impacts and find solutions to child sexual assault in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The conference is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 1st and 2nd March, 2016. There is also a one day pre-conference master class.
The Conference theme, ‘Extinguish the Flame’, references the role that we ALL have to play in extinguishing the pain that the impacts of child sexual assault on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities has across the country.
The conference is targeted to service providers; researchers and academics; advocates and policy makers; child protection, medical, education and legal practitioners; therapeutic professionals; and educators. The conference and the program recognise that there are few opportunities for stakeholders to come together to share experiences, research, approaches and ideas to this specialised area so seeks to provide a unique space for participants to give voice to the effective work that is being undertaken in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and to stimulate greater motivation to work collaboratively to improve all efforts to ensure children and families affected by child sexual assault have access to the programs and services they need to continue on their road to healing and wellbeing.
Keynote speakers are Noel Pearson (Cape York Institute of Policy and Leadership), Hetty Johnston (Bravehearts), Steve Kinmond (NSW Deputy Ombudsman and Community and Disability Services Commissioner), Rita Shakel (University of Sydney), Marcia Langton (University of Melbourne), Jack Beetson (Literacy for Life Foundation), and Judy Atkinson (Patron, We Al-Li). Workshop presenters come from a similarly broad range of settings working with children, young people, families and communities to prevent and address the impacts of child sexual assault.
Click here to find out more about the conference or click here to register