And just like that we are in a new financial year! FRSA Executive Director, Jackie Brady, has sensibly marked the passing of 2024-25 with a week of respite from the bitter cold of a Canberra winter and will return to the office next week. Meanwhile, back at home the FRSA team is busy preparing for the months ahead. I take the opportunity to flag that our next Strategic Leadership Forum (a member-only event) will be held in Canberra 29-30 October this year. Please put a placeholder in your diaries and stay tuned for further details.
This week FRSA Policy & Project Officer Lisa Curtis and I were pleased to be able to attend PLACE’s Roadshow & Listening Tour Capstone Event (see more below). As many readers will be aware, PLACE (Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment) has been established to support place-based change around the country. Some FRSA members delivering the place-based program, Communities for Children Facilitating Partners (CfC FP), were involved in the Listening Tour and I know that many in the CfC FP network also joined PLACE’s Capstone event online.
It has been a harrowing week for many families in Victoria as news of the alleged sexual abuse of numerous children by a childcare worker has come to light. The safety and wellbeing of children and families is at the heart of the work of family and relationships services, and I know this news will have distressed many who work tirelessly to keep children safe and supported. The National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has reiterated her call for National Cabinet to make child safety and wellbeing a key priority. Our thoughts are with all those impacted, including the majority of childcare workers who do an outstanding job caring for and educating our young children.
The FRSA team looks forward to working alongside you over 2025-26 and supporting you in the important work you do.
