Leading the way
7
and advocating for change
It is an explicit expectation that everyone
working at Berry Street will:
• Be a strong advocate for the rights and needs
of our clients;
Some examples include:• Presenting at international and national
conferences:
o Annette Jackson in Seattle on trauma
• Contribute to organisational processes and
appropriate networks to improve policies,
processes and systems for our clients.
and resilience.
While advocacy has always been an integral
part of our work, we are now determined to do
this in a more rigorous and strategic way. The
creation of a Director Public Policy and Practice
Development role, an agreed advocacy agenda
and the commitment of 1% of salary funding
over three years to collect evidence of what
works, are clear evidence of our determination
to strengthen this area of our work.
The calibre, expertise and knowledge of our
staff is recognised by the leadership role so
many play. Our desire to learn, and also to share
this knowledge, has also meant that we have
developed relationships with key international
colleagues.
o Sarah Waters in Canada on ‘Making
evidence informed practice a reality’.
o Raeleen McKenzie at the International
Foster Care Organisation conference.
o Shaun Coade on ‘Yarning up on Trauma’
at the SNAICC conference in Alice Springs.
o Lauren Oliver at the ‘Watch this space:
Children and Young People and Privacy’
conference run by the Victorian Privacy
Commissioner.
o Timothy O’Leary on resilience at the
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family
Welfare conference.
o Pam Miranda on project management at
the Industry and Training Board conference.
o Felicity Rorke and Kate Cannon undertaking
a USA study tour on family violence.