Public hearings

On this page

The Inquiry is holding public hearings in October and November 2023 to hear from witnesses across academia, government and the Aboriginal community controlled sector.

The purpose of these hearings is to build a deeper picture of how the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle is applied in the removal and placement of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.

The hearings will also explore priority areas in greater detail, including practices and models being applied in other jurisdictions nationally and internationally.

Witnesses and recordings

Recordings of evidence from each witness will be published on this page as they are available.

Session 1 - Dr Rhiannon Pilkington, Dr Fiona Arney and Karen Glover

Monday, 9 October 2023 at 10:00am

Witnesses:

  • Dr Rhiannon Pilkington, Epidemiologist, BetterStart Health and Development Research, University of Adelaide
  • Dr Fiona Arney, Director, Arney Chong Consulting
  • Karen Glover, Principal Research Fellow, SAHMRI Women and Kids theme

Session 1 Transcript

Session 2 - Professor Cindy Blackstock

Tuesday, 10 October 2023 at 8:00am

Witness:

  • Professor Cindy Blackstock, McGill University and Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Session 2 Transcript

Session 3 - Professor Muriel Bamblett AO and Sarah Gafforini

Tuesday, 10 October 2023 at 1:30pm

Witnesses:

  • Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Chair of SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
  • Sarah Gafforini, Director, Office of the CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

Session 3 Transcript

Session 3 Presentation

Session 4 - Candice Butler

Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 10:00am

Witness:

  • Candice Butler, Director, Centre of Excellence, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak

Session 4 Transcript

Session 5 - Commissioner Natalie Lewis

Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 2:00pm

Witness:

  • Commissioner Natalie Lewis, Queensland Family and Child Commission

Session 5 Transcript

Session 6 - Sarah Decrea and Paul Nixon

Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 10:00am

Witnesses:

  • Sarah Decrea, Practice Manager Family-Led Decision Making, Relationships Australia South Australia
  • Paul Nixon, Independent Consultant Social Worker

Session 6 Transcript

Session 7 - Associate Professor Paul Gray

Wednesday, 18 October 2023 at 9:30am

Witness:

  • Associate Professor Paul Gray, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney

Session 7 Transcript

Session 8 - Dr Jacynta Krakouer

Wednesday, 18 October 2023 at 2:00pm

Witness:

  • Dr Jacynta Krakouer, UniSA Justice and Society, University of South Australia

Session 8 Transcript

Session 9 - Amy Cleland

Thursday, 19 October 2023 at 10:00am

Witness:

  • Amy Cleland, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia

Session 9 Transcript

Session 10 - Professor Katina D’Onise

Thursday, 19 October 2023 at 2:00pm

Witness:

  • Professor Katina D’Onise, Executive Director, Prevention and Population Health, Wellbeing SA

Session 10 Transcript

Session 11 - Sandra Miller

Tuesday, 24 October 2023 at 2:00pm

Witness:

  • Sandra Miller, Aboriginal rights activist and advocate for Indigenous health and welfare

Session 11 Transcript

Session 12 - Associate Professor Yvonne Clark

Thursday, 26 October 2023 at 10:00am

Witness:

  • Associate Professor Yvonne Clark, UniSA Justice and Society, University of South Australia

Session 12 Transcript

Session 13 - Dr Tracy Westerman AM

Thursday, 26 October 2023 at 1:00pm

Witness:

  • Dr Tracy Westerman AM, Managing Director, Indigenous Psychological Services

Session 13 Transcript

Session 14 - Professor Leah Bromfield

Friday, 27 October 2023 at 9:00am

Witness:

  • Professor Leah Bromfield, Director and Chair of Child Protection, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia

Session 14 Transcript

Session 15 - Shona Reid

Friday, 27 October 2023 at 2:00pm

Witness:

  • Shona Reid, Guardian for Children and Young People

Session 15 Transcript

Session 16 - Aboriginal Family Support Services

Wednesday, 1 November 2023 at 10:00am | Day 1

Witnesses:

  • Kerry Rogers, Senior Manager Cultural Clinician, Aboriginal Family Support Services
  • Kate Wright, Senior Manager Therapeutic Services, Aboriginal Family Support Services

Session 16 Transcript | Day 1

 

Thursday, 9 November 2023 at 9:00am | Day 2

Witnesses:

  • Kerry Rogers, Senior Manager Cultural Clinician, Aboriginal Family Support Services
  • Kate Wright, Senior Manager Therapeutic Services, Aboriginal Family Support Services

Session 16 Transcript | Day 2

Session 17 - Department for Health and Wellbeing

Thursday, 9 November 2023 at 11:00am

Witnesses:

  • Heather Baron – A/Chief Child Protection Officer, Department for Health and Wellbeing
  • Ben Thomas – Manager, Child Protection and Policy Unit, Department for Health and Wellbeing

 

Session 17 Transcript

Session 18 - Department of Human Services

Monday, 20 November 2023 at 12:30PM

Witnesses:

  • Katherine Hawkins – Executive Director, Inclusion and Reform, Department of Human Services
  • Kerry Beck – Director, Safer Family Services, Department of Human Services

Session 18 Transcript

Session 19 - Department for Child Protection

Monday, 27 November 2023 at 10:00AM | Day 1

Witnesses:

  • Jackie Bray – Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection
  • Adam Reilly – Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection

 

Session 19 Transcript | Day 1

Tuesday, 28 November 2023 at 10:00AM | Day 2

Witnesses:

  • Jackie Bray – Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection
  • Adam Reilly – Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection

 

Session 19 Transcript | Day 2