On Global Day of Parents 2025, Micah Projects Family Inclusion Network brought together parents, leaders, and others to reflect on the critical role of parents in the child protection system.
🗣️We heard powerful stories from parents with lived experience - stories of challenge, frustration, and strength. Some parents described the system as feeling like "being enclosed in a black box." But from that shared experience came ideas, hope, and momentum for change.
“This is the power of walking with. Of listening without judgement.”
We were honoured to be joined by speakers, including the Hon. Amanda Camm, Professor Jody Currie from QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Faculty of Health, Professor kylie valentine, Director of the Social Policy Research Centre and the Centre for Social Research in Health at UNSW Sydney, and Micah Projects' CEO Karyn Walsh, among others. Together, we discussed how early intervention, genuine collaboration, and flexible, inclusive policy can support families more effectively.
The 2025 theme, “Raising Parents”, reminds us that parenting is not innate - it’s a skill that requires time, support, and resources. We must invest in that support if we are to nurture strong families and safer futures for children.
💜Services need to meet people where they are. We can start by listening to what families need - and build from there. When we put people at the heart, everything else works better.
Some key next steps identified were:
➡️Genuine inclusion of parents’ expertise
➡️Earlier and more tailored support services
➡️Cross-sector collaboration across government and NGOs
Congratulations to the parents, listeners and leaders who participated. This feels like a big moment in time for parents and allies of the Family Inclusion movement across Queensland, and for Australia.
Learn more about the Family Inclusion Network and Micah Projects: finseq.org.au, micahprojects.org.au
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