25-27 March 2026
Melbourne / Naarm
This landmark event will bring together voices of lived experience of young parents with leading practitioners, policymakers, and researchers specialising in the first 1000 days of early intervention.
The program will spotlight innovative approaches to service design and policy in relation to pre-birth and infant safety reports, with a particular focus on young parents. Through keynotes, presentations and collaborative sessions, the symposium will facilitate the sharing of insights, research, and practice innovations, ensuring young parents are central to shaping the future of early childhood support systems.
Across Australia, young parents are disproportionately represented in pre-birth and infant child protection reports. While each jurisdiction has its own legislative and policy requirements, the lack of consistent national data makes it difficult to fully understand and address this issue.
Evidence shows that early, intensive intervention can reduce the need for child removal and improve outcomes for families, yet current approaches are not addressing the root cause and systemic issues contributing to adverse childhood experiences. Parents affected by pre-birth reports are often unseen and unsupported, and the intergenerational impact needs to be platformed.
The long-term impact of child removal, on both the child and the parent, cannot be ignored. Instead, access to intensive and specialised early intervention programs for young parents at risk of child protection involvement, can ensure families are safe and supported
Pre-Symposium Academic Seminar
(invite only)
Symposium Welcome reception
(all delegates)
Full day Symposium with keynote presentations & breakout sessions
(all delegates)
Collective Action Roundtable
(all delegates)
Lived Experience Creative Workshop
(invite only)
This symposium is designed for leading practitioners, policymakers, and researchers specialising in the first 1000 days of early intervention.
The symposium welcomes attendance from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
The inclusive nature of the event ensures that all voices have a chance to contribute and benefit from the symposium’s offerings.
Central to this symposium is a commitment to ensuring young parents are not unseen or unheard in the conversations that directly impact their lives. We are actively prioritising the presence of lived experience in the room, recognising that authentic, meaningful change begins with listening to and learning from those who have navigated these systems firsthand. To support this, sponsorships will be available to cover participation costs, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent young parents from contributing their insights, shaping discussions and influencing future policy and practice.
For more information on how you can sponsor lived experience participation, see the Registration & Opportunities page.
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The following includes references to child protection and experiences that may be distressing for some readers. Please take care when engaging with this content.
If you feel impacted and would like to speak with someone, support is available:
