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As part of our Vision that all children have a good childhood , we are committed to :
• Strongly advocating for the individual rights and needs of our clients ; and
• Using our knowledge and experience and contributing to better policies , services and innovation
Both of these expectations are explicit in all position descriptions of our operational and senior staff .
2010 / 11 was Berry Street ’ s year for hosting a number of highly regarded international experts . While there is always more to learn from our state and national colleagues , the experts we brought to Australia were chosen because their particular knowledge and expertise significantly extends our thinking and understanding .
The undoubted highlight was the national tour we organised for Dr Bruce Perry from the ChildTrauma Academy in America . A psychiatrist and neuroscientist , Dr Perry has led research and understanding of the impact of trauma from child abuse and neglect on the child ’ s developing brain – and what needs to happen to help these children recover . More than 3,400 people had the opportunity to learn from Dr Perry in Melbourne , Darwin , Cairns , Brisbane , Sydney and Canberra . He was the keynote speaker at the National Therapeutic Residential Care Conference ( attended by 500 people ), met with leaders in government , philanthropy and people working with Aboriginal children and young people . This was Dr Perry ’ s second visit to Australia and we greatly value our partnership with him .
We also hosted :
• Professor Robbie Gilligan from the UK , about building resilience in young people in care
• Clark Baim from the UK who is an experienced group facilitator and trainer specialising in offender treatment , sexual offending groupwork programs and supervision . He presented on working with boys to overcome the cycle of family violence and young people who exhibit harmful sexual behaviour
• Richard Rose from the Mary Walsh Institute in the UK , on communicating with traumatised children . We also arranged for Richard to be the keynote speaker at the annual Residential Care Conference , attended by over 300 residential care staff
• Four leading educators from the KIPP ( Knowledge is Power Program ) Infinity School in New York
Our major organisational advocacy effort was focused on the Victorian Government ’ s Inquiry into Protecting Victoria ’ s Vulnerable Children . We welcomed this Inquiry and see it as a ‘ once in a decade ’ opportunity to improve outcomes for vulnerable children . Julian Pocock , who so capably leads our Advocacy and Knowledge areas , met with young people , foster carers and staff to ensure that we captured their voices in our submission ‘ A Home for Hope ’ ( available from our website – www . berrystreet . org . au ). The Inquiry ’ s independent Panel visited Berry Street and also met with some of our foster carers in Shepparton .
Other advocacy included :
• The Sentencing Advisory Council Inquiry into Minimum Sentences
• The Senate Inquiry into a National Commissioner for Children
• The Senate Inquiry into Cyber Safety for Children and Young People
• Family Violence Law Reform
• The Victorian Law Reform Commission ’ s Guardianship Review
• The Commonwealth Attorney- General ’ s Children ’ s Contact Services Design Paper
• Increasing access for vulnerable children to child care
• A Vulnerable Children ’ s Framework
• Portability of Long Service Leave
• The Australian Services Union Pay Equity Case
We also prepared papers for publication on young people leaving care , homelessness , welfare reform and income management and evaluation and evidence based practice .
RIGHT : Dr Bruce Perry
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