The CEO of SDN Children’s Services, Ginie Udy, said she was honoured to attend this week’s inaugural meeting of the Federal Government’s Children and Family Roundtable, chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for community services, Hon Julie Collins MP.
Mrs Udy was one of 14 child and family experts and advocates selected nationwide for the Roundtable from a large field of applicants, with SDN one of only six service providers in the group.
Participants met for the first time in Melbourne on Wednesday 30th November, and discussed current and future opportunities for Australian children and their families.
Other members of the Roundtable are:
- Susana Akua Saffu, Lecturer at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
- Brian Babington, CEO of Families Australia
- Judy Cashmore AO, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney
- Andrew Cummings, Executive Director of Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
- Lance Emerson, CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
- Karen Field, CEO of Drummond Street Services
- Stephanie Gotlib, CEO of Children with Disability Australia
- Virginia Marshall, Senior legal officer, Australian Law Reform Commission.
- Anne McLeish OAM, National Director of Grandparents Australia
- Tricia Murray, CEO of Wanslea Family Services
- Jacqui Reed, CEO of CREATE Foundation
- Simon Schrapel, CEO of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide
- Desley Thompson, CEO of the Cape York / Gulf Remote Area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Care
“Being selected to participate in the Roundtable is a tremendous opportunity to contribute to social policy discussions at the highest level and to influence government policy and programs,” Mrs Udy said.
“At SDN we’re working towards a future where every child’s promise and potential is realised, and I will bring that vision to my ongoing role in this group.”
One of the first things on the agenda of the new Roundtable was the proposal by the Attorney General’s department to establish a position of National Children’s Commissioner.
“The children’s services sector, among many others, has advocated for such a position for many years and it will contribute to the wellbeing of all Australia’s children. I wholeheartedly support this proposal.” Ms Udy said.
For more information on the Roundtable event please visit the FaHCSIA website here.
< Back
