Cross-sector collaboration for EYC2022

We know that supported parents are the key to bringing up great kids, which is why the theme “It takes a village to raise a parent” was chosen for the 2022 conference. The National Early Years Conference held 5-6 May built on current knowledge, expanded frameworks and tool kits for practitioners working with parents; included early childhood educators, healthcare professionals, child protection professionals, family support workers, child and family counsellors, community workers and program managers.

A true cross-sector collaboration which benefits children of our communities; the 2022 Early Years Conference held 5-6 May at the Cairns Convention Centre. The Committee (top inset image) are represented by Act For Kids, Benevolent Society, Mission Australia, The Cairns Institute/JCU, Qld Health, Education Qld, Wuchopperen Health and the Department of Children Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.

The 2022 conference was opened by the Hon. Curtis Pitt MP who has continually thrown his support behind this conference. Packed with dynamic speakers and innovative presenters who focused on practical, research and evidence-based approaches to supporting parents and primary caregivers, practitioners came from as far north as the Torres Strait, as far south as Tasmania, and as far west as Western Australia.

Keynote addresses from Prof Ross Homel (Griffith University), Dr Paul Pritchard (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), Sarah Davis-Roe (Qld Health) and Warren Cann (Parenting Research Centre) were well-received by delegates. 

Dr Karen Struthers (MC) expertly guided the flow of the two days and drew these themes from the national conference:-
• How do we build the village?
• Build solid foundations - invest funding and effort into early years support rather than late action.
• Stop the silos - avoid fragmented service systems We need “no wrong door” for parents and children.
• Collaborate - build the village together.
• No one size fits all in the village - services need to respond to diversity in culture, identity and background.
• Be aware of the ecosystem - the economic, emotional, educational, health, housing needs and all parts of the system that make up wellbeing.
It was the first face-to-face conference held at the newly refurbished Cairns Convention Centre since 2020.
Further information and the full gallery is located on the Early Years website