Australia’s role and adoption of secure care is inconsistent and somewhat opaque. Many in our sector are surprised to learn that it exists across several states and territories. Its relative obscurity plays a protective role for the children and young people it supports—helping them avoid stigma and, in some cases, protecting them from harm. However, this obscurity can also impact on practice transparency, rights-based conversations, data and oversight. This impacts the progress of an evidence base and leaves questions about its effectiveness unanswered.  Additionally, it has restricted broader public discussion about whether secure care should exist in Australia—and if so, what it should look like, how it can work and who it should serve.

Join us in October as we bring together a panel of professionals to speak about the topic of secure care. Our panel will share their research, expertise, knowledge, and reflections about secure care. They will present and engage, exploring the challenges, considerations, and opportunities to improve transparency and improve well-being outcomes for children and young people. This panel webinar will be hosted by Noel Macnamara (Director of the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care) include a short presentation by each of the panel members, followed by a question and discussion time. 

Panel Members:

Jodie Griffiths-Cook
Jodie Griffiths-Cook is the ACT Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner. With over 30 years' experience, Jodie began her human services career as a psychologist working with children, young people, and adults with complex needs. She has extensive leadership experience and is driven by a strong commitment to social justice and to pursuing effective outcomes that contribute to a cohesive and sustainable human services sector. Jodie is particularly focussed on furthering the value of hearing from children and young people about issues that impact them, and on protecting and promoting their rights, safety, and wellbeing.

Kate Crowe 
Kate Crowe holds a longstanding commitment to improving interventions and safeguards for children and young people experiencing serious vulnerability. For the past 20 years Kate has worked in the Commonwealth and State Government, leading reforms in youth justice, alternative care (out-of-home care), and secure care.   Kate was awarded a 2022 Churchill Fellowship to study effective alternatives to secure care for high-risk children and young people in Scotland, the Netherlands, Canada, and Hawaii. In 2023, Kate was awarded a Creswick Fellowship to investigate the position and design of secure care when jurisdictions raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Scotland, Finland, and Iceland. She has recently been appointed an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne.  

Kellie Goes
Kellie Goes is the State Director for MacKillop Family Services in WA and the NT, overseeing Out of Home Care in Perth, emergency care in Bunbury, Indigenous counselling and early intervention programs in the Pilbara, and family support services in Darwin. With a background in psychology and over 25 years' experience in disability, mental health, and child protection across both the Department of Communities and MacKillop, she has extensive experience working with children and families, particularly in regional and remote areas and alongside Aboriginal communities. Kellie has played a key role in delivering high-quality, trauma-informed care in foster, residential, and secure care settings, including over seven years managing WA’s secure care centre. With deep expertise in trauma and the Sanctuary Model®, she has developed training, created resources, and supported trauma-informed practice across MacKillop and other services nationally. She is passionate about helping individuals and organisations embrace trauma-informed, culturally safe approaches in all areas of work and life.

Times are displayed in Melbourne/Sydney time zones. Please ensure you convert the time to your current time zone. 

This session is designed for social workers, case managers, therapeutic specialists, child protection practitioners, legal and policy staff, advocates and professionals working in youth justice and related systems of care.