National Child Protection Week
Event
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Venue: The Peter Cosgrove Centre - ACU, North Sydney
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Time: 2:30 PM
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FREE
Join us for a powerful panel discussion during National Child Protection Week 2025, exploring how early support for families can transform child protection outcomes and prevent harm before it occurs.
Hosted in partnership with the ACU Institute of Child Protection, this event brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss how we can shift from awareness to action—investing in early intervention and family preservation to build stronger, safer communities.
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Let’s move From Talk to Transformation!
Meet the Speakers
Commissioner Anne Hollonds
Anne Hollonds is Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner, a role based at the Australian Human Rights Commission.
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The National Children’s Commissioner monitors policy and legislation to ensure that the human rights of children are protected and promoted, and provides advice to government.
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Formerly Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, for 23 years Anne was Chief Executive of government and non-government organisations focused on research, policy and practice in child and family wellbeing.
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As a psychologist Anne has worked extensively in frontline practice, including in child protection; domestic, family and sexual violence; mental health; child and family counselling; parenting education; and family law counselling.
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Anne currently contributes to numerous expert advisory groups and boards. Her report ‘Help Way Earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing’ was tabled in the Australian Parliament in August 2024.
Prof. Daryl Higgins
Professor Daryl Higgins’ research focuses on public health approaches to protecting children, and child-safe organisational strategies. A registered psychologist, Professor Higgins has been researching child abuse impacts and prevention, family violence and family functioning for nearly 30 years.
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As the Director of ACU's Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), and the former Deputy Director (Research) of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Professor Higgins has extensive research experience in the areas of child-safe organisations, child abuse and neglect, child protection, out-of-home care, family law and allegations of child abuse, disability and family care, welfare reform, family and interpersonal violence, jobless families, past adoption and forced family separation practices, and community development approaches to child and family welfare issues.
Kylie Captain
Kylie Captain is a proud Gamilaroi woman, best-selling author, and educator with over two decades of experience across education, community services, and child protection. As the President of the Aboriginal Studies Association, Board Director for NAPCAN, and Founder of Dream Big Education Wellbeing & Consulting, Kylie is deeply committed to creating culturally safe environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families feel supported and empowered.
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Kylie’s work is grounded in truth-telling, cultural pride, and early intervention, recognising that building strong, connected families is the key to preventing harm and fostering resilience. Drawing on her lived experience and professional expertise, Kylie advocates for shifting the narrative from crisis-driven responses to proactive, approaches that prioritise education, early support and the wellbeing of ever
Susan Watson
Susan is the CEO of Fams, the NSW peak body for early intervention and prevention child protection NGOs.
A strategic leader who brings heart and insight to her work, she has deep experience across child protection, disability, aged care and AOD services in Australia and the UK.
With a background in nursing and executive leadership, Susan combines clinical understanding with business acumen to advocate for the sector.
She’s committed to outcomes that strengthen families and values the relationships and partnerships that make systemic change possible.
Zahra Al Hilaly
Zahra is a human rights defender committed to addressing gender inequality within religious and culturally diverse communities. With a background in child protection and gender equality, she is committed to dismantling barriers within systems, to help advance community-led, culturally grounded approaches to well-being and safety.
Zahra's work has taken her across the globe, from conducting research on the inclusion of women in politics in the United States, leading sexual health workshops to Muslim communities in Indonesia, to implementing social impact projects in Christmas Island. She is currently the Manager of Social Policy and Campaigns at NAPCAN, and leads the 2025 National Child Protection Week Campaign.
Peter Monaghan
Peter has worked extensively in the community and social services sector for more than 30 years, from frontline roles to management.
He has senior management experience across policy and legislation, program and service delivery within Government, and more recent executive appointments within Catholic social services.
Peter continues to transform agencies challenging the status quo, building performance, activating contemporary corporate governance and ensuring the mission is congruent with the heart and soul of the agency.