Thursday, March 19, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM

Adelaide Oval - Premiership Suite

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Overview

Presented by: Jeanie Sam - Manager, Children and Youth Services, and Elsa Morton - Senior Support Worker, Family Participation Program. Palm Island Community Company.

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Details

This presentation will outline how a place-based approach has empowered the community of Palm Island, it will share the powerful story of how parents, community leaders and service providers are coming together to build strong, culturally grounded early years support for our children and families. Together we are strengthening the cultural village that surrounds our children and carrying forward the hope, pride and identity that keeps our community strong. For over 16 years PICC has walked alongside the Palm Island Community to create long- term opportunities and meaningful change, supporting children and families to thrive. For many years, the community held deep concern about the number of children being removed from their families by child safety and placed with non-indigenous carers on the mainland - children being lost to country, culture and kin. In response, PICC began designing and delivering services that would keep families strong, prevent contact with the child protection system, and support parents to overcome challenges. These efforts also focused on ensuring children who had been removed could be reunited safely with their families and community. Today, PICC delivers more than eight services for children, young people and families across the child and family service spectrum. Most recently, PICC has taken a major step forward by accepting Delegated Authority for children in contact with the child protection system. This presentation will highlight how embedding strengths-based approaches-rooted in local resilience, cultural leadership and community empowerment - has been central to this success. It will show how the Bwgcolman Way places self-determination at the centre of everything we do, ensuring Manbarra and Bwgcolman peoples' voices guide service, delivery and evaluation. Through this approach, families are reclaiming their power, and we are advancing our shared vision; "Palm Island mob leading and creating change for Palm Island children, young people and families.' participants will gain insight into how genuine placed-based work requires intentional effort, deep relationships and true partnership with community. They will see how working collectively and drawing on local knowledge, culture and processes leads to real, lasting change.