Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council

What we do

We advise the Minister for Families and Community about reforming out of home care and child protection in the ACT. We give strategic advice about how to deliver an integrated service that better supports children, young people and families in the ACT.

We oversee:

• the Next Steps Action Plan, recognising the breadth of reform in Next Steps for Our Kids Strategy 2022 – 2030 [PDF 1023.5 KB] and the importance of taking a joined-up approach
• the work of topic-specific Next Steps working groups, with support from Community Services Directorate.

We also talk to and seek feedback from people in our networks with lived experience.

Our members

We understand the issues that affect children, young people and families and make sure reform is informed by our members’ real-world experiences.

Our members have a range of skills, qualifications and experience, they include:

• young people, parents and carers with lived experience of the child and family system
• people with expertise in the community sector, policy and advocacy.

Our current members are:

• Amanda Tobler (Chair)
• Shannon Pickles (Deputy Chair)
• Zakia Patel (Member)
• Dr Robyn Miller (Member)
• Professor Morag McArthur (Member)
• Dr Vik Fraser (Member)
• Tracey Hall (Member)
• Selina Walker, Ngunnawal Elder (Member)
• Valerie Wandin-Gillies (Member)
• Mayme Clarke (Member)
• Jay Smith, young person (Member)
• Taylor Licciardello, young person (Member).

Terms of reference

Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council terms of reference [PDF 264 KB].

Publications

• Meeting minutes of the Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council
• Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council - Meeting of 2 May 2024 Communiqué [Word 27 KB]
• Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council - Meeting of 30 July 2024 Communiqué [Word 28 KB]

Contact

To bring an issue to us, you can contact Child and Youth Protection Services.