Conference Overview

“The rates and types of problems that we are currently seeing in our children and youth are unprecedented. Complex problems require innovative solutions, but they have to be found quickly. That means bringing together the very best people and organisations to combine forces and collaborate in ways that haven’t been done before.” 

Professor Fiona Stanley AC
Board Chair, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth

Despite Australia being a wealthy, developed country, many aspects of the health and wellbeing of our young people have been declining. Many of the key indicators that measure how young people are faring remain unchanged or are worsening.  Without a society of healthy, well developed individuals, we cannot prosper as a nation. 

There is growing recognition that prevention is the most effective approach to addressing the problems affecting young people – indeed, the only feasible approach. The challenge is to make the radical shift to a preventive orientation, and to apply knowledge in specific social and political contexts. Genuine understanding of complex problems generally requires the perspective of multiple organisations and stakeholders.  Further, a national commitment to prevention requires the engagement of multiple organisations and stakeholders.  This conference will focus on how we can best learn from one another and work together to innovate and take action to improve outcomes for young Australians.

The conference aims to build links between international and national experts, researchers, social entrepreneurs, marketers, innovators, business and financiers.  It will explore pathways to success, and showcase preventive innovations that are improving the lives of children and young people. The conference will include a mix of keynote addresses, workshops, interactive sessions, symposia, creative presentations, and informal networking opportunities.

The conference is cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary. People including policy makers, practitioners, business people and academics from different disciplines and sectors will have the opportunity to learn from each other, share their work, and debate the ongoing development and application of knowledge to improve the wellbeing of children and young people. 

Conference Themes

There are 3 main themes:

• Macro-level prevention: How can macro-level policies achieve an effective balance between economic progress and social reform, resulting in good indicators of child and youth wellbeing?
  
• Politics and processes of social change: Addressing issues such as - what can we learn from overseas examples and other sectors about successful primary prevention? Is change led by the state or citizens? What is the role of social marketing?
  
• Prevention pays: What is the evidence that prevention pays? What can we learn from other sectors about demonstrating the value of prevention?

WHAT IS ARACY?

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) is a non-profit organisation tackling the complex issues facing children and young people. By harnessing best evidence and collaborating with experts, ARACY is progressing solutions. And through forging partnerships with researchers, practitioners and policy makers, it fosters actions aimed at preventing problems before they arise.

ARACY are leaders of change in this area.