CPD Policy Exchange Sydney

What would it take to make Australia the best place to be a child and raise a family?

When: Thursday 5 March, 12:00pm for a 12:30pm start, finishing at 2:30pm

Where: Blue Gum Hall, Yirranma Place, 262 Liverpool St Darlinghurst, and live streaming online

Lunch will be provided from 1:30-2:30pm

Join us for an innovative public event as part of the inaugural CPD Policy Exchange—a new event series designed to bring changemakers, experts, academics, policymakers and community voices into genuine dialogue about practical policy reform.

Andrew Hudson will moderate the event, joined by Benjamin Perks, a senior leader for the United Nations in New York. A leading global advocate for children and prevention, and author of Trauma Proof, Ben’s lived experience of childhood trauma brings a powerful and distinctive perspective. Other participants include: Richard Weston, a senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait leader, CEO of Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation and the first Deputy Children's Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People in NSW; Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood and prominent advocate for parents and families; Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis, child and youth advocate and manager of the Future Healthy Countdown 2030, and others.

At the heart of the event is a simple but important question: What would it take to make Australia the best place to be a child and raise a family?

We’ll explore practical approaches to reform; including the case for investing and acting early, how to build universal systems that support everyone while responding to different needs, and working more closely with communities so support reflects local challenges, strengths and opportunities. The focus will be on solutions that improve outcomes not only for children and families, but for communities, the economy and the country as a whole.

This will not be a traditional panel or lecture. The CPD Policy Exchange is designed to be genuinely participatory, with the audience treated as an active part of the discussion rather than passive observers. Before and during the event, attendees will be invited to share their perspectives, respond to key questions, suggest areas for discussion, and put questions directly to the panel. Contributions from the room will help shape the conversation in real time, drawing on the diverse expertise, experience and insights of participants.

The aim is not just to diagnose problems, but to test ideas, identify areas of agreement, and build momentum around practical policy solutions that can help government systems work earlier, work better, and work more closely with families and communities.

ABOUT THE CPD POLICY EXCHANGE

The CPD Policy Exchange is a week-long series of public and private events that aim to connect the thinkers and the doers at local, national and international levels to unearth practical, stress tested policy solutions to the most pressing challenges facing Australia and our region.

Building on CPD’s unique Create–Connect–Convince method, the Policy Exchange is built on our belief that real progress comes from shared understanding and a collective commitment to change.

From private meetings with policymakers and collaborations with public servants, to roundtables and public forums, the Policy Exchange prioritises genuine discussion over one-way dialogue—offering a diverse group of people the chance to engage, question, and contribute to practical solutions that can deliver real progress.

ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT

The Centre for Policy Development (CPD) is an independent policy institute based in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Jakarta. We seek a fair, sustainable society and wellbeing economy that serves current and future generations in Australia and Southeast Asia. CPD helps to create transformative systems change through practical solutions to complex policy challenges.

CONTENT WARNING

This event is likely to include discussion of childhood trauma, and other similar themes which some people might find distressing. Ben Perks is very adept at discussing these themes in a sensitive way but we want to forewarn all attendees.