1

R e g i s t r a t i o n

w w w. f o s t e rc a r e . o r g . a u

2

W e l c o m e

Iam pleased to welcome you to the 2008 National

Foster Care Conference in Sydney. This conference is

a unique opportunity for all of those working for the

care and protection of children and young people – from

foster and kinship carers, to government and community

sector workers, policy makers and researchers – to come

together to share their experiences and strive for “better

outcomes” for children and young people in care.

The NSW Department of Community Services works in

partnership with the non-government sector to support

foster care families.

We are delighted to be able to support networking,

learning and development opportunities such as this

conference.

The variety of speakers, delegates and activities over

the course of this event will inspire, challenge, and

enrich your experiences of foster care.

It is an important way to renew and maintain the

energy, enthusiasm and determination that is the

hallmark of the remarkable and committed individuals

who care.

I hope you will find it a rewarding experience.

Jennifer Mason

Director-General

NSW Department of Community Services

3

K e y n o t e P r e s e n t e r s

Keynote presenters include:

Dr Suzanne Packer

Suzanne Packer has been a paediatriciansince 1972 and has worked in the ACTas a Community Paediatrician andPaediatrician to the Child-at-Risk HealthUnit since 1990. Dr Packer has seenmany children because of abuse and

neglect and has now followed some children intoadulthood. In 1999 she was made a Member of the Orderof Australia for her “services to child welfare, Paediatricsand the Community”.

Mary Anderson

Mary Anderson is a Clinical Psychologist(University of Sydney), with over thirtyyears experience with children in out ofhome care. She worked for many yearsin the Tasmanian and New South WalesState departments, dealing with Juvenile

Justice and Care matters, children in group homes, childrenwith intellectual and physical disabilities, and offered avisiting service to foster families. Mary later worked in theChild and Family section of Community Health, offeringbehavioural interventions, play therapy and a learningdifficulties clinic. She went to set up and manage anintervention service for families where children hadexperienced abuse. She has presented a wide range oftraining workshops, including the therapeutic use of play,issues of attachment and behaviour management. She hassupervised Clinical Masters students at MacquarieUniversity, and more recently has offered supervision andtraining to Parent Line counsellors. Mary has been inprivate practice for the past twelve years, specialising inchildren’s court matters, placement issues and childbehaviour management. She has regularly appeared as anExpert witness in the area of children’s attachment issues.She is also involved in Juvenile Justice matters and AdultCriminal proceedings for Legal Aid and the AboriginalLegal Service.

K e y D a t e s / D e a d l i n e s Monday 22 September 2008Deadline for Early Bird Registration.

Saturday 18 October 2008Deadline for receipt of postal pre-registrations. Anyregistration received after this date will be regarded as anonsite registration and treated accordingly.

P r o g r a m The conference sessions and activities focus on achievingpositive outcomes or enhancing practice and in particular,attempt to address the issues challenging the sector now andin the next five years. The Organising Committee encouragesdelegates to share ideas and partake in pro-active discussion insessions.

Organising Committee

Bev Orr (Chair) Australian Foster Care Association

Helen Falconer Australian Foster Care Association

Paulette McFarland Australian Foster Care Association

Sylvia Davey Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV)

Andrew McCallum Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA)

Sylvia Ghaly Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA)

Christine Howlett NSW Department of Community Services

Finance Committee

Vittoria Borazio (Chair) Youth off the Streets

Bev Orr Australian Foster Care Association

Helen Falconer Australian Foster Care Association

Paulette McFarland Australian Foster Care Association

Sylvia Davey Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV)

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7

To provide a change of pace from daily sessions, aconference dinner has been organised for delegatesand their guests to allow them to meet socially to

network or to renew friendships with industry colleagues.

Conference Dinner

Date: Saturday 1 November 2008Time: 1930 – 2200Cost: AUD$70 including GST per personLocation: Endeavour Ballroom, Novotel Brighton Beach Dress: Smart Casual

Please book tickets using the Delegate Registration Form.

The Conference Dinner cost includes a barbeque buffet, onehour of drinks and formal program including guest speakersand the presentation of the National Recognition Awards.

F o s t e r C a r e r N a t i o n a l R e c o g n i t i o n A w a r d s

All relative, kin and foster carers, current and past, areeligible for this Award. The purpose of the awards is topublicly recognise those carers who have made a

sustained contribution to the community by caring for otherpeople’s children for 20 or more years. Any carer can apply orbe nominated by a third party if they:

• Have 20 or more years active service in total as a foster,relative or kinship carer (shorter periods added up counttowards the 20 years).

• Are a person of good character.

• Hold a current and clear police record / Working WithChildren or equivalent check.

• Fully complete both sides of the application form and supplyall requested information.

• Agree to the nomination and sign the nomination form.

• Submit the application by Friday 10 October 2008 forrecognition at the 2008 National Foster Care Conference.

All applications received after this date will be held over forpresentation at the next national conference.

To obtain a nomination form please visit the conferencewebsite at www.fostercare.org.au

C o n f e r e n c eV e n u e : N o v o t e lB r i g h t o n B e a c h

The National Foster Care Conference 2008 will be held atNovotel Brighton Beach. Located close to SydneyAirport and just 15 km away from Sydney’s central

business district, the hotel offers easy access for delegatesattending the conference. In addition to its modern meetingfacilities, Novotel Brighton Beach also features a business centre,restaurant and bar, undercover parking and a gymnasium.

S o c i a l P r o g r a m

8

To attend the Conference, please complete theregistration form and return it to the ConferenceSecretariat. Each delegate must complete a separate

form. Please read this booklet carefully before completing theform. Forms will be accepted by post, fax or online throughthe website at www.fostercare.org.au

Registration Fees

All fees are quoted in Australian dollars (AUD) inclusive of GST.

Early Bird Standard OnsiteBefore After After 22 Sept 22 Sept 18 Oct

Carer / Full-Time Student 350 405 430

Non-Carer 460 515 540

Day Registration – Friday only Carer / Full Time Student 185 195 220

Day Registration – Friday only Non Carer 240 250 275

Day Registration – Saturday only Carer / Full Time Student 240 250 275

Day Registration – Saturday only Non-Carer 320 330 355

Day Registration – Sunday only Carer / Full Time Student 185 195 220

Day Registration – Sunday only Non-Carer 240 250 275

Teenagers 185 185 185

Entitlements

Full registration fee and teenager fee include:• All conference sessions• Entrance to exhibition • Conference satchel • Conference materials• Catering: • Friday: Lunch, afternoon tea • Saturday: Arrival tea and coffee, morning tea, lunch and

afternoon tea • Sunday: Morning tea, closing tea and coffee

Day registration fees include:• Conference sessions for day of registration• Entrance to exhibition for day of registration• Conference satchel• Conference materials• Catering: • Arrival tea and coffee, morning tea and afternoon tea for day

of registration, if applicable• Lunch for day of registration, if applicable.

Catering that is available at the conference is as follows: Friday 31 October 2008 • Lunch• Afternoon tea

Saturday 1 November 2008• Arrival tea and coffee• Morning tea• Lunch • Afternoon tea

Sunday 2 November 2008• Morning tea • Closing tea and coffee

Method of PaymentPayment of fees must accompany all registration forms.Registration will not be confirmed until full payment isreceived. Payment can be made by the following methods:

• Bank draft in Australian dollars drawn on an Australian bank

• Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners)

• Bank transfer (please send a remittance advice so yourpayment can be acknowledged)

• Personal or company cheque (Australian delegates only)**

**Cheques should be made payable to NFCC 2008

Please note that debits to your credit card, excludingaccommodation, will appear as ICMS Australasia on yourcredit card statement.

*Note that if you are making a credit card payment from acountry outside Australia, for security reasons you must first adviseyour banking institution of the impending charge and authorisethem to allow the charge from Australia to go through for up to 48hours (this is due to the time difference between our countries).

Cancellation of RegistrationCancellations must be notified in writing to the ConferenceSecretariat. Cancellations made before 1 October 2008 will berefunded less AUD150.00 to cover administration costs.Refunds for cancellations received on or after 1 October willonly be made in exceptional circumstances. As an alternativeto cancellation, your registration may be transferred toanother person on or before 1 October without incurring anycost penalty. The Conference Secretariat must be advised inwriting of any alterations or transfers.

LiabilityIn the event of unforeseen circumstances, the ConferenceOrganiser and Conference Organising Committee does notaccept responsibility for loss of monies incurred by delay.

Registration Desk Opening Hours Endeavour Pre-function Area, Novotel Brighton BeachFriday 31 October 0900 – 1715Saturday 1 November 0800 – 1715Sunday 2 November 0800 – 1300

R e g i s t r a t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n

9

You are encouraged to book your accommodationthrough the Conference Secretariat to ensure that youreceive very competitive rates.

Deposits

Accommodation will not be confirmed until a deposit of atleast one night’s tariff is received. This deposit will beforwarded to your hotel and will be credited to your roomaccount. Delegates must settle the balance of their accountwith the hotel concerned upon check-out. You also have theoption of paying the full amount due to the hotel up front, ifyou wish to do this you will need to indicate this on theregistration form.

Cancellations

No accommodation deposits will be refunded on or afterFriday 26 September 2008.

Early Arrival

As check in is not until 1400, it is possible that your room maynot be available for immediate occupation on your earlyarrival. Whilst hotels will do everything possible toaccommodate early arrivals, if you wish to be guaranteedimmediate occupation, you are able to pay an extra day’s tarifffor the night before you are due to arrive. If you wish to takethis precaution, please advise the Conference Secretariat onthe registration form so that we can notify the hotel that yourroom is pre-registered.

Late Arrival

Please indicate if you will arrive at your hotel after 1800.Failure to do so may result in your room being released.

Change of Booking

Prior to Friday 24 October 2008 any change in booking mustbe made in writing to the Conference Secretariat and NOTdirectly to the hotel. After 24 October 2008, please contactthe hotel directly for any changes to your booking.

Children Policy

For delegates travelling with children, the Novotel Brighton Beachcan offer free accommodation and breakfast for two children upto 16 years old sharing a room with guardians, provided they useexisting bedding and/or up to one extra bed.

Please note that the rates outlined in this brochure do NOTinclude breakfast for adults. Adults wishing to have breakfast atthe hotel will be charged.

Hotel/ Apartment Tariff per room/ per night(includes GST) (Prices are based on single/

double / twin occupancy, Otherwise stated)

• Novotel Brighton Beach (4 ½ star)

Standard King Room AUD$209.00

• The Grand Pines Tourist Park

Standard Cabin AUD$88.00(share bathroom)

Ensuite Cabin AUD$125.00

*Please note the rates above are per night. The rates are inAustralian dollars and breakfast is NOT included in the aboveprices.

A c c o m m o d a t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n

10

Parking

Three levels of parking located directly underneath theNovotel Brighton Beach with internal lift access to the lobbyand function rooms. This parking station is independentlyoperated by Bayside Plaza Parking. The following rates apply(and are subject to change):

Day Delegates: $10.00 per car per day*

Overnight parking: $25.00 per car per night*

Please note that the Overnight Car Parking charges are valid for24 hrs from the first point of entry into the Car Park.

* Prices correct at the time of printing

Transport from the Airport

The Conference does not provide any transfers from theairport to the Conference hotels or Conference venue. Alldelegates must make their own transport arrangements fromthe airport. The following are estimates only for travel fromthe airport to the conference venue one way:

Taxi: AUD20.00 to AUD25.00*

Train link to Rockdale Station: AUD13.80*

* Prices correct at the time of printing

Public Transport around Sydney

Sydney’s public transport network allows easy travel aroundSydney and its suburbs. Considerable savings on buses andharbour ferries can be obtained with the State Transit Travelpass. Taxis can either be booked by telephone or hailed fromthe street.

Delegates wishing to take the bus from Rockdale Train Stationshould board Sydney Buses 475, 478 or 479 to Bay Street. Fordetailed transport information on public trains, buses andferries consult the Transport Infoline at www.131500.info orcall 13 15 00.

Banks

Banks in Australia are open from 0930 to 1600 Monday toThursday and 0930 to 1700 on Fridays. At the discretion ofindividual bank institutions, selective bank branches may beopen between 9.30am to 12pm on Saturdays. Banks areclosed all day Sunday.

Exchange facilities are available at the airport and most majorhotels.

Automatic teller (ATMs) facilities are available at within thehotel and surrounding area.

An ATM is available in the hotel and is not aligned to a specificbanking institution.

A Commonwealth Bank ATM is located on Bay Street.

A Westpac ATM is located in the food court level of the plazaadjoining the Novotel Brighton Beach.

Climate

You can look forward to an average daily temperature of 23°Cin Sydney during the months of October and November.

Wheelchair access or other mobility disability accessduring the Conference

When you register, please notify the secretariat of any mobilitydisabilities you have so that any venue access challenges can beaddressed.

Dress Code

Smart casual is recommended for the duration of theconference.

Eating Out

An array of international cuisine is available from the variouscafes in Brighton Le Sands. Please contact the hotel conciergefor more information on restaurants or cafés in the area.

G e n e r a l I n f o r m a t i o n

11

C o n f e r e n c e P a r t n e r s

Conference Organiser

Enquiries

Please direct all registration and accommodation enquiries to:

2008 National Foster Care Conference SecretariatC/- ICMS Australasia GPO Box 3270Sydney NSW 2001

Telephone: +61 2 9254 5000Facsimile: +61 2 9251 3552

Registration & accommodation enquiries:annebs@icmsaust.com.au

General enquiries: conf2008@bigpond.com

Website: www.fostercare.org.au

w w w. f o s t e rc a r e . o r g . a u