Recreation and Sport for Vulnerable and Culturally Diverse Children

Join us for the HDA and Department for Child Protection forum.

This year National Child Protection Week (7-13 September) will continue to champion the overarching message: Every child in every community needs a fair go. To build on last year’s focus, the theme is Every conversation matters: Shifting Conversation to Action. This forum is focusing on sport and recreation and the importance of this activity in children and families lives, especially those that are vulnerable and from diverse or underprivileged communities.

OUR SPEAKERS

Hon Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection - Opening remarks

Catherine Simpson, PhD Candidate, University of South Australia - Levelling the playing field: understanding sport access for culturally diverse children

Laura Kelly, Director Residential Care, Department for Child Protection - Youth Adventure Recreational Service (YARS) programs

Tim Brenton, Chief Executive Officer, Basketball SA - The Department for Child Protection and Basketball SA partnership

Tom Worthington, Policy Officer, Sector Capability, and Michelle Crisp, Manager of Industry Insights, Office for Recreation Sport and Racing (ORSR), Government of South Australia - Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing: Active Kids and Youth

OUR CHAIR

Professor Carol Maher (HDA Co-Convenor), Professor of Population and Digital Health, Medical Research Future Fund Investigator / Director of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia

The recording of the forum and a poem at the conclusion of the session presented by Josphine Komen can be viewed here: (recording starts at 8:35)

HDA & DCP Forum - Recreation And Sport For Vulnerable And Culturally Diverse Children : 10 Sep 2025