2026 Asia Pacific Coercive Control & Children Conference Program
Day 1 (17 March 2026)
8–10:30 a.m. Registration & Networking Breakfast
10:45–11 a.m. Welcome from Jackie Wruck
11 a.m.–12 p.m. Keynote: Pivot to the Perpetrator, Partner with the Survivor: Then, Now, and Next – David Mandel
12–1 p.m. Lunch
1–2:15 p.m. Panel: How do we focus on men's health and male domestic abuse perpetration at the same time? – Zac Seidler, Sean Martin & Steve Roberts
2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m. Presentation: It takes a village approach to strengthen families: Pacific frameworks that can benefit all – Dr. Inez Fainga'a-Manu Sione and Shane Senituli
3:15–3:45 p.m. Afternoon Tea Break
3:45–5 p.m. Presentation: ALFIES by Lorna McNamara, Cathy Humpreys & Marlene Lauw
5–6:30 p.m. Networking Reception
Day 2 (18 March 2026)
8–9:30 a.m. Breakfast
MAIN ROOM
AI-Assisted Abuse and Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control: Protecting Children, Supporting Families – Fiona Kirkman
9:30–10:45 a.m.
BREAKOUT ROOM 1
ALFIES Panel – Marlene Lauw and Cherie Toivenen
BREAKOUT ROOM 2
Dignifying and Accountable Practice with Fathers Who Are Domestic Violence Perpetrators – Tracy Castelino
BREAKOUT ROOM 3
Strengthening Practice Through Quarterly Safe & Together Refreshers: Embedding Fidelity, Collaboration, and Survivor-Centred Approaches – Kerri-Lee Van Oosten, Allyson Anderson & Renee Sawyers
10:45–11:45 a.m.
MAIN ROOM
Beyond “He Said, She Said”: Using Pattern-Based Evidence in Family Law Cases Involving Domestic Abuse – Hayley Tuttle
BREAKOUT ROOM 1
Big Rivers (Northern Territory) Healing for Our Mob Program: Supporting healing and recovery from DFV for victim-survivors, their families, and communities –Desley Rosas and Francesca Szakaly
BREAKOUT ROOM 2
A Game Changing Voice Activated Domestic Violence and Safety App – Kristy Gallagher
BREAKOUT ROOM 3
Beyond the Barriers: Supporting Children’s Access to Healing Despite Perpetrator and Systemic Roadblocks – Julie Sach and Deborah Mackenzie
11:50 a.m.–12:40 p.m. Lunch
12:45–2:20 p.m. Keynote: She Is Not Your Rehab – Matt and Sarah Brown
2:20–2:50 p.m. Afternoon Tea Break
MAIN ROOM
A Victim’s Innate Ability and Approach in Mitigating Risk for Their Family in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence – Franchesca Isla and Brintyn Smith
2:50–3:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT ROOM 1
The CHRISTIE Project – Cathy Humphreys and Margaret Kertesz
BREAKOUT ROOM 2
Engaging Children who have experienced DFV, the Fuel for Change – Sophie Manion
BREAKOUT ROOM 3
Idea to Implementation: The insights of operating in an imperfect service system as a frontline DFV primary response agency – Liz Pallas and Sue Webeck
4–5 p.m.
MAIN ROOM
Queer Experiences of DFV and Family Court: Gaps, Barriers, and Inclusive Practice – Kellene Elder
BREAKOUT ROOM 1
Safe & Together in Singapore: PAVE’s journey in localizing the Model for families – Jannah Abdul Kalam and Monica Zhang
BREAKOUT ROOM 2
Beyond Training: What it means to be an "AGENT OF CHANGE" – Certified Trainer Panel
BREAKOUT ROOM 3
Integrating Understanding of Reproductive Coercion Into Safe & Together–Informed Practice – Brianna Pike
5–6 p.m. VIP Reception
Day 3 (19 March 2026)
8–9:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:30–9:35 a.m. Welcome from Jackie Wruck
9:35–10:35 a.m. Panel: Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia – Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland and Justice Tom Altobelli
10:50–11:50 a.m.
MAIN ROOM
Unseen Harm: Breaking the Silence on Coercive Control in Child Contact Centre's in Australia – Nirupa Wiskremasignhe
BREAKOUT ROOM 1
How to Win Friends and Influence People with Safe & Together – How to embed the model and engage the whole organisation for effective and efficient practice with young victim survivors and stakeholders – Jordan Sloan, Jess Morrison & Jane Casey
BREAKOUT ROOM 2
Children at the Centre of Domestic and Family Violence Response: A Well-Being Approach – Nikki Butler
BREAKOUT ROOM 3
How the Children & Young Person’s Framework and Safe & Together Model in Practice Work in Unison – Cat Gander
11:55 a.m.–12:55 p.m. Lunch
1–2 p.m.
MAIN ROOM
Reducing risk through building safety: Integration of the Safe & Together Model and Uniting's Therapeutic Model of Care to promote safety for children, young people, and families – Christina Melrose
BREAKOUT ROOM 1
Using the Safe and Together “Domestic Violence–Informed Continuum of Practice” and other Safe & Together tools to ensure that domestic violence practice and documentation does not go backwards during times of change in Statutory Child Protection Services – Phil Graham and Felicity Wilkinson
BREAKOUT ROOM 2
COURTS - Janet Carmichael
BREAKOUT ROOM 3
Panel: Putting the Perpetrator in Focus: Four Windows Into Safe & Together Implementation Across Child and Family Services – Dr. Robert Urquhart, Grace Hong, Lauren O’Hare, Maria Corsiglia & Mark Hoare
2:10–3:45 p.m. Presentation: The nature and prevalence of children’s exposure to domestic violence: Why we need to rethink prevention, and children’s safety from coercive control – Professor Daryl Higgins
3:45–4:05 p.m. Afternoon Tea Break
4:10–4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
4:30–5 p.m. Champion Award Ceremony
5–5:10 p.m. Wrap Up
Our Speakers
David Mandel, MA, LPC
CEO and Founder of Safe & Together Institute
Professor Daryl Higgins
Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University
Sarah Brown
Co-Founder of She Is Not Your Rehab
Matt Brown
Co-Founder of She Is Not Your Rehab
Desley Rosas
DFV Project Officer at Katherine West Health Board
Francesca Szakaly
Program Manager, Big Rivers Healing for Our Mob Program at Katherine West Health Board
Fiona Kirkman
Head of Legal Engagement at CORTO
Dr. Inez Fainga'a-Manu Sione
Pasifika Community Research Fellow at Pathways in Place
Shane Senituli
Psychologist for Redcliffe Dolphins and the Gold Coast Titans
Justice Tom Altobelli
Judge for the Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia
Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland AO
Judge for the Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia
Tracy Castelino
Director of ShantiWorks
Kristy Gallagher
Founder of Safe Call Up
Zac Seidler
Clinical Psychologist, Global Director of Research at Movember & Associate Professor with Orygen at the University of Melbourne
Sean Martin
Program Lead for the Ten To Men (TTM): Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health at AIFS
Steven Roberts
Professor of Sociology at Monash University
Lorna McNamara
Director of the Prevention and Response to Violence Abuse and Neglect at UNSW Ministry of Health
Cathy Humphreys
Professor of Social Work at the University of Melbourne
Marlene Lauw
Senior Statewide Educator – Aboriginal Programs Team at NSW Health Education Centre Against Violence
Cherie Toivenen
Director of CLT Byron Consulting
Kerri-Lee Van Oosten
Senior Practice and Program Specialist at Life Without Barriers
Allyson Anderson
Operations Manager at Life Without Barriers
Renee Sawyers
Regional Director – Child, Youth and Family, South QLD at Life Without Barriers
Hayley Tuttle
Director of Empowering Growth Pty Ltd
Julie Sach
CEO of Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support
Deborah Mackenzie
Co-Founder/Manager of The Backbone Collective
Franchesca Isla
Social Worker at Evergreen Therapeutic Services
Brintyn Smith
Barrister and Lawyer for Child
Margaret Kertesz
Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Sophie Manion
Practice Advisor at Churches of Christ QLD
Liz Pallas
Project Lead, DFV Link Coordination at Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Sue Webeck
CEO of Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Kellene Elder
Lead Consultant/Advocate at SaferSteps WA
Jannah Abdul Kalam
Senior Social Worker at PAVE Integrated Services Ltd
Monica Zhang
Senior Social Worker at PAVE Integrated Services Ltd
Leanne Downs
Training Consultant at Safe & Together Institute
Brianna Pike
Social Worker at La Trobe University
Nirupa Wiskremasignhe
Service Leader at Children Contact Service Logan, Uniting Care Queensland
Jordan Sloan
Children and Young People Practice Lead at FVREE
Jess Morrison
Team Leader – Support & Recovery at FVREE
Jane Casey
Specialist Family Violence Advocate at FVREE
Nikki Butler
Practice Quality Consultant at Act for Kids
Cat Gander
CEO of DV West
Christina Melrose
CYF Training and Coaching Lead at Uniting Vic.Tas
Phil Graham
Practice Leader at ACT Children, Youth & Families
Felicity Wilkinson
Team Leader – Family and Domestic Violence Team at ACT Children, Youth & Families
Janet Carmichael
Executive Director of Court Children’s Service at Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Dr. Robert Urquhart
Head of Knowledge, Outcomes & Research at Barnardos Australia
Jackie Wruck
Asia Pacific Regional Manager at Safe & Together Institute