November 2025 update
November 2025 Update
Dear members and subscribers,
In this edition: Families ACT Impact Report 2024-25 and Annual General Meeting; sector development activities; data and evidence initiatives; the Workforce Capability and Development Framework; the Best Start Strategy; the early childcare system and 2025 member Christmas Appeals.
Since our last update in July 2025, the team at Families ACT celebrated its first full year of activities and community engagement under the direction of its new team. This one-year milestone was an opportunity for Families ACT to take stock of all that has been achieved during this time, built upon the solid foundations since its creation in 2006.
Families ACT Impact Report 2024-25 & Annual General Meeting
Much of Families ACT’s achievements for 2024-25 are outlined in Families ACT’s most recent Impact Report. In addition to highlighting key activities and events from the past 12 months, the report includes survey results from members and other stakeholders. These valuable insights have helped guide Families ACT’s priorities for the year ahead and affirm the impact of our collective work over the reporting period. Families ACT extends its sincere thanks to everyone who generously took the time to complete the survey.
The 2024-25 Impact Report is available here.
On 21 October, Families ACT was joined by its Board and member organisations for its Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM formally endorsed new Board members who joined during the past year and approved the extension of the current Board President and Public Officer’s tenure to continue leading Families ACT through this period of reform.
Following the AGM, Yellow Hat Consulting facilitated a short planning session to support Families ACT and its Board in identifying priorities and activities for 2025–26. Families ACT thanks all member organisations who participated in this valuable process.
Joint Case Reviews & Casework Reflection Tool Training
Earlier this year, Families ACT relaunched its Joint Case Review (JCR) Program, with the support of Kieran Purves and the team of JCR facilitators. The upcoming 2025–26 tranche of JCRs will include a mix of general sessions and specialised reviews focused on key areas of interest across the sector. The first of these specialised sessions will be held on 11 November, focusing on a disability-related case. While the case itself centres on disability, the session is still focused on cultivating reflective casework practice. The session will be led by Gus Albertoni, Community Navigator at ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability.
You can register for this special JCR here.
In addition to the JCRs, Families ACT offered its Casework Reflective Tool Training on 30 October. This sold-out training introduced the casework reflective tool and explored the value of reflective practice. In addition, it provided hands-on practice to attendees with real-world case studies, including consideration of developmental strategies, family strengths, risk factors, cultural contexts and the integration of children’s perspectives into decision making processes.
The high demand for this training indicated a need for ongoing opportunities to be offered in the future. A second Casework Reflective Tool Training will be delivered in early 2026. Updates will be posted on the Families ACT website, and shared with members and subscribers.
Data & evidence initiatives
Families ACT’s continued focus on the sector’s interest in data and evidence initiatives has led to a series of online information sessions and training opportunities over this period. These workshops included a session hosted by the Australian Child and Youth Wellbeing Atlas, an interactive platform that brings together datasets from all levels of government, research institutes, and other organisations. The Australian Bureau of Statistics also delivered an information session on its Life Course Data Initiative (LCDI), a pilot program in partnership with the ACT Government. The LCDI integrates cross-jurisdictional data from early childhood, health, and community services to generate insights that can better inform long-term policy responses addressing disadvantage among children and young people.
These activities form part of Families ACT’s ongoing efforts, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to strengthen understanding of the data available to the community sector to better inform their work and responses to childhood vulnerability, disadvantage, and poverty in the ACT.
Workforce Capability & Development Framework
Families ACT, in partnership with the Youth Coalition of the ACT, has commenced work on developing a Workforce Capability and Development Framework. Vicky Choice and Julia Borodavkina from Spark Space have been engaged to facilitate and lead consultations for the framework’s development. This project is about strengthening how we plan, develop, and support the workforce through a more coordinated, long-term approach to workforce capability and learning. A series of online information sessions are being offered across the CYFSP sector, along with a workforce survey and consultations.
Families ACT and the Youth Coalition will continue to keep the sector informed about these activities. The Framework is scheduled for release in February 2026.
Phase 2 – Best Start for Canberra’s Children: The First 1000 Days Strategy
In 2025, the ACT Government completed Phase 1 of its Best Start for Canberra’s Children: The First 1000 Days Strategy (Best Start Strategy). The Strategy aims to promote a more coordinated approach to raising awareness of the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life, helping parents feel more confident, supported, and connected during this period, and ensuring services are accessible when needed by children and their families.
Families ACT is working with key partners and the ACT Government to consider the implementation of Phase 1 and the development of Phase 2 of the Best Start Strategy. Considering the Australian Early Development Census findings, which show that children in the ACT remain the second-worst performing jurisdiction for developmental vulnerability, Families ACT views the Best Start Strategy as a vital initiative to address this ongoing area of concern. Ensuring the strategy is adequately resourced and supported by government and other stakeholders is essential, and Families ACT will continue to advocate for and support the development and implementation of phase two of the strategy.
Early childcare system
Since July 2025, Australia’s early childhood education and care system has come under national scrutiny following reports of child sexual abuse in childcare centres across the country. These deeply disturbing reports have exposed vulnerabilities within the system that have been exploited by predatory behaviour. In addition to these allegations, the sector continues to face ongoing scrutiny regarding quality of care, including instances of neglect, physical harm to children, and understaffing. These issues have prompted renewed examination of the regulatory frameworks intended to safeguard children and ensure service quality.
Families ACT Executive Director Rebecca Zappelli was interviewed by ABC Radio Canberra on 27 October to discuss these concerns. In the interview, Rebecca emphasised the importance of a robust regulatory system, along with thorough staff screening and training, and the maintenance of appropriate child-to-carer ratios. She also encouraged parents to actively engage with their childcare providers by asking questions and requesting compliance reports relating to complaints or breaches.
Families ACT remains deeply concerned about the ongoing revelations within the early childhood education and care sector and will continue to monitor developments closely, engaging with members, government, and other stakeholders to support reform and best practice.
Families ACT new membership
Families ACT membership continues to grow, with the following new members:
Families ACT membership currently stands at 38 organisations.
2025 Christmas Appeals
As many of us know, the lead-up to Christmas can be a difficult time for many families across the ACT. While Christmas is often seen as a season of joy, celebration, and togetherness, for some families the financial pressures of the festive season can be overwhelming. Cost-of-living pressures mean that some parents struggle to make ends meet, and sadly, some children may go without this Christmas.
Thankfully, many of Families ACT’s member organisations offer Christmas Appeals and programs for vulnerable families and children here in the ACT. If you, or your organisations has the means to donate to these important programs, please consider donating to some of the organisations listed below:
With just over seven weeks until Christmas, the Families ACT team extends our best wishes to you all as we approach the final months of the year. We look forward to continuing our advocacy for vulnerable children and families, and to working collaboratively with our members and stakeholders in the New Year.
With warmth,
The Families ACT team.
