The first National Family Wellbeing Symposium to examine the state of
family life in Australia and develop strategies to better understand how
family wellbeing interacts with social and economic harmony will open at
The Australian National University on Wednesday (20 June).
The Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs, the Hon. Mal Brough MP, will open the conference. International
guests from the OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social
Affairs in Paris and from the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in
Florence will also address the symposium.
"The symposium is the first of its type in Australia to examine the
concept and meaning of family wellbeing in such a comprehensive way,"
Families Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mr Brian Babington, said.
"It springs from a recognition that there is widespread interest in all
things to do with 'wellbeing' but no widely accepted framework which
focuses specifically on family and which could better guide research,
policy, program delivery and evaluation."
The symposium will showcase the latest Australian and international
findings on family wellbeing, identify current and emerging influences
on family wellbeing, provide a forum to discuss family wellbeing
definitions, models and frameworks, identify areas for further policy
development and research and produce findings to present to stakeholders
in government, business and the community sector for action.
Media are welcome to attend the conference. For more information and to
arrange interviews:
Brian Babington, CEO, Families Australia: 0417 550 149
Amanda Morgan, ANU Media Office: 0416 249 245
WHAT: Families Australia National Family Wellbeing
Symposium
WHEN: From 9am, Wednesday 20 June to 4.30pm, Thursday
21 June 2007
WHERE: The Hall, University House, Balmain Crescent, The
Australian National University