Speaker

Philip Graham
Darkinjung/Gadigal man with links to Awabakal land
Children Youth and Families, ACT

Conference session, Day 2
Aboriginal family decision making: the original Informed Safety Network and the key to child safety in Australia

About

Phil is a Darkinjung/Gadigal man with links to Awabakal land where he grew up after being displaced by "The Welfare". Phil started his professional career 38 years ago after completing a degree in Theology and Psychology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Family and Relationship Counselling. Phil worked as a family and relationship counsellor in the NGO sector, in private practice and in the Family Court until 2006. In 2008 he moved to Child Protection, NSW Department of Community Services.

For the last 18 years, Phil has been working as a Child Protection Practitioner blending his skills in strength-based, solution-focused therapy, and narrative family into his child protection work. In 2022 Phil moved across to child protection in the ACT where he commenced as a casework practitioner. He has gone on to become a Practice Leader, providing training to new and existing caseworkers. Phil has been facilitating training and support in the Safe and Together family and domestic violence model since 2014 and the Signs of Safety child protection model since 2011.

Phil is a passionate practitioner with a focus on dignity driven practice working with families and an approach focused on strength-based solutions. Phil identifies as a Narrative therapist both as a practitioner and as an Aboriginal person. Whilst never holding an Aboriginal specific position, Phil is a passionate supporter and advocate of working with Aboriginal families in more culturally safe and effective ways.