• A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Uncle Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O’Brien on Day 1, followed by a Welcome to Country by both Ashum Owen (Day 2) and emerging leader Daniel Owen (Day 3).

• Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, CEO of VACCA, officially opened the summit with a powerful keynote on the impacts of colonisation, the importance of truth-telling, and the need for Aboriginal people to reclaim authorship of their own stories through culturally grounded, relational approaches.

• Dr Diana Kopua and Mark Kopua, founders of Mahi a Atua, opened with a Māori welcome and delivered a compelling keynote on Indigenous knowledge systems, challenging harmful structures, and encouraging attendees to sit with discomfort to better understand the links between colonisation, racism, and power.

• Dr Tracy Westerman AM, founder of the Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health, shared confronting insights into the intergenerational impacts of child removal, highlighting that mental health underpins all Closing the Gap targets despite not being explicitly recognised, and emphasising the importance of culturally informed approaches to healing and caregiving.

• Commissioner Micaela Cronin, Australia’s inaugural Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, spoke on the complexity and importance of working with men and boys, reinforcing that prevention efforts must strengthen accountability without shifting focus away from victim-survivors.

• Shona Reid, Guardian for Children and Young People in SA, explored what it means to genuinely centre Aboriginal children’s voices, challenging systems to move beyond tokenistic participation toward approaches that restore dignity, cultural connection, and shared decision-making.

• Dr Jennie Caruso, Chair of the South Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, shared her lived experience as a member of the Stolen Generations, thoughtfully weaving together personal insight and scholarly knowledge. She reflected on the policies that enabled child removal and their devastating ongoing intergenerational impacts, while highlighting the need for holistic, culturally responsive and tailored care for ageing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• The first panel, Champions for Change – Driving Innovation in Leadership and Policy, examined leadership approaches across sectors and emphasised the importance of increasing Aboriginal representation in leadership to ensure cultural responsiveness, safety, and genuine partnership.

• Joe Williams, founder of The Enemy Within, delivered a powerful keynote reminding attendees that innovation is not new to Aboriginal people, emphasising long-standing knowledge systems, cultural connection, and the role of community in shaping strong futures.

• Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, opened the final day with a reflective storytelling session, exploring the enduring power of story as a tool for truth-telling, cultural continuity, and social change. Speaking from her perspective as a Wiradjuri woman, she highlighted that Aboriginal identity is not just the past, but is equally shaped by the future and what is yet to come. Her keynote invited participants to slow down, listen deeply, and consider how stories can challenge assumptions, reframe priorities, and inspire collective responsibility.

• Commissioner Sue Anne Hunter, the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, discussed the importance of cultural safety and inclusive support systems for child and youth wellbeing, belonging, and purpose. She discussed research on risk and protective factors, reframing risk as disconnection, and emphasised the role of family and community in strengthening cultural safety and accountability.

• Belle Arnold facilitated daily reflections talking through her stunning artwork, visually capturing the themes, emotions, and key messages shared across each day of the summit.

• Panel: Systems that Heal – The Shift to Self-Determination brought together leaders to explore place-based approaches, highlighting what is working in communities and the need to move away from systems that no longer serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

• Joe Williams closed the summit with a strong and thought-provoking message, challenging attendees to reflect on their role, contribution, and responsibility in driving meaningful change beyond the conference.
   

We would like to thank all of our attendees and speakers for their deeply moving contributions. The KWY 2026 5th Biennial National Conference, Creating a Space for Innovation, was a success thanks to the collective passion and commitment of everyone involved.
 

This year’s conference inspired attendees with a renewed sense of purpose, deepened dedication to community-led change, and a shared determination to keep driving innovation that upholds the safety, dignity, and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.
 

We look forward to welcoming you all again in 2028! Nukutha (see you later)!