The forum was opened by Hon Grace Portolesi, Minister for Education and Child Development who stated:

'We, need to be serious about how we engage and take into account the needs of children as we develop and shape our urban environment... so that our shops and schools, our houses, parks and walkways and community centres are places that attract and engage young people and make Adelaide and South Australia an even better place to live and work.'

'It does require a partnership approach ... the kind of engagement that you are demonstrating by being a part of this forum.'

'Local government, educators, urban planners, architects, designers, developers, child care, the arts, government agencies across the spectrum. But first and foremost your engagement in this forum of children and young people.'

In conversation with Keith Bartley, Chief Executive of DECD, a panel of expert young people from Gilles St & Sturt St schools shared their thoughts on what constitutes a child friendly place. 

The focus upon Child and Youth Friendly Cities is informed by the UN’s framework for Child & Youth Friendly Cities. The forum has a cross disciplinary focus bringing together specialists from the built environment, and children and youth services. It advocates for the importance of engaging with children and young people in consultation around planning for changes in the built environment. A range of exemplars demonstrating good engagement with children and young people will be presented as methods replicable on other projects.

Keynote Speakers

Professor Carla Rinaldi

Professor Carla Rinaldi is an internationally-renowned advocate for children and childhood. She is the President of Reggio Children and the President of the Founcdation ‘Reggio Children - Loris Malaguzzi Centre’ in Reggion Emilia, Italy. She is also Professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. In Adelaide as a ‘Thinker in Residence’, Carla will work with everyone who influences our children’s learning and growing, including parents, families, educators, communities and most importantly, the children themselves.

Read more on Professor Rinaldi's residency in Adelaide here

Professor Karen Malone

Dr Karen Malone is Professor of Childhood Studies in the Faculty of Education at University of Western Sydney. In the past ten year Dr Malone has attracted over 1.4 million dollars in research grants, awards and consultancies and has published 5 books, 14 book chapters and over 40 refereed publications focusing on child friendly cities, children’s participation, children and youth environments, environmental education and sustainable development, urbanisation and globalisation, and participatory research methodologies. 

Amongst her most current publications is the book Childspace. Her most recent research grants have included the Australian Financial Markets Foundation for Children funded project Aboriginal children’s health and environment project and a Smith Family project: How child friendly is my community?

Panellists

Dr Lucas Walsh

Dr Lucas Walsh is Director of Research at Foundation for Young Australians, where he coordinates, commissions and conducts research as part of a national agenda for policy change. Lucas has held three academic research fellowships in areas such as international education, technology and political participation, e-learning and citizenship and democracy.

Dr Diana Hetzel

Dr Hetzel is Senior Researcher in the Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) at the University of Adelaide. She has a clinical medical background in child health; and over twenty years’ experience in the health and welfare sectors, including public health research, program planning and evaluation, and policy development.

Timothy Horton

Tim Horton is the South Australian Commissioner for Integrated Design, providing independent advice to the Premier and Cabinet. Tim is an architect and urban designer, with experience spanning the public and private sector in Australia and internationally. He is a member of the editorial board for the Australian Urban Design Protocol and the board of the Jam Factory, Australia’s leading centre for contemporary craft & design. He is also on the Integration Committee for the Green Star Communities Rating Tool.

Lovisa Muyderman

Lovisa Muderman has lived in Adelaide for ten years, after moving to Australia from Sweden. She attended Mitcham Girls High School up until her graduation last year and has been an active member of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) since July 2010 due to her strong interest in climate change. The AYCC is a youth run organisation made up of over 70,000 young people committed to solving the cliamte crisis.

Geoff Woolwock

Associate Professor Geoffrey Woolcock is an urban sociologist based at Griffith University. He is particularly interested in both indicators of social sustainability and the factors that contribute to child- and youth-friendly commu- nities. He is an executive member of the Asia-Pacific Child- Friendly Cities Network, and a leader in the Child Friendly by Design project coordinated by Healthy Cities Illawarra which works with agencies, organisations and local government to make child and family-friendly places and spaces a reality in local communities throughout Australia. 

Wayne Gibbings

Wayne Gibbings is the transitional Chief Operating Officer for the newly created Urban Renewal Authority and has extensive property development experience from more than 35 years to both the private and public sectors. Wayne has managed major urban renewal projects at Hillcrest, Windsor Gardens and Gilles Plains, and has let the planning and development of the current major project such as Playford Alive, Lochiel Park, Lightsview and Bowden.

Miriam Daley

Miriam Daley is the Director, Strategic Initiatives within the Office of Early Childhood Development, Department for Education and Child Development. Miriam has lead responsibility for developing South Australia as a Child Friendly State aligned to the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities framework. As part of this work Miriam initiated a strategy to ensure that children had a strong and active voice in the review of the South Australian Strategic Plan and has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Government Association which commits to working in partnership on this important reform.