As the peak body for child and family welfare in NSW, ACWA acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the First Peoples of this land and honours their enduring connection to Country, culture, and community.
We pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, on whose land our Sydney office stands, and to all Traditional Custodians of the lands our staff live and work. We honour their unbroken custodianship. We respect Elders past and present, and we extend that respect to all First Nations people we engage with.
We recognise the ongoing overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care, youth justice, and family services, driven not only by past injustices but by continued systemic inequality. We are committed to listening, learning, and supporting First Nation peoples, placing culture, connection, and self-determination as guiding principles of the work we do.
Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
ACWA's team brings together policy experts, researchers, and sector leaders committed to transforming child and family welfare across NSW through advocacy, reform, and professional development initiatives.
Simone Czech
CEO
Carolyn Thompson
Director, Sector Capability and Development
Sharon Broady
Senior Project Officer
Nat Peacock
Media and Communications Lead
Kate Spalding
Senior Project Officer
Susan Priivald
Senior Consultant, Placement Stability
Terri Eves
Project Manager - Organisational Change
Liz Potten
Project Officer
Kylie Casey
RTO Manager
Saul Nightingale
Learning and Development Project Manager, Southern Region
Nicole Devereaux
Learning and Development Specialist
Louise Mulroney
CART Learning and Development Project Manager
Jo Roach
CART Learning and Development Project Manager
Maree Perfrement
Workforce Development Manager
John Agapitos
IT Manager
Shardi Rees
Safe and Together Project Lead
Tracie Fleming
CART & Learning and Development Specialist
Rosi Andini
Training Administration Officer
Rona Afenir
Training Coordinator
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