The August 2025 AbSec Sector Forum, themed "Building Bridges: Collaboration for Community Impact," successfully brought together government, community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to strengthen networks and work towards meaningful outcomes. The cultural team Barry, Deb, Brad, Lekeisha along with April from Events and Engagement attended for the two days.
Dawn Towney (AbSec Community Engagement Officer) opened the forum.
Margi Davis presented "ACCMs in Action: One Mob Connection," highlighting collaborative efforts in Wagga Wagga.
Key message: “Standing side by side, working together, that’s what we do.”
Belinda Kendall discussed the new Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) Code of Practice, stressing the importance of embedding culture in all practices.
“Culture can’t be something we reference. It needs to be something we implement.”
Focused on Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).
TACCO (Tamworth Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations), in partnership with Tamworth Regional Council, shared their model of respectful collaboration.
Quote from Rachael Phillips (TACCO Chair): “We don’t work with community, or for community — we are community.”
Aunty Deb Swan (GMAR) called for genuine listening and recognition of lived experience:
“Some people listen, but don’t really hear our message.”