What is ACCAN?

ACCAN stands for the Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. The first national child protection conference was held in 1975 in Perth. Since then an Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect has been held every few years. The ACCAN conferences aim to provide a forum for the exchange and discussion of ideas and strategies concerning the prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

ACCAN conferences provide a forum for practitioners, policy makers, researchers, community groups and young people to exchange information and share knowledge. This exchange has the potential to influence current practice and policy making, thereby improving outcomes for children and young people (aged 0-18 years) who suffer from, or are at risk of suffering from, abuse and neglect.

The 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (ACCAN) is being held in Wellington, New Zealand. The theme Kia Puawai Ngā Tamariki, Blossoming of Our Children - Resilience, Rights, Responsibilities aims to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and how best to prevent it by focusing on the safety, wellbeing and strengths of children and young people in their families and community.

This conference will offer excellent opportunities for promoting new working relationships, exchanging leading edge information on research and interventions, and reviewing practices issues and programmes for the diverse professional and volunteer communities who will attend.

	Tena koutou katoa - welcome to you all. I greet all fellow advocates of children's rights. We all have an obligation to prevent child abuse and neglect. The 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect ACCAN) provides an ideal forum to discuss ways to do this. My vision is for a world where all children can grow up in a healthy and caring environment, in peace and safety. ACCAN will challenge all of us to think critically about how we can work together towards achieving this goal. I strongly encourage you to participate in this conference. Dame Silvia Cartwright Governor-General of New Zealand
	Wellington is the undisputed Arts and Cultural Capital of New Zealand and welcomes the opportunity to host this important conference Our children are our future and deserve as much nurturing and protection as we can give them. Child abuse and neglect is intolerable. The 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect provides an opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and information on how we can best protect our precious children and young people. I wish you well for your conference, and hope your time in our sophisticated, dynamic and vibrant city is memorable. Kerry Prendergast Mayor of Wellington

Conference Co-hosts

The 10th ACCAN is a co-hosted event by the:

Conference Information

Theme:

The theme of this years conference is Kia Puawai Ngā Tamariki, Blossoming of Our Children - Resilience, Rights, Responsibilities.

Where and When:

The conference is being held in Wellington, New Zealand at the Wellington Convention Centre from 14 to 16 February 2006.

The official conference opening will take place with a Powhiri which will be held on the evening of 13 February at Te Papa museum.

The Venue:

Wellington Convention Centre near the waterfront and in the heart of Wellington City is the perfect location for our conference. It is based in the central business district and within walking distance of all major hotels.

Read more about the venue.

Children and Young People:

The conference warmly welcomes children and young people as active and equal delegates in all aspects of the conference programme. All children aged 10 to 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult minder.