BSL Talks

BSL Talks is a regular webinar series hosted by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. Evidence and research are discussed across a range of topics from housing affordability to climate justice. The aim is to consider the real life impacts of research on policy making and service improvements. While the community sector is the target audience, the general public are also encouraged to attend. To subscribe to hear about future BSL Talks events, please visit  https://www.bsl.org.au/contact...
    

Register for our upcoming BSL Talks - Building better systems: What ACCO transitions are teaching us

   
Date: Thursday 30 July 2026
Time: 12.00 pm - 1.00 pm (AEST)

The transition of programs to First Nations organisations represents a significant shift in how services are governed and delivered, and a broader transformation in how systems change. Guided by community leadership and self‑determination, it shows what becomes possible when systems share power and work in genuine partnership with Elders, families and local Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).

Across 2024–2025, 17 Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) sites transitioned to 14 new First Nations providers, with several communities choosing partnership models that embed cultural governance. The process highlighted the importance of community‑based engagement, flexible funding, and investment in organisational capacity, not just capability. It also revealed the need for a national transition framework to support consistent, culturally grounded approaches across the sector.

Our upcoming BSL Talks brings together perspectives on what this work and other First Nations partnerships have taught us. The discussion will explore themes such as cultural governance, power sharing, community‑based engagement, capacity vs capability, and the evolving role of non‑Indigenous providers. This conversation invites practitioners, policymakers and community partners to consider how we build systems that honour self‑determination, strengthen cultural leadership and support families and children to grow strong in culture

Our speakers include:

- Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC - National Voice for our Children

- Rowena Mouda, CEO of Ngunga Group Women’s Aboriginal Corporation

- Timmy Duggan, OAM, Founder and CEO of Hoops 4 Health Australia
   

Watch BSL Talks - Thriving Kids, thriving families, thriving communities

2026 marks a pivotal moment for early childhood development in Australia. With the rollout of Thriving Kids, governments, communities and service providers have a shared opportunity to reshape how children and families access the support they need - where they live, learn and play.

For too long, families of children with developmental concerns or differences have faced fragmented systems, long wait times and inconsistent access to early supports. Thriving Kids presents the opportunity to build a more equitable, integrated approach: one that meets families earlier, responds to their real world contexts, and strengthens inclusion.

Building on the momentum of this national reform, our webinar brought together leading voices from research, practice and policy to explore what it would take to create a system where every child can thrive.

Hosted by Zeah Behrend, BSL’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, this discussion with Professor Sharon Goldfeld (The Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research), Dr Caroline Croser Barlow (CEO, The Front Project), Tanya Oxlade (BSL Head of Disability Service and Innovation) and Leah Robertson (BSL, Senior Manager Early Years) examined how equity, community embedded supports and cross sector collaboration can transform outcomes for children and families, and what practical steps are already showing promise on the ground.

Watch the full webinar below.

Watch our Anti-Poverty Week edition of BSL Talks - Measuring poverty in Australia: Henderson's legacy and the path ahead

2025 marks 50 years since the release of Australia’s landmark Inquiry into the nature and extent of poverty, chaired by Professor Ronald Henderson.

The Henderson Inquiry laid the foundation for how we understand and measure poverty in Australia. The Henderson Poverty Line has been a consistently measured long-term benchmark – relative to average living standard. It is the same today as it was 50 years ago, but it needs refreshing.

Globally, 156 countries have adopted either a monetary, multidimensional, or combined approach to poverty measurement. Best practice is to have both – Australia has neither.

As part of ongoing work to support improved poverty measurement, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and the Melbourne Institute have developed a demonstration Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for Australia. This work draws on the internationally recognised methodology of Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and global leader in poverty measurement.

Facilitated by BSL’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Zeah Behrend, our latest BSL Talks discussion with Dr Nicole Bieske (BSL’s Director of Research, Policy and Advocacy), Dr Melek Cigdem-Bayram (Ronald Henderson Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute and BSL) and two experts with lived experience, Jo and Tamara explored what having official poverty measures would mean for Australia.

Watch the full webinar below.

Watch BSL Talks - Tackling inequality: Hearing from experts with experience

On Wednesday 30 April, we held our second edition of BSL Talks for the year hosted by Dr Nicole Bieske - Tackling Inequality: Hearing from the experts with experience. It was a powerful and engaging discussion and we would like to thank and acknowledge our wonderful panellists for their insights and bringing their expertise into the discussion. A recording of the webinar is now available: https://youtu.be/Vr8xwZ6K4Z0

Thank you to Maggie Shambrook (Advocate & Co-founder of the Housing Older Women Movement), Peter Sutton (Employment and Social Security Advocate), Hayley Prasad (Youth Advocate, BSL) and Aradia Sayner (Co-founder & CEO, Women in Poverty Network).

At BSL, we are really committed to raising the voices of people with lived experience and people experiencing disadvantage, so were really thrilled to be able to host this discussion. We encourage you to share this webinar widely.