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Safe Together: 20 Years of Child Safety in Asia Pacific

By Newby
Safe Together: 20 Years of Child Safety in Asia Pacific

Overview of the Asia Pacific Coercive Control & Children Conference

From 17–19 March 2026, a significant event will take place in Sydney, bringing together leaders from various fields such as domestic violence prevention, child protection, health, and family law. This event is the Asia Pacific Coercive Control & Children Conference, hosted at the Roundhouse on the University of New South Wales campus. The conference is not only a platform for knowledge exchange but also a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Safe & Together Model.

The Safe & Together Model has been instrumental in reshaping how systems globally respond to domestic abuse while ensuring the safety of children. Over the past two decades, this model has emphasized a child-centred approach, aligning with survivors and focusing on perpetrators. Its methods have helped numerous professionals keep children safe and maintain family stability while holding individuals accountable for their actions.

Key Speakers and Themes

The conference will feature prominent thought leaders who will contribute their insights and experiences:

  • David Mandel, founder and CEO of the Safe & Together Institute, will reflect on two decades of global systems change and the future of the Model. His focus will be on digital innovation, local collaboration, and leadership in addressing men's behavior, trauma, and perpetration.

  • Matt and Sarah Brown, founders of She Is Not Your Rehab, will deliver a powerful message centered on accountability, healing, and intergenerational change.

  • Professor Daryl Higgins from Australian Catholic University will connect findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study to the urgent need for coercive-control-informed child safety strategies.

  • Dr. Inez Fainga'a-Manu Sione and Shane Senituli will present Indigenous and Pacific methodologies that integrate cultural wisdom with contemporary practices.

Mandel remarked, "Twenty years on, the Safe & Together Model's vision—child safety, survivor partnership, and perpetrator accountability—is becoming the benchmark for global best practice." He added that this conference celebrates the progress made and aims to build the next generation of change together.

Conference Tracks

The conference is structured into four thematic tracks, each designed to support professionals across different sectors:

  • Domestic Violence–Informed Practice: This track will provide practical tools for assessing risk, strengthening case planning, and embedding perpetrator accountability.

  • Indigenous-Led Approaches: It will highlight Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori, and Pasifika leadership in creating culturally grounded safety responses.

  • Family Law: This track will focus on enhancing courts' capacity to recognize coercive control as a parenting choice and prioritizing child well-being in decisions.

  • Health Responses to Domestic Violence: It will advance trauma- and violence-informed practice across healthcare systems.

Whether attending in person or virtually, delegates will gain evidence-based tools, cross-sector insights, and connections that enhance real-world practice and system reform.

Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

For those interested in participating, registration and sponsorship opportunities are available. Details can be found at safeandtogetherinstitute.com/2026APCCC. Additional information about the conference can be accessed at https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com.