On 21 April 2026, AbSec proudly hosted our Roadshow and CODA Community Gathering on Bundjalung Nation at the Koori Mail.
The day began with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Glen Rhodes, setting a respectful and culturally grounded tone for the gathering and acknowledging the strength and connection of community to Country.
We were honoured to welcome 38 attendees from across the Northern Rivers region, including representatives from ACCOs, NGOs, community members and local services. It was inspiring to see people travel from right across the region to come together, connect and contribute to important conversations.
AbSec staff in attendance included Carlee Maccoll (Project Officer), Tanya Miles (Carer Support), Shiny Varghese, and Dianne Potter (Learning and Development Centre Manager). We were also joined by our CODA project collaborators, Resilient Lismore, whose local knowledge and support added great value throughout the day.
Know Your Rights – Empowering Families and Communities
The first session of the day, “Know Your Rights”, was presented by Shiny Varghese. This session focused on standing up for our rights and keeping our kids strong, safe and connected to community.
Participants were provided with practical information and resources to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families at each stage of the NSW child protection system, empowering community with knowledge to navigate systems with confidence and advocate for culturally safe outcomes.
CODA Community Workshop – Listening, Learning and Acting Together
The CODA workshop, facilitated by Project Officer Carlee Maccoll, created a safe and open space for community to share their experiences and insights.
Through guided discussions, participants explored:
- Past disaster experiences in the Northern Rivers
- What worked well
- What didn’t work well
- Barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Taking Action
- What needs to happen now to move towards a stronger, more prepared future
- What communities and organisations need right now
- How funding could be best utilised
- Existing strengths and resources to build upon
- Looking Forward
- What a successful and culturally appropriate disaster response and recovery would look like for community
These conversations were powerful, honest and solutions-focused, reinforcing the importance of community-led approaches in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
Building Capability – Learning and Development Centre
The afternoon continued with a session on the AbSec Learning and Development Centre, presented by Di Potter. This session highlighted opportunities to strengthen skills, build capacity across the sector, and support ongoing professional and community development.
State of the Sector – Child Protection & OOHC
The final session of the day focused on the State of the ACCO Sector, particularly in relation to Child Protection and Out of Home Care (OOHC). This important discussion provided insights into current challenges, priorities and opportunities for reform, reinforcing the need for strong Aboriginal-led solutions and continued advocacy.
Supporting Carers and Community
Throughout the day, Tanya Miles (AbSec Carer Support) was available to provide guidance and support to carers and community members, ensuring attendees had access to the information and assistance they need.
Strong Connections, Strong Future
The gathering was a fantastic opportunity for connection, networking and meaningful engagement — creating space to listen, share experiences and hear directly from community about what matters most and ensuring community are informed, empowered, and connected to the work driving change across the sector.
Your voices are at the heart of this work, and we thank everyone who took the time to be part of the day.
We look forward to returning later this year to continue the conversation, strengthen relationships, and share progress.
