ISPCAN Melbourne Congress

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility that we welcome you to the ISPCAN Melbourne 2026 Congress (24-26 August 2026) in the vibrant city of Melbourne. On behalf of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and the Australian Childhood Foundation, we extend heartfelt thanks to each of you who is joining us from around the globe to accelerate our shared mission of protecting children, promoting healing, and building safer futures.

We meet at a pivotal moment in our work: the world is evolving faster than ever—technological change, shifting social norms, and emerging global crises all impact children and families in profound ways. At the same time, the core promise remains unchanged: every child deserves to live free from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and to thrive in safe nurturing relationships. It is this promise that calls us to act with urgency, innovation and compassion.

This Congress strikes at the heart of that call. Under the theme “Transforming approaches to safety and healing”, we will explore new paths in out-of-home care, youth justice, community prevention, digital safety, culture and diversity, and public health approaches to child protection. Our gathering of researchers, practitioners, advocates, policy makers and young people allow us to break down silos, challenge assumptions and co-create solutions that are bold and practical.

What makes this moment especially critical is the speed at which challenges are shifting. Families are under pressure from economic and climate shocks; institutions are grappling with new forms of risk; children’s lives are increasingly shaped by digital environments. Against that backdrop, our collective responsibility must be to accelerate — to move from discussion to action, from isolated successes to scalable solutions, from good intent to systemic change.

And so, we invite you to bring your whole selves to Melbourne: your expertise, your curiosity, your lived experience, your willingness to learn and to lead. Engage deeply in the sessions, connect across disciplines and geographies, contribute to conversations that push boundaries. Let us use this platform to forge partnerships that will outlast the three days of formal conference time.

Finally, we want to recognize the energy, commitment and resilience of all those here and beyond: the frontline workers, the investigators, the data-analysts, the researchers, the advocates, the caregivers, the young people with courageous voices. Your contribution matters. Together, we can—and will—create environments where children are safe, valued and empowered.

We look forward to meeting you in Melbourne, to engaging in meaningful dialogue, to celebrating successes and to charting our course forward together.

Warm welcome,