Platform 1225 Conference 2026
26th March 2026
Building a solid platform for young people aged 12 to 25.
Our Gold Sponsors
Young People will join us at Platform 1225 as MC, Ambassadors, Presenters, Panellists and Delegates
Platform 1225 Presenters
MC Ruby Allen
Ruby is the 18-year-old founder of Kids of Purple, a non-profit she started to support young people impacted by Domestic and Family Violence (DFV). Passionate about advocacy and creating change, Ruby strives to provide this generation of young Australians with the resources and empowerment needed to end the cycles of abuse and trauma. She has spoken at events such as the Queensland Family Child Commission Youth Summit, the ANROWS Listen Learn Act Conference and the Queensland Statewide Child Protection Workshop.
Ruby has also worked alongside the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works to create domestic violence advocacy campaigns and has recently developed staff training videos with Brisbane Catholic education. As she continues to grow Kids of Purple, Ruby hopes to be a voice for the voiceless and seeks to show young people experiencing domestic and family violence that there is hope.
Comedian Mel Buttle
Our fabulous local and nationally loved Comedian, Mel Buttle, needs no introduction.
Mel will join us to ensure the fun-loving aspects of being part of the youth sector prevails alongside the important conversations we continue to have to ensure ongoing learning and development and quality responses to children and young people.
Professor Daryl Higgins
Breaking the Cycle of Multiplying Adversities: How Prevalence Evidence Can Drive Prevention and Transform Outcomes for Young People
Prof Daryl Higgins is the Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University. His research focuses on child maltreatment prevalence, impact, and prevention. He has led national studies on child safety and contributed to policy reform, and evidence-based strategies for safeguarding and improving safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Professor Stephen Gaetz
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Focusing on Prevention and Early Intervention in Crisis Driven Work.
Incorporating housing first into the continuum of crisis and transitional housing responses – What is needed?
Stephen Gaetz is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University, located in Toronto Canada. He is the President and CEO of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Homeless Hub. Acclaimed for his work in Canada’s Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) movement, Professor Gaetz has dedicated much of his career to raising awareness of the need to focus on youth homelessness and intervene early to end its long-term disastrous impacts on the life trajectories of young people.
He’s an avid supporter of young people centred policy and frameworks alongside housing solutions such as HF4Y. He provides a voice of reason and simple solutions to an issue viewed as a wicked problem that arguably is not.
Prof Gaetz will also talk to the need to ensure young people as a priority cohort in youth centred policy and practice alongside the importance of early intervention and prevention.
As a scholar Dr. Stephen Gaetz has had a long-standing interest in understanding homelessness – its causes, how it is experienced, and potential solutions. His program of research has been defined by his desire to ‘make research matter’ through conducting rigorous scholarly research that contributes to our knowledge base on homelessness and is mobilized so that it has an impact on policy, practice and public opinion. Dr. Gaetz has published extensively on the subject of homelessness and his research on youth homelessness, prevention and models of intervention have contributed to significant change in how we respond to homelessness in Canada. In 2015, he was appointed to the Province of Ontario’s Expert Advisory Panel on Homelessness, and in 2017 he played a leading role as a member of the Government of Canada’s Advisory Panel on Homelessness.
As Director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, one of his key projects is the Homeless Hub, an innovative web-based research library internationally recognized as a leading example of innovation in knowledge mobilization. Incorporating “design thinking” into this work (Gaetz, 2014a), the Homeless Hub integrates collaborative processes of knowledge and content development with a more assertive involvement in different aspects of publishing (and modes of publication), including graphic design, marketing, communications, and dissemination, with the goal of increasing the reach, usability and ultimately the impact of research.
Daniel Scoullar
Advocacy and government engagement with young people – why it’s vital to ensure young people are front and centre of policy platforms and programs.
Social Change Projects’ Daniel Scoullar is a public policy, government engagement, advocacy and communications specialist, working with organisations and communities to create change. He works collaboratively to find creative and compelling ways to solve problems that matter. Much of his work involves connecting lived experience, policy expertise and community support to policy and funding decisions. Daniel has worked for a wide range of organisations, including the Victorian, Northern Territory and East Timorese governments; metropolitan and regional councils; Homelessness Australia; Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; Victorian Council of Social Service; Australian Services Union; Community and Public Sector Union; Melbourne City Mission; Jesuit Social Services; Brotherhood of St Laurence; CHOICE; Australians for Affordable Housing; Make Renting Fair Campaign; No to Homophobia Campaign; Save Community Legal Centres Campaign; and Home Time – Fix housing for young people.
Professor Tim Prenzler
A space for all – policing public spaces – why highly organised integration with welfare services works.
Professor Tim Prenzler is an expert on police integrity matters, with a specialist interest in complaint reduction strategies, covert tactics against corruption, early intervention systems, and use of force minimisation. He has also researched extensively on effective regulatory strategies for the security industry, successful crime prevention programs, and the history and integration of women police.
Professor Prenzler joined the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2015 as the inaugural Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice. He was previously a foundation member of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University, where he held numerous Program Coordinator positions and was Head of School. At Griffith, he was also a foundation member of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security, where he was Coordinator of the Integrity Systems Program.
At UniSC, Tim is a member of the External Industry Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice. He has previously been a long-term Member of the Branch Committee of the National Tertiary Education Union, and a member of the School of Law and Society’s Research Committee and Teaching and Learning Committee. He was previously a member of the University’s Research Committee and the University Council.
Tim’s research interests include crime and corruption prevention, police and security officer safety, security industry regulation, gender equity in policing, and restorative justice and mediation. He has developed and taught courses in introductory criminology, policing, crime prevention, and criminal justice ethics and accountability.
Belinda Cox
When young people have seen too much. Young person-centred intervention in Domestic and Family Violence (DFV).
Supporting young people to heal from DFV and enter healthy relationships – A journey from early intervention to prevention is key.
Belinda Cox is the founder/practitioner at Crescent Consulting & Development a senior Men’s Behavioural Change Program (MBCP) facilitator, the Chair of the Greater Brisbane Family Law Pathways Network and a member of Queer and Trans Workers Against Violence. Belinda has a human services career of 20+ years in frontline service and leadership spanning varied areas of gendered violence, homelessness, alcohol & other drugs and peer workforce/advocate fields. They have an ethical, trauma responsive and intersectional feminist approach to their work and are a provider of external professional supervision, specialist training, professional development, consulting and expert Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) mentoring to human service practitioners and providers, private enterprise, government and community groups in Southeast Queensland.
Dave Kramer
Hon Sam O’Connor
Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth
Minister O’Connor’s Responsibilities include homelessness, housing supply and delivery, building and plumbing standards, government buildings, licensing and regulation of the Queensland building industry, property facilities management for government and major projects, urban design and architecture, government purchasing, night-life economy and youth affairs.
Minister O’Connor will present on the morning of Platform 1225 Workshop Day 2.
You can read more information including the Ministerial Charter letter here Samuel (Sam) O’Connor MP
Dr Phil Crane
Conference Panellist and Day 2 Workshop Presenter – Young People Exiting Care to Stable Housing and Support
Phil is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Social Work and Human Services with the School of Law and Society at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Prior to leaving UniSC he was the Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Human Services and led a 5 year evaluation and action research study into the Youth CONNECT project, an innovative program to support young people leaving care in 3 regions of Queensland. Phil has had a long association with the youth and youth homelessness sectors since the early 1980’s, including the development of the Reconnect early intervention into youth homelessness services, the development of youth friendly public spaces, and the use of participatory action research as a tool for robust service development in complex contexts. In 2018 Phil was co-editor of the special edition of Parity on ‘Responding to Homelessness in Queensland’.
Fabian Webber
Roseberry Rockhampton
Homelessness Coordinator | Central Queensland Zero Community Lead
Fabian Webber is a community-sector leader dedicated to driving systemic change across housing, health, and homelessness in Central Queensland. As Homelessness Coordinator at Roseberry Qld and Project Lead for the region’s CQ Zero initiative, he champions data-driven, person-centred approaches to ending homelessness, integrating Advance to Zero methodology with strong place-based collaboration. Fabian also serves as Chair of the CQ Housing & Homelessness Alliance, working closely with local councils, health services, and government partners to strengthen coordination, influence policy, and expand regional housing solutions.
Fabian brings extensive frontline and operational experience, including leading the ongoing operation of Jack’s House Youth Shelter, a crisis and transitional accommodation service for young people experiencing homelessness. This role has grounded his systems-level work in the realities of youth homelessness, trauma-informed practice, workforce pressures, and the complexity of supporting young people to achieve stability, safety, and connection.
With a background spanning service integration, strategic planning, and community development, Fabian combines on-the-ground insight with strategic leadership. He is committed to elevating lived experience, fostering cross-sector innovation, and designing better systems together to build healthier, more connected communities where everyone has a safe, secure place to call home.
David Lonne
Ipswich Community Youth Service
David Lonne is a human services professional of 16 years with experience working with young people across the areas of housing and homelessness, child protection and disability. Much of this time has been spent in his hometown city of Ipswich, QLD where he has shown a commitment to the betterment of service delivery, local placed based initiatives and championed the importance of strong local relationships and partnerships. He has experience in working in high risk youth teams with a strong grasp on the issues affecting young people and their families such as youth justice, mental health and trauma and homelessness.
David has a particular interest in working across systems, seeking to link the experience of young people and positive outcomes to collaborative practice and promoting the subsequent benefits to the community he lives and works in.
David is a current co-facilitator of the Ipswich Housing and Homelessness Network and has a strong understanding of the region and the importance of cross-sector approaches critical to driving systems improvement. David is a strong proponent of the idea that system change starts by thinking big and acting small, using relationships and leadership to improve systems, service delivery and communities.
Maria Leebeek
Chair – Gold Coast Homelessness Network Inc (GCHN) and a member of Gold Coast Youth Network
Maria is a social worker with over six years’ experience as a Chief Executive Officer at Gold Coast Youth Service. She focuses on leading impactful initiatives in the non-profit sector. Her work is driven by a commitment to community development, fostering effective collaborations, and enhancing service delivery for young people and vulnerable populations.
Maria’s expertise has been generated over 30 years in non-profits, community engagement, and community development. With a strong emphasis on collaborative planning and policy analysis, she works with diverse stakeholders to address systemic challenges and create sustainable solutions. She is dedicated to advancing the role of non-profits in delivering meaningful change and fostering innovative partnerships. Her Master’s thesis focuses on the nuances of collaboration.
Bronwen Kippen
Raising Queensland – A plan to enable wellbeing for all children and families in Queensland.
Bronwen Kippen is the Interim Executive Director of Research and Policy with Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS). Bronwen is a social worker with experience working in housing and homelessness service delivery in Australia and Canada, and most recently coordinated the QCOSS Town of Nowhere Campaign which advocated for bi-partisan support for long-term initiatives and funding to address the housing and homelessness crisis Queensland. Bronwen has qualifications in social work; mental health and substance use practice support; and political science and economics. Her areas of interest include: – Human rights – Social inclusion – Trauma-informed and strengths-based practice.
Tammy Wallace
Tammy is a Jirrabal women with strong cultural ties in far north Queensland. Her traditional name is Mahjah which means lore giver, given to her from her grandmother – Maisie Barlow. She is an emerging elder in her family and a very proud Aboriginal women. For the first years of the Youth Connect program Tammy was the Strategic Engagement and Inclusion Manager at Churches of Christ Queensland and as part of this role led the development and embedding of cultural practice in Youth Connect. Tammy designed the Connection to Culture Scale used in Youth Connect and led the Cultural Action Research Group as it explored what it would take for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to experience good program outcomes. Tammy has worked within Government and Non-Government sectors for over twenty-five years, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, service and program development, and across a range of child, youth and families practice contexts. Her practice is informed by understandings of cultural healing and childhood development through a trauma lens. Tammy is currently working at Act For Kids.
Hometime – Shorna Moore and Atlas
Shorna has been a leader in the justice, youth and homelessness sectors for almost 20 years and is dedicated to driving positive social change for children and young people. Her work on the issues of youth homelessness and children and young people experiencing family violence has resulted in lasting government and NGO reforms, and her work has been replicated across Australia and globally.
Shorna is a social justice lawyer and is the head of Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations at Melbourne City Mission and founder of the national Home Time campaign. She is the former Policy and Advocacy director of the peak body for community legal centres, sits on several not-for-profit boards and was inducted into the 2022 Victorian Honour Roll for Women.
Atlas is a young queer person who has always been passionate about the human rights particularly those who have been othered by society or had experiences of disadvantage.
Atlas’ has been working in lived experience for 3 years, on projects with government, not for profits, and working towards systems reform with a focus on housing insecurity, mental ill health, and family violence. In all the work Atlas does he prioritises accessibility and breaking down the barriers to access that come from the siloed system that we currently work in to create a more fit for purpose system.
Atlas is the co-founder and Youth Participation and Advocacy Lead for the Home Time Campaign. They work with other young advocates to share their stories and use the privilege on their position to create safer spaces for lived experience to use their voices.
John MacMillan and Sam Woods
Youth Homelessness Matters
Young and Alone – Youth Homelessness Matters Everyday – The power of the collective in highlighting youth homelessness through Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD).
Delegate information:
Parking
Limited Valet Parking at the Hotel – $49 per car for casual parking up to 4 hours or $59 applies over 4 hours.
Brisbane Convention Centre (BCEC) – Hourly parking rates available, capped at $35 for the day.
Accommodation
