Program

Time

Session 

Venue 

8:15 AM

  Registration desk opens

9:00 AM

  Opening

• Acknowledgement of Country – Ms Kylie Cullen
• Welcome and Opening – Archbishop Christopher Prowse 
• Opening Prayer
• Conference Song

9:30 AM

Keynote Address 1

Dr Laurie Berg
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney
Co-Executive Director, Migrant Justice Institute
Topic: The challenges faced by migrant workers, especially women, and how the Australian community and government continue to strengthen systems to safeguard migrant workers from labour exploitation, modern slavery, and human trafficking.

10:30 AM

Morning Tea

11:00 AM

 Discussion Forum 1

Her Excellency Chiara Porro (Video message)
Australian Ambassador to the Holy See
Topic: The work of the Australian Embassy to the Holy See and its collaboration with human rights and faith-based organisations in the plight of migrants, especially women migrant workers

Archbishop Christopher Prowse
Archbishop of Canberra & Goulburn
Chair, ACBC Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry
Topic: From the ACBC’s point of view: pastoral care for migrant workers

Ms Cary Duffy
Director – Workers Support Strategy team
Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Delivery Branch
Pacific Labour Operations Division
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Ms Fiona Nitschke
Director – Worker Support
Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Delivery Branch
Pacific Labour Operations Division
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Topic: General information about the PALM scheme program and the positive impact of the program on the lives of the participants as well as with the local Australian communities.

Question time

12:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Discussion Forum 2 
Mr Peter Arndt
Director, ACBC Office For Justice, Ecology and Peace
Topic: Catholic Social Justice Teachings on migrant workers

Mr Mark Zirnsak
Senior Social Justice Advocate, Uniting Church of Australia<brCommunity Connections
Topic: General information about the Community Connections Program

Ms Christine Carolan
National Executive Officer, ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans)
Topic: ACRATH's response - care for the worker, community networking and policy development

Question time

3:00 PM

Afternoon Tea

3:30 PM

Group Discussions 1

Moderators: 

Catholic Immigration/Multicultural Offices (CIO) Directors

4:15 PM

Groups Report to the Plenary 

5.00 PM 

Conclusion

• Concluding Remarks – Fr Khalid Marogi
• Announcements – Ms Kylie Cullen 

10 minutes 

6:00 PM

Conference Mass at St John the Evangelist Church
Main Celebrant: Archbishop Christopher Prowse

594 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

7:00 PM

Conference Dinner at the Catholic Leadership Centre

Guest Speaker: 
Dr James Cockayne
NSW Anti-Slavery Commisioner
Topic: Insights on how local communities can welcome temporary migrant workers, particularly seasonal workers, and raise awareness about the risks of modern slavery.

576 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Time 

Session 

Venue 

8:30 AM

Registration desk opens

9:00 AM

Opening

• Opening Prayer
• Day 1 Recap - Ms Kylie Cullen

9:30 AM

Keynote Address 2

Rev James Bhagwan
General Secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches
Topic: The Seasonal Workers Program in Australia from the perspective of Pacific Nations people, its effects on their local communities and family life, and the impact on Pacific self-determination.

10:30 AM

Morning Tea

11:00 AM

Discussion Forum 3 (Best Practices)

Fr Peter O’Neill(Video message)
Regional Director of Oceania, St Columbans Mission Society
ACRATH's representative on PALM Scheme Agriculture Committee
Topic: Grassroot experiences with seasonal workers

Ms Denise Talbot
Parish Advocate for Seasonal Workers, Kings Meadows Parish, TAS 
Topic: Parish ministry experiences with seasonal workers

Sr Helen Nolen rsm 
Religious Advocate for Seasonal Workers
Topic: Parish ministry experiences with seasonal workers

Question time

12:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Group Discussions 2

Moderators: 

Catholic Immigration/Multicultural Offices (CIO) Directors

2:15PM

Groups Report to the Plenary

2:45 PM

“Where from here?”

Summary and Official Close

3:00 PM

Afternoon Tea