Promoting the wellbeing of families is the focus of an international conference to be held at the University of Newcastle this week.

Hosted by the Family Action Centre and the University of Newcastle, the Strengths and Assets Summit began yesterday (30 November) and will be attended by researchers, academics and community and family development professionals from Australia and overseas.

The Summit commemorates 10 years of development of strengths-based approaches that build on the attributes of families and are used in the policy; research and programs delivered by the family and community services’ sectors.

Strengths-based approaches acknowledge, value, promote and extend the capacities of families and communities to address challenges and concerns. The starting point is what skills, interests, capacities and resources are available to work with, what is working and what is being done well.

The list of speakers include:

• Dr Richard Fletcher, from the University’s Fathers and Families Research Program, will discuss outcomes of his research on fatherhood.

• Carmel Devaney, researcher at the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, will discuss emerging knowledge about family support to help families achieve their best.

• Professor Marrianne Berry, Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, will discuss Family Wellbeing: building strength, engagement and partnership.

The Strengths and Assets Summit combines the Sixth Australian Family and Community Strengths Conference and Second Assets Based Community Development Conference and will be held at the Callaghan campus from Tuesday 30 November to Friday 3 December 2010.

For more information and a conference program visit www.newcastle.edu.au/summit

For interviews and photo opportunities contact: Kate Dennis on 4921 7397 or 0413 727 290.