Welcome to the 2012 ACWA Conference — Children’s Health: What’s Right for Children. We extend a particular welcome to our overseas and interstate participants, your involvement is greatly appreciated and adds to the richness of our conversations. The ACWA Conference is now widely regarded as a seminal event on the calendar for child and family practitioners, policy makers, researchers and academics. We especially welcome those who may be new to the sector or are attending the Conference for the first time.

We hope you find ACWA 2012 influential and thought provoking, a challenging experience which takes ideas about Research and Policy to Practice and Practice to Policy and Research.

The 2012 agenda brings together internationally renowned keynotes from Australia and overseas. All of the speakers are internationally recognised for their expertise in research and practice related to the conference theme.

Our social program is one not to be missed including welcome drinks on the Monday evening and Conference dinner on Tuesday night. This will be a time to relax with colleagues near and far as we collaborate in promoting the wellbeing of children, young people and families.

There are many people involved in putting on an event of this magnitude who deserve the ACWA Board’s thanks. A special thanks is due to Associate Professor Elizabeth Fernandez who again ensures the high standard of the program content in her role as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee. Our thanks also to her employer, the University of New South Wales for allowing her the time to contribute in this way.

We do hope that you find your Conference experience a memorable one where you are both challenged and affirmed, and have the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and meet others who share your vision of building a child friendly Australia.