The Australian Government’s inaugural Social Inclusion Conference was held from 28-29 January 2010 in Melbourne. The two-day conference aimed to progress the social inclusion agenda through the exchange of ideas, presentations from Australian and international experts, and by providing opportunities for networking and collaboration between representatives from the government, business, the not-for-profit sector and academia.

During the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Inclusion, Julia Gillard, launched the Australian Government’s national statement on social inclusion, A Stronger, Fairer Australia, which sets out the Government’s vision and strategy for social inclusion both now and into the future. The statement builds on the many reforms and investments the Government has made over the past two years, including those in fairer workplace relations, employment, pension reform, housing and homelessness, early childhood education and schools. It also builds on the existing strengths of individuals, families and communities.

The conference was opened by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and featured keynote presentations from Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Ursula Stephens, Australian Social Inclusion Board Chair Patricia Faulkner, Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Christine Davies and David Droga.

The conference also featured interactive panel sessions and workshops on a range of social inclusion issues and was attended by around 450 participants from the business, government and the not-for-profit sectors.

Copies of keynote presentations from the conference are now available on the Resources section.

To view the transcripts of addresses by the Deputy Prime Minister and Senator Stephens’ at the conference, please visit the Ministers’ Media Centre.

To view a transcript of Minister Macklin’s address at the Conference, please visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs’ Media Centre.