Taking risks for better outcomes for children and families 

A Double Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist in Judo (yes, really!), Lisa Griffiths exemplifies unwavering determination. After just two years as Chief Executive Officer, her drive to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families led to a significant shift in the organisation’s approach. 

“Introducing TFCO was a monumental step for us, one that might have seemed overly ambitious at the time. Now, eight years later, we are about to have our 100th child, graduate from the program, many referred from residential care. Reflecting on the risks, I can confidently say they were worth it. Only one of those 100 graduates has returned to residential care, a statistic that fills everyone at OzChild with immense pride,” Lisa remarks. 

Building on the success of TFCO and FFT-CW, OzChild introduced a range of evidence-based models to further support the child and family welfare sector, including SafeCare and Multisystemic Therapy. Soon after introducing FFT-CW in 2016, Lisa’s focus on evidence-based interventions began to create a buzz across the organisation. The Executive Leadership Team and Board fully embraced this new direction, fuelling excitement and momentum. 

SafeCare soon followed, targeting early intervention for the prevention of child maltreatment by supporting parents of newborns and infants. Then came another bold move: expansion into new jurisdictions. 

“The Board was keen to see OzChild make an impact beyond Victoria, and with our evidence-based approach gaining traction, expanding into New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (Qld) happened fairly quickly,” Lisa explains.

In 2017, as part of the Their Futures Matter strategy funded by the NSW Government, OzChild began delivering FFT-CW and Multisystemic Therapy – Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) in NSW. The success of TFCO led to our establishment in Toowoomba and Ipswich in 2018. 

“Today, we deliver evidence-based models across Victoria, NSW, Qld, and the ACT. This expansion wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our entire organisation. Introducing something new and innovative impacts everyone, whether you’re directly involved with the program, working on another project, or supporting from behind the scenes. Everyone feels the change. Without the backing of everyone at OzChild, we couldn’t make these big, bold, brave, and sometimes risky moves,” says Lisa. 

These bold moves have also provided numerous opportunities for our staff, whether through internal movement, learning opportunities, or cross-team collaboration. “The momentum and energy within the organisation as we introduced this new evidence-based approach were electrifying. Early on, I remember feeling incredibly fortunate to lead a team enthusiastic about making a real and lasting difference, not just for children and families, but for the sector as well,” Lisa reflects.