Belinda Lorek

Senior Manager, Practice Leadership and Development

Belinda is our Senior Manager of Practice Leadership and Development, leading the production of practice resources and other projects that enhance the capacity of providers to best support and care for children and young people in out-of-home care and youth justice. Her focus lies in restorative practice, justice, and inclusivity, to ensure practice reforms consider the experience and needs of the diverse children and young people that we have the honour to work alongside.

Belinda is a Social Worker with a Masters in Mediation and Conflict Resolution, and a passionate advocate for children’s rights and practice reform. She has listened to the voices of children and young people in child protection and youth justice systems throughout her work life, as an inspector, official visitor, and advocate for safe, caring environments within youth detention and residential care houses.

Belinda lives on the lands of the Peramangk and Kaurna Peoples and enjoys exploring these lands with her two dogs, Lola and Barney.

Articles written by

Belinda Lorek

When Yes Means YES! Wrap-up for 2024
When Yes Means YES! Wrap-up for 2024
November 30 is the International Day of Consent. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge a fantastic year working collaboratively across ACF, CETC...
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Preparing for a season of self-care – while caring
Preparing for a season of self-care – while caring
As we near the close of 2024, many of us look forward to a break from work or study, while others prepare for the extended...
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National, unified approach needed to reform youth justice
National, unified approach needed to reform youth justice
The past year has seen alarming regressions across Australia in youth justice policy, with some governments moving towards more punitive measures and stepping back from...
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Senate inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system
Senate inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system
The Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC) has submitted its response to the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System. This submission...
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Trauma-informed… youth detention? The realities of reform
Trauma-informed… youth detention? The realities of reform
Last week, CETC facilitated an insightful panel about trauma-informed care and young people in youth detention. CETC welcomed Joanne O’Connor, Associate Professor Tim Moore and...
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Tough talk, weak evidence: Victoria’s step backward on the minimum age
Tough talk, weak evidence: Victoria’s step backward on the minimum age
The Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC) is confounded, disappointed and seriously concerned about the Victorian Government’s backflip on raising the Minimum Age of...
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Consent conversations with young people in out-of-home care
Consent conversations with young people in out-of-home care
Having meaningful conversations with children and young people in out-of-home care about consent, while critically important, can be tricky. These consent conversations need to keep...
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“I’m not a Barbie girl”: Spatial design reform in residential care
“I’m not a Barbie girl”: Spatial design reform in residential care
The Create Voices in Action conference was held in Adelaide in March 2024. Three compelling voices at the conference belonged to Professor Suzie Attiwill and...
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When systems designed to protect do harm
When systems designed to protect do harm
What comes to mind when you think about the child protection or youth justice system?  Protection and safeguarding? Rehabilitation? Trauma-informed care? These two complex and...
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Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility – alternative diversion model
Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility – alternative diversion model
The focus of this submission The Australian Childhood Foundation and Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC) are dedicated to upholding the rights of children...
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