New CEO for Child Abuse Prevention Service – Tracy McLeod Howe

The Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS) has appointed a new CEO – Tracy McLeod Howe. Ms McLeod Howe, CAPS said, is “an advocate who brings with her a wealth of experience from across the not for profit and government sectors, as former CEO of the NSW Council of Social Service, Domestic Violence NSW, co-chair of the Social Innovation Council and Commissioner of the NSW Law Reform Commission.”

 

Established in 1973, CAPS is Australia’s oldest child abuse prevention organisation. A non-government, non-religious charitable organisation, CAPS works with vulnerable children and people across Australia to prevent child maltreatment in all its forms, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

 

CAPS Chair Andrew Grech said the service was “thrilled” to have Ms McLeod Howe join the team, citing her accomplishments and passion as genuine assets to CAPS as they enter a growth phase which will see them working more closely with government, corporates and other organisations.

 

With 46 years of frontline child protection services delivered by CAPS in recent history, Ms McLeod Howe said it is only now that the issue of child protection is finally being given the national attention that it deserves.

 

“I am more hopeful than ever that the community is ready to come together to end child abuse forever. I particularly look forward to shining a spotlight on the devastating impacts of childhood domestic violence,” she said.

 

A priority for Ms McLeod Howe as she takes the helm will be to oversee the roll out of the CAPS Safe Children Conference to be held in Sydney on 22 October 2019. The annual event provides a platform for the national conversation on child protection matters, ensuring that child protection remains at the forefront after the conclusion of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

 

CAPS provides evidence-based educational programs that build well-being, emotional resiliency and create the strong family environments needed to ensure that children are safe, supported, and loved. Comprising of a team of experienced educational psychologists that are well-equipped to deliver programs designed to increase protective behaviours in children and forever break the cycle of abuse, more information about CAPS may be accessed here.