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About us
Proudly supported by Adelaide University, Thriving Families SA is an independent and collaborative leader dedicated to enabling the transformation of South Australia’s approach to child and family wellbeing.
Thriving Families SA exists to strengthen the sector in shifting toward an ecosystem grounded in prevention and early support, with Aboriginal leadership and allyship embedded at the centre of decision-making.
We hold the long-term vision of Thriving Families, and by combining the strengths of our partners, we foster innovation and enable systemic change to create a sustainable ecosystem that supports family wellbeing as early as possible.
We facilitate collaboration across government, non-government organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled sector and communities to unite our collective strengths for shared outcomes, supported by a connected learning system that enables continuous improvement, to do things differently – to do things better.
Through a co-directorship structure (Director, Thriving Families and Director, Aboriginal Leadership), Thriving Families SA is able to model the system we are working to create – one based on partnership, allyship, trust and shared decision-making.
We strengthen the sector’s capacity through enabling infrastructure: innovation, evidence and measurement capability, and the reach of a university-led platform to help scale what works, placing wellbeing, equity and opportunity at the centre of better outcomes for children, young people and families.
What We Do
As trusted thought leaders, we enable the sector to reshape the service system by focusing on prevention and early support.
Leadership for transformation and improvement | We lead transformation and continuous improvement, leveraging cross-sector partners to shape a future where families thrive.
Aboriginal leadership and allyship | We embed Aboriginal leadership at the centre of our work and practice active allyship – supporting shared decision-making, respecting cultural authority, and working in partnership with Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisations to challenge power imbalances and enable self-determination.
System transformation and collaboration | We bring together conventional and unconventional partners to foster open dialogue and unlock innovative approaches by sharing challenges, enabling creative design thinking, and driving collective action for lasting impact.
Evidence base and system intelligence | We collect and analyse data informed by partner expertise, practice wisdom and lived experience to rapidly design, test, evaluate and adapt high-impact solutions – building the right intelligence at the right time to underpin an adaptive, learning system.
Learning platform | We offer a dynamic learning platform that drives continuous improvement and professional development, fosters cross-sector knowledge exchange, and enables best practice, insights and resources to flow across the system.
Capability for sustainable transformation | We strengthen the capability of individuals, organisations and communities, equipping the sector with the skills, confidence and resources needed to sustain long-term change and shared ownership of transformation.
Our Ethos
DEMOCRATIC | We amplify all voices by promoting democratic participation, enabling partners and communities to contribute ideas, co-design solutions, and collaborate in their implementation to drive transformational change.
TRANSPARENT | We embrace openness to make room for positive change. Trust and accountability is the foundation of everything we do.
RESULTS-DRIVEN | Our approach is pragmatic, results-driven, and outcomes focused, while rooted in optimism and a belief that things can be done differently to get better outcomes.
RIGOROUS and SUSTAINABLE | Our work is robust and evidence-based. We test, evaluate, adapt, learn and partner to scale successful systems change.
ENTREPRENEURIAL | We lead with innovation, apply strategic mindset and skills, and hold ourselves accountable to drive progress – fail fast, learn quickly, and adapt.
INNOVATIVE | We embrace creativity and forward-thinking to solve complex problems, constantly exploring new ideas, technologies, and methods to lead transformation.
BOLD | We are not afraid to confront tough issues and challenge the status quo. Our actions ignite change, and push boundaries to create a better future for children, young people, families and communities.
RESPECT AND VALUE PRACTICE WISDOM | We create an ecosystem where the skills, expertise, passion and wisdom of practitioners inform innovation and drive better outcomes.
CULTURAL WISDOM | We value cultural knowledge and ways of knowing, being and doing, recognising culture as a strength and essential to achieving equity and lasting change.
Our team
Dr Alisa Willis
Director, Thriving Families
Ashum Owen
Director, Aboriginal Leadership for Thriving Families
Associate Professor Rhiannon Pilkington
Professor John Lynch
Meet Our Leadership Collective
Our Leadership Collective members draw on a wealth of experience from diverse backgrounds to form a skills-based coalition.
Pictured (L-R):
Alisa Willis (Thriving Families), Kylie Heneker (Commissioner for Children and Young People), Lynda Forrest (Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People), Rhiannon Pilkington (Adelaide University), Carolyn Curtis (Paul Ramsey Foundation; Chair Thriving Families), Claire Taylor (NACYS), Danielle James (Office of Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People), Nicole Chaplin (St Johns Youth Service), Kirsty Wallman (Uniting Communities), Dale Aguis (Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People), Leah Bromfield (The Australian Centre for Child Protection) Rachel Kemish (The Reily Foundation), Liz O’Connell (Kudos), Ashum Owen (Thriving Families), Pam Zervas (ZED), Melissa Gibson (CaFFSA), Claire Ralf (RASA), Reg Harris (Centacare Country), Jody Satala (KWY), Sandy Pitcher (DHS), John Lynch (Adelaide University), Nikki Lovell (Junction), Ashleigh Hosking
(LC Care), Shane Maddocks (ACCare), Melanie Tate (Puddle Jumpers).
Apologies:
Karen Glover (SAHMRI), Sean Lappin (Junction), Michele Wachla (Centacare Country), Dan Mitchell (KWY), Nadia Bergineti (The Reily Foundation), Mary Leaker (Embolden), Amy Cleland (Wakwakurna Kanyini), Tanya McGregor (AHCSA), Olive Bennell (First Nations Healing), Deb Moyle (Tiraapendi Wodli).
Our Story
Thriving Families SA began with a simple but powerful question: how can we do better for children, young people and families in South Australia?
Across communities, government and the non-government sector, there was a shared recognition that despite good intent and significant investment, the system was not delivering the outcomes families need. Too often, support comes too late. Too often, services are fragmented. We knew doing more of the same would not lead to different results.
This prompted a deeper question: what does “doing things differently” actually look like?
In response, the Thriving Families 2025–2045 Generational Vision was developed. Shaped by the best available evidence, national and international practice, and insights from more than 1,000 consultations with over 400 people – including non-government and government practitioners and leaders, Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations and people with lived experience – the vision sets out a long-term pathway for strengthening families and communities.
Over 60 organisations have pledged to the shared goal of ‘doing things differently’ to improve the wellbeing of children, young people, families and communities – as set out in the Thriving Families vision.
The vision identifies eight key levers for change and provides a shared foundation for transforming how South Australia supports children, young people and families.
Thriving Families SA was established as an independent catalyst to enable this change. Supported by and housed within the University of Adelaide, we bring together cross-sector partners to build an ecosystem grounded in prevention, early support and shared accountability.
We are non-partisan, evidence-driven and citizen-centred. By enabling collaboration, strengthening system capacity and scaling what works, we are helping South Australia do things differently, so families can thrive, now and for generations to come.