SA
Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA
Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA (CF&KC-SA) is the peak body for foster and kinship carers in South Australia, dedicated to improving the experiences and outcomes of family-based care. CF&KC-SA serves as an independent advocate for carers, offering both systemic and individual advocacy to ensure carer voices are heard and their rights upheld. The organisation is committed to supporting carers through informed guidance, connection to peers, and resources to navigate the complexities of providing care.
CF&KC-SA’s key initiatives include addressing gaps in support services, fostering effective communication within care teams, and advocating for carers in policy discussions at both state and federal levels. The organisation also provides training opportunities and facilitates carer reference groups to strengthen the community of carers and enhance their capacity to provide stable and nurturing environments for children and young people under guardianship.
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Russell Hooper
Chief Executive Officer
Russell Hooper is an experienced policy maker and advocate with over 15 years of experience shaping family and social services policy across the public and not-for-profit sectors. Russell has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for vulnerable families through systemic reform and close, extensive consultation and engagement.
With nearly a decade in executive roles, Russell has worked with people with lived experience, front line practitioners and Ministers to drive reforms that benefit children, young people and families. This includes leading national domestic violence strategies, developing out-of-home care reform frameworks centered on the young person’s voice, and driving significant regulatory shifts that protect from gambling and alcohol-related harm.
Russell is a strong advocate for elevating the voices of people with lived experience. He has successfully integrated the perspectives of victim-survivors, young people in care, and those impacted by alcohol and gambling harm into government policy design. His previous roles include serving as the interim CEO of the Office of the Victims of Crime Commissioner (Victoria), holding senior positions within state and federal governments, as well as the national peak body, No to Violence.
As a dedicated advocate for vulnerable children and young people, Russell’s professional expertise is complemented by his personal commitment to the sector, including previous volunteer work with Backpacks 4 SA Kids and mentoring young people exiting residential care.