Written by Jacquie Cheetham,
Mid-December 2025 has been a profoundly difficult time as we collectively come to terms with the horror of the attacks at Bondi Beach. In the face of such tragedy, our sector stands alongside the community, offering support and reinforcing our unwavering commitment to early intervention and the prevention of violence, abuse, and neglect. It also reinforces the importance of our community-strengthening work – working together to ensure families feel supported, individuals feel connected, and resilience is nurtured. Our shared mission is not only to respond to immediate needs but also to build the foundations for a safer, kinder future.
We will continue to collaborate to: Support families through challenging times, strengthen communities by fostering connection and trust, expand knowledge and skills in emotional regulation, encourage empathy, kindness, and respect, promote tolerance and appreciate diversity. These values are essential for healing today and for shaping a more compassionate and inclusive society for the next generation.
2025 has also been a year of collaboration and adaptation across the TEI Network and the Early Intervention, Children and Families sector. As services began transitioning from TEI to CAFS, the Network worked collectively to respond to change, strengthen practice, and support one another through reform.
Key highlights from 2025 include:
Strengthening partnerships and shared approaches
Working together to build stronger cross-sector relationships, support community-led planning, and coordinate advocacy across the sector.
Demonstrating Impact Group
Established to drive sector learning, improve how we collect and use evidence, and strengthen our ability to demonstrate outcomes and impact.
Innovation in Collaboration
Exploring new ways for services to navigate referrals, plan and coordinate support, and work more effectively together — including through a community of practice and the investigation of potential technology solutions.
Inner Sydney Thanks You
A sector-wide initiative celebrating the extraordinary contributions of social and community service workers.
Capacity Building and Training
Services participated in 10 workshops across the year, building skills and connections between practitioners and leaders. These sessions supported worker wellbeing, strengthened evaluation and data literacy, enhanced child-safe practice, and increased sector readiness for CAFS contracts and program delivery.
Inner Sydney Voice is looking forward to working with services in 2026 and is excited to share the CAFS Learning Series program for 2026, commencing in early February. Learn more about it here and register for Getting Your DEX Ready for CAFS Contracts on February 4th.