Aontacht - Strengthening Families in Kerry , is an inter-agency group for professionals in the area of Social Care, Youth Work and Child Care.  The aim of the group is to focus on new ideas and initiatives as well as innovative work in different areas of specialisation.  It provides professionals with up- to-date knowledge and informs best practice, thus enabling group members to continue in their professional development.

Aontacht organises seminars throughout the year on a variety of topics relevant to the sector.  The next event will take place on 10 November 2009 and is titled ' Social Inclusion / Inequality Patterns & Trends'. 

Keynote Speaker:

Niall Crowley is an independent equality and diversity expert.   He was Chief Executive Officer of the Equality Authority in Ireland from its establishment in 1999 until 2009.   The Equality Authority was established to promote equality and combat discrimination in the areas covered by Irish equality legislation.   Prior to this Niall Crowley worked in the community and voluntary sector with the Travellers’ rights organisation Pavee Point for twelve years.   During this period he was an active member of the Community Workers Cooperative, a national network of groups and individuals involved in community development.   Niall was a member of the National Economic and Social Forum and the National Economic and Social Council.   He is the author of ‘An Ambition for Equality’ which was published by Irish Academic Press in 2006.

Speakers:

Bridget Quilligan:                       Irish Travellers Movement

Dave Roche:                               Cork Gay Community Development Project

Marylin Catapat Cougnihan:      Asylum Seekers, KASI, Killarney

Contact:   Rena Powell on 066 7121674 or renapowell@kdys.ie

There is a fee of €10 (A student fee of €5) for attendance at this seminar.

Please inform all interested colleagues about Aontacht