Australia’s national peak body for dance and performing arts education, Dance Arts Alliance (DAA), will bring together leaders from child protection, government, education and the performing arts this August for the inaugural Creative Childhoods Summit, the first event of its kind dedicated to safeguarding, healthy practice and child-centred education in the dance and performing arts sector.
Hosted at Sydney Dance Company on Friday 14 August 2026, the Summit marks a significant milestone for an industry that engages more than half a million children in dance every week, and more than one million children and young people across the broader performing arts.
Established in 2020, DAA has quickly become the national voice for dance and performing arts education, advocating for stronger child safety, professional standards and industry recognition. Working alongside government, child protection experts, researchers and educators, DAA is leading a national movement to ensure every child participating in dance has access to safe, healthy and empowering learning environments.
“Children deserve more than simply being protected from harm, they deserve environments where they can flourish,” said Melanie Gard, Chair of DAA. “When we come together as an industry to share knowledge, uphold high standards and embrace best practice, we don’t just strengthen our own organisations, we strengthen the future of dance for every child, every family and every educator.”
The Summit will be opened by Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner, Deb Tsorbaris, whose address will focus on children’s rights and the importance of placing children’s voices and wellbeing at the centre of decision-making.
Throughout the day, delegates will hear from nationally recognised organisations in cluding NAPCAN, the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, Sydney Dance Company, The Embrace Collective, and leading researchers and educators working across safeguarding, healthy dance practice, inclusion and child development.
A key feature of the Summit will be the national launch of KidsPACE (Protecting and Advancing Childhood in Education), a new framework developed by DAA to support child-centred, evidence-informed and developmentally appropriate practice across dance and performing arts education. The framework has been developed in collaboration with educators, researchers and child safety specialists and aims to provide practical guidance on creating environments where children feel safe, respected and supported to thrive.
The Creative Childhoods Summit is expected to attract studio owners, dance and performing arts educators, school leaders, arts organisations, competition organisers and child safety professionals from across Australia, creating a unique opportunity for cross-sector collaboration and learning.
“Meaningful change happens when industries come together to learn from one another,” Gard said. “We’re incredibly proud to bring some of Australia’s leading experts together for what we hope will become an annual event that helps shape the future of dance and performing arts education.”
The Creative Childhoods Summit will be held on Friday 14 August 2026 at Sydney Dance Company.
Registrations are now open at www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1590608. For more information, visit www.danceartsalliance.com.au.
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