Transformational speaking & information sessions

Over the years, I have become passionate about speaking as it provides opportunities for learning and growth . When messages of hope, courage, possibility and potential are integrated with science and research, speaking can be transformational, even within minutes.

I would love the opportunity to speak at your event or meeting – including team building days, network meetings, professional forums, planning days and more.

In this webinar, I will weave together personal experience with contemporary research, drawing on my own childhood experience, as well as professional expertise.

In the professional context, I have worked in many contexts where addiction and substance use are key factors in child protection risk. As a previous member of New Zealand’s Child Mortality Review Group, I know all too well that parental addiction has been a common theme in child maltreatment deaths for many years.

In the personal context, as a child I experienced the raw reality of parental heroin addiction. The effects of my own childhood experience are not unlike contemporary understandings and research; the impacts on children and young people are common year after year.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has just released the Child Death Review Board’s 2023-24 Annual Report. One of the key recommendations is ‘assessing the impact of parental substance use on the child’. The time to increase our understanding and respond effectively to parental addiction, and the impact on their children, has already passed. The best next time is NOW.

When we respond with a developmental, empathetic and trauma-informed lens, we can much more effectively support healing, health and positive life outcomes.

“Burnout Prevention in Mental Healthcare: Beyond Self-Care to Intentional Mental Strength“. International  Mental Health Conference, 4-5 June, 2025. Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

Registrations open: 2025 International Mental Health Conference

“Mindful Leadership: Leading Effectively from the Inside Out“. [Poster Presentation]. International  Mental Health Conference, 4-5 June, 2025. Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

Registrations open: 2025 International Mental Health Conference

“The Dual Path of Adversity and Resilience: Transforming the Narrative for Children Experiencing Parental Addiction”. AddictionZ Conference, 14-15 May, 2025. Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association. Gold Coast, Australia.

Registrations open: AddictionZ 2025

“Children at the Centre of Family Focused Intervention: A Wellbeing Approach”. [Digital Poster and Oral Presentation]. International Childhood Trauma Conference, 17-22 August, 2025. Australian Childhood Foundation, Melbourne, Australia.

Registrations open: International Childhood Trauma Conference

Conference Presentations 2005-2025

National and international conferences I have presented at include:

Butler, Nikki. (2025, 24-26 March). “Domestic and Family Violence: A Wellbeing Approach to Promoting Child and Adolescent Mental Health”. Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference, 2025. Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Gold Coast, Australia. Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference, 2025. Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference, 2025

Butler, Nikki. (2024, 6-8 November). “Mental Strength Fitness in Rural Mental Healthcare: Understanding the Neuroscience of Resilience”. Rural Mental Health Conference 2024. Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Cairns, Australia. 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference

Butler, Nikki. (2024, 8-9 May). Addressing the Balancing Act for Practitioners Working with the Intersection Between Domestic and Family Violence & Child Protection. Disrupting & Reducing Family Violence Against First Nations Women & Children, The Hatchery, Australia. Disrupting & Reducing Family Violence Against First Nations Women & Children – The Hatchery (the-hatchery.co)

Butler, Nikki. (2024, 29 April – 1 May).The Impact of Parental Addiction on Children: A Child-centered Approach to Addiction Prevention and Intervention Strategies. AddictionZ Conference 2024. Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Gold Coast, Australia. AddictionZ 2024 (anzmh.asn.au)

Butler, Nikki. (2024, 18-20 March). Infant Mental Wellbeing: Understanding the Impact of Domestic and Family Violence and Shaken Baby Syndrome as Dual Threats. 2024 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Queensland, Australia. 2024 Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference (anzmh.asn.au)

Butler, Nikki. (2023, 27-29 Nov). Unsilencing the Voices of Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Family and Sexual Violence: Recognising the Language of Harm. 2023 Stop Domestic Violence Conference, Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Tasmania, Australia. 2024 Stop Domestic Violence Conference (anzmh.asn.au)

Butler, Nikki. (2023, 13-15 Nov). Understanding a Child’s Language of Harm. Interdisciplinary Approach to Child Rights in Child Protection. Online Global Conference, 4childrights.com.

Butler, Nikki. (2023, 13-15 Nov). Professional Dangerousness in Child Protection Work. Interdisciplinary Approach to Child Rights in Child Protection. Online Global Conference, 13-15 Nov, 4childrights.com.

Butler, Nikki. (2023, 31 Oct-1 Nov). Panel discussion: Designing and strengthening age-appropriate safety planning. Child Centred Approaches to Ending Family Violence: Amplifying the Voice & Rights of Children in Service Response, The Hatchery, Australia. Child Centred Approaches to Ending Family Violence – The Hatchery (the-hatchery.co)

Butler, Nikki. (2023, 7-9 June). Professional Dangerousness in Mental Healthcare: Navigating the fine line between safe and unsafe practice. 2023 International Mental Health Conference, Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Queensland, Australia. The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (anzmh.asn.au)

Butler, Nikki. (2023, 6-7 March). Navigating Professional Dangerousness: Preventing risk of unsafe practice & burnout. 2023 Frontline Mental Health Conference, Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, Queensland, Australia. The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (anzmh.asn.au)

Butler, Nikki. (2022, 30 Nov-2 Dec). Trauma Transformative Practice: Healing the hearts and minds of children and young people who have experienced domestic and family violence. 2022 Stop Domestic Violence Conference, Queensland, Australia. The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (anzmh.asn.au)

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2020). Harmful Sexual Behaviours in Children and Young People. 2020 Strengthening Child Safe Organisations Conference, The Hatchery, Australia. Home – The Hatchery (the-hatchery.co)

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2016). Educating Parents: Personal Safety for Children. Catholic Diocesan of Education Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Catholic Education, Diocese of Cairns – Queensland, Australia (cns.catholic.edu.au)

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2016). Child Sexual Assault – Identification and Prevention. Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers’ Association Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia – The home for Coaches, Teaches, and Swim Schools (scta.org.au)

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2013). Child Protection Policy: A Collaborative Approach. Children in Crisis Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2013). Child Protection Policy for Community Agencies. Step Up For Children Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2013). A Child Protection Policy Template. Step Up For Children Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Hill (nee Butler), Nikki. (2015). Thesis presentation: Education: A Young Mother’s Key to Success, a Young Mother’s Hope. Youth Health Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.