The conference stemmed from research which had shown that without adequate opportunities to live and learn within secure and supportive families and communities, children and youth were unlikely to reach their full potential and live a satisfying and rewarding life. Conference discussions recognized that although families were the primary source of care for children and youth, there were many parents who were without the support of family or friends and experienced financial and personal problems that affected the quality of care they provided. Under such conditions, the provision of early intervention services was essential to the health and well-being of their children, as is the provision of a safe community that would support children in their early years and beyond. The conference consisted of two keynote addresses and four "sessions" on early intervention and three keynote addresses and three "sessions" on community building. Among the topics discussed on early intervention were home visits and parenting centers, police involvement in early intervention programs, Aboriginal self-determination, the court's role in strengthening families, children's rights, family group conferencing, planning partnerships with families, and youth justice in Tasmania. Among the topics on community building discussed at the conference were community partnerships against domestic violence, rural mental health services, urban renewal, partnership-building, sexual assault services, and strengthening and supporting families that were coping with illicit drug abuse.