OUR MC
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis is a health and social researcher and fierce advocate dedicated to advancing the human rights, equity, and participation of all children and young people.
She manages the Future Healthy Countdown 2030, a national initiative tracking children and young people’s health and wellbeing to mobilise action and strengthen accountability. She is also a Chief Investigator on transformation initiatives addressing adolescent health in the Asia-Pacific region.
A former Australian Youth Representative to the UN, Angelica now serves as National Ambassador for Plan International Australia, Vice Chair of African Women Australia, and Sydney Women’s Fund Advisory Council Member.
Recognised by the United Nations as one of 23 Young People Leading Resilient Recovery, Angelica brings a decade of championing lived experiences of underserved communities and intergenerational partnerships across research, policy, and advocacy.
MEET OUR CHAIRS
Jorge Aroche
Jorge G. Aroche is a clinical psychologist and the Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS). Jorge has worked with migrants and refugee survivors of torture and organised violence since before 1989, when he joined STARTTS. He has led the organisation since March 1997, through some of the most challenging times for refugee services in Australia, helping STARTTS grow from a dozen staff to more than 300, assuming a truly state-wide role and becoming a world leader in this field in the process.
Since its inception in 1988, STARTTS has assisted over 90,000 individual clients from 180 nationalities in the context of a systemic and integrative model of service provision that includes cutting edge clinical programs informed by the latest developments in neuroscience alongside community development and group intervention streams. Jorge’s leadership has been characterised by its commitment to consultation, ongoing organisational learning, development and innovation, ensuring STARTTS continues to learn from its clients, from its culturally diverse staff and from the latest scientific advances in trauma and related fields.
Jorge is a member of the Executive Committee of the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) and was President of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) between 2016 and 2020. Previous posts include that of Secretary General of the International Society for Health and Human Rights (ISHHR) (2006-2012), and Vice President of the IRCT (2008-2012). He has also been appointed to a number of positions in government advisory bodies and NGO boards.
In addition to his executive role, Jorge continues to be actively involved in clinical and research activities at STARTTS and has presented widely on clinical and settlement issues for traumatised refugees on national and international platforms. He has also authored and co-authored over 20 articles in refereed journals and book chapters on these topics.
Paris Aristotle AO
Paris Aristotle AO is the founding CEO of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc. also known as Foundation House, which was established to provide trauma focused care to refugee and asylum seeker survivors of torture and trauma.
Paris has more than 38 years’ experience in the field. Throughout that time, he has chaired multiple government advisory councils, playing a leading role in the development of Humanitarian Program policy for successive Australian and Victorian Governments. His focus is on growing Australia’s Humanitarian Program and building world class settlement, integration and trauma-focused services that support refugees and their families to rebuild their lives with respect and dignity.
In 2017, Paris was named Victorian Australian of the Year and made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his ‘distinguished service to the refugee and asylum seeker sector’. Paris was also awarded a Doctor of Social Science Honoris Causa from RMIT University, “in recognition of his passion for, and contribution to, specialist refugee services”.
Throughout his career, Paris has worked closely with the UNHCR in the field of refugee resettlement and has been a regular contributor to the ATCR/CRCP since 2001.
4th Australia and New Zealand Refugee Trauma Recovery in Resettlement Conference
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