“My Voice, My Choice”: Supporting Meaningful Participation in Safeguarding and Self-Advocacy

HSE Dublin and South East media release  

14 November 2025

To coincide with Adult Safeguarding Day on the 13^th November, the HSE’s Safeguarding and Protection Team, Inclusion Ireland and the School of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork hosted a conference entitled “My Voice, My Choice - Supporting Meaningful Participation in Safeguarding and Self Advocacy”.

The annual event, held at the Hotel Kilkenny with over 200 delegates in attendance from the statutory and voluntary sector and community organisations, was addressed by a range of experts drawn from academic practice, community and lived experience.

HSE and Tusla professionals attending on the day were able to do so as part of their continuing professional development commitments. Adult Safeguarding Day is an initiative of Safeguarding Ireland and is supported by the HSE.

Opening the conference, Rob O’Connor (Principal Social Worker with the HSE’s South East Safeguarding Team) said:

“We, everyone in the room here today and joining us online, have to be the drivers of change. We have to be the ones to support the adults that we walk alongside to find and craft a strong voice and remember that safeguarding from abuse is about the promotion of rights, such as the right to have a voice. As the theme of our conference suggests, we must all take responsibility to be aware that abuse can happen to adults, to recognise when it is occurring, and to truly listen to and hear adults when they disclose that abuse may be happening to them. I give my voice to this cause today and I encourage you all to do the same.” 

“Events like today and talking about the rights and welfare of adults at risk of harm are so important. The abuse of adults is unfortunately an issue that is on the rise in Ireland and across the world.”

The presentations delivered at the conference were from:

• A son-and-father team, Fionn and Jonathon Angus from “Fionnathan” use music, live presentations, videos and visual arts in their collaborations. Their presentation, called ‘Fear Nothing’, focused on their advocacy work for inclusion and the empowerment of individuals with diverse needs. 
• Dr. Danielle Mcllroy (School of Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast) presented her research, developed from her PhD, with a focus on Service User Inclusion in Decision Making Processes in Northern Ireland. 
• HSE Speech and Language Therapists Ciara Cullen and Neasa Sullivan delivered a summary of the “Éist” Communication Training to participants, along with Éist Partners Jason Kenna, Mary Casserly and Hannah Thorpe. 
• Lydia Fisher (Co-learning and development trainer with Inclusion Ireland) spoke about the importance of inclusion and self-advocacy in safeguarding processes. 
• Leo D’Arcy (a member of Tipperary Age Friendly Executive and the South East Safeguarding Committee) presented on the topic of Disconnection (Loneliness) stimulated by his clinical experience, the rapid demographic change in Ireland and the challenges this presents to Safeguarding in community and institutional settings.  
• Garda Sergeant Eddie Brennan (Crime Prevention Officer for Kilkenny City and County) provided a practical and informative presentation focusing on crime prevention for adults who may be in vulnerable situations in the community including tips and resources. 
• Derval McDonagh (CEO of Inclusion Ireland) gave a presentation entitled ‘The Best Safeguard is a Life of Choice, Freedom, Choice and Autonomy’, capturing the theme and key messages of the conference. 

Stephanie Lynch (HSE Head of Quality, Safety and Service Improvement, Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South and Waterford/Wexford areas) gave a summary of the presentations.

Dr. Calvin Swords from University College Cork said:

“As academic partner to this event, we are proud to be raising awareness about the area of adult safeguarding for the third year running and using this event to amplify the message that every single person has a human right to live a life free of harm.”

“Events like this and talking about the rights and welfare of adults at risk of harm are so important, as adult abuse is an issue that is unfortunately continually on the rise and affects many adults in Ireland and across the world.  However, a positive that we can take from this increase in numbers is that it also shows that more adult abuse is being recognised and reported on an annual basis to the services that can help those that need it”.