In Conversation with James Harding, Founder of Hard Cuddles

Best Interests Children's Law Podcast

Best Interests Children's Law Podcast
In Conversation with James Harding, Founder of Hard Cuddles
Jan 09, 2026
Arna Delle-Vergini and William Wainwright

"In Conversation" is a parallel series where we invite lived experience speakers to come share our stories with us. 

In this episode, James Harding, a lived experience advocate, shares his journey developing Hard Cuddles, a lived experience service based in Melbourne, Australia, aimed at providing support and resources to those dealing with mental health challenges. The service emphasises the importance of community and shared experiences, where children and adults form any background can connect with others who have similar journeys.

Best Interests thanks all lived experience advocates who talk openly and courageously about their experiences for the benefit of others. 


Show Notes:

https://www.hardcuddles.com/meet-the-team

Best Interests Children’s Law Podcast is sponsored by Ex Curia: Coaching & Consulting Pty Ltd, Meliora Psychology and Claudia Grimberg Lawyers.

Got questions, comments, compliments or something to add
to the discussion? We'd love to hear from you on our website.

Episode Artwork In Conversation with James Harding, Founder of Hard Cuddles 49:20 Episode Artwork Breaking Barriers Against Support for Children with Disabilities and their Carers 47:33 Episode Artwork Early intervention for mothers and infants who have experienced family violence: the ANROWS project 40:29 Episode Artwork Safe Spaces: Reconnecting Children and Parents 46:53 Episode Artwork “On the Importance of Being Well at Work” - Wellbeing for Child Protection Workers 37:11 Episode Artwork Re-thinking Advocacy in the Australian Protection System: Churchill Report on Child Centred Legal Services 38:33 Episode Artwork The politics of punishment: the real cost of Australia’s failure to uphold its international obligations to protect and promote the human rights of children in detention. 40:57 Episode Artwork Supporting infant and parent attachment for children at risk - the potential for a Specialist Infant Court in Victoria. 41:04 Episode Artwork Corporal Punishment – legitimate discipline and punishment or legalised abuse? 41:09 Episode Artwork Legislative changes to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and what this means for employees who work with children and young people. 43:38 Episode Artwork “On the Importance of Being Well at Work” - Wellbeing for Psychologists 41:39 Episode Artwork “On the Importance of Being Well at Work” – is a completely different approach to lawyering the answer to lawyer health and wellbeing? 41:31 Episode Artwork In Conversations with Paige Buck 46:23 Episode Artwork Secondary Schools and a duty of care to keep students safe from harmful sexual behaviours 45:20 Episode Artwork Raising the Age: Reconsidering Criminal Responsibility 50:29 Episode Artwork “Coerced Suicide” amongst children and young people: what is it and why should we be worried about it? 41:23 Episode Artwork “On the Importance of Being Well at Work” for Barristers in Children’s Law 42:07 Episode Artwork The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) – a call for nationally coordinated public health initiatives to prevent the maltreatment of children in Australia. 45:28 Episode Artwork Birth and Death of the Presumption of Equal Shared Parental Responsibility – moving towards or away from a Best Interests Model 37:54 Episode Artwork “On the Importance of Being Well at Work” for Lawyers Working in Children’s Law 41:18 Episode Artwork Advocating for Families – How Non-Legal Advocacy Support at the Early Stages of Statutory Intervention Can Protect Families and Improve Outcomes for Children. 39:29 Episode Artwork “Psychological Parent”: Fact or Legal Fiction? 44:26 Episode Artwork Supporting Carers to Support the Children in Their Care 45:57 Episode Artwork ‘No-fault’ ground for Statutory Intervention: Should we or Shouldn’t we? 40:00 Episode Artwork In Conversation with Leigh Pappos 42:47