Child Protection Week begins 1 September 2024 with the message ‘every conversation matters.’
Organised by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), Child Protection Week is a time to engage all Australians to ‘Play a Part’ in improving child well-being and keeping children safe in Australia.
The week will be launched with guest speaker, Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds.
“Every conversation matters at every level, including nationally across our federation. It’s time we asked: Why is child safety and wellbeing not a priority for National Cabinet and how can we change that?” Said Ms Hollonds.
To focus on creating better futures for children and young people, NAPCAN has put the theme ‘every conversation matters’ at the week’s core. Conversations are a crucial practice in preventing child abuse and neglect before it starts.
NAPCAN CEO Leesa Waters, says conversations help to create safer, healthier communities,
“By promoting dialogue within communities, between children and caregivers, and in the media, we create safer environments, give children a voice and help them connect with their culture and community.”
Ms Waters says discussions at a national level are additionally needed, “We need to seize opportunities to have these conversations at a community level but also broader conversations that hold policy makers accountable, ensuring they consider not only tertiary responses but also preventative solutions and putting meaningful funding in this area.”
“Prevention is our goal, prevention is possible, and we want it to be treated as a national priority.”
“This means we have to open a broader conversation about Child Abuse and Neglect with not only our Government, but also with the Media.”
NAPCAN will launch new media guidelines for reporting on children and young people at Parliament House, Canberra, following National Child Protection Week.
“Research shows that media significantly influences policy in Australia, so how children and survivors of abuse are portrayed is crucial.”
