Child abuse and neglect is preventable. If we all work together as a community we can create an Australia where all children can grow up safe and well. What role can you play in supporting children and their families? ~ Richard Cooke, CEO, NAPCAN
National Child Protection Week invites all Australians to play their part to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
This year, National Child Protection Week (NCPW) occurs across Australia from 3-9 September. This year, the theme is:
We can all play a part by creating stronger, happier neighbourhoods. This can be achieved by talking to your neighbours, checking in with friends, being a good role model, supporting and being kind to parents rather than judging or being competitive, offering to assist where possible and speaking up if you see something that is unsafe.
It is important that we listen to, and value, what children have to say. Where possible, include their voices in decision making and be advocates for their best interest.
By speaking regularly to children about their personal safety and how they can protect themselves, as well as “tuning into” their worries, children are more likely to trust us and feel comfortable to talk to us when something big is going on.
Make your influence positive; start a conversation today with your colleagues and families about listening to and valuing the voice of children and young people.
In recognition of National Child Protection Week 2023, we asked our Catholic schools and St Nicholas services to decorate their gate, fence or alternative space in-line with the theme, ‘Where we start matters’.
By participating in Decorate Your Gate for National Child Protection Week, our schools and St Nicholas services made a powerful statement that child protection is a top priority for our community.
Diocesan Catholic schools entered for the chance to win $4,000 for their school community (1x primary prize, 1x secondary prize)
St Nicholas services entered for the chance to win $500 for their service community
Primary – St Pius X Primary School, Windale
Secondary – St Joseph’s College, Lochinvar
St Nicholas – St Nicholas OOSH Forster
For further ways to get involved visit https://www.napcan.org.au/get-involved-2023/
2023Children’s activity booklet
The 2023 National Child Protection Week Children’s Activity Booklet is now available for download!
The aim of the booklet is to:
Download the booklet now to see the range of creative activities for children and young people.
The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children. The Office of Safeguarding is the structural expression of the Diocese’s commitment to demonstrate the highest standards of recognising and upholding the dignity and rights of all children.
The Office of Safeguarding provides training to diocesan personnel to ensure they adopt safe work practices when working with children, and to increase their awareness of the indicators of abuse to equip them to provide the correct response. The Office of Safeguarding also provides an intake service to assist diocesan personnel in ensuring they meet both their mandatory reporting obligations to statutory authorities as well as their duty of care obligations. Risk assessments and comprehensive compliance audits are also undertaken to ensure the diocese is compliant with various safeguarding regulatory and contractual obligations and to reduce and manage identified risks.
See below for information that can be used by those looking to further information and statistics around National Child Protection Week.
Add Link – https://www.napcan.org.au/media-kit-ncpw/
For additional information please contact NAPCAN on contact@napcan.org.au.
Office:
50 Crebert St, Mayfield
PO Box 152, Mayfield NSW 2304
P: 02 4979 1390
E: childprotection@mn.catholic.
www.officeofsafeguarding.org.au
