Napcan, Preventing Child Abuse

National Child Protection Week

National Child Protection Week is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness that the wellbeing and safety of Australia's children is everyone's responsibility.

National Child Protection Week 2009

NCPW 2009 will mark the start of a two month campaign to engage the whole of the Australian community in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

The key message of the campaign is: 

Walls protect child abuse, not children.  Break down the walls and help bring child abuse out into the open.

Act now against child abuse.
From the 6th September go to www.preventingchildabuse.com.au and complete the short online survey.

The safety and wellbeing of Australia's children is everybody's business - it is not just the responsibility of governments but a responsibility that should be shared by the whole Australian community; individuals, professionals, business and the media.

Did you know that over 30,000 individual children were abused or neglected in Australia last year? How can this happen in our community?

Perhaps it's because child abuse largely remains hidden behind walls - the real walls between us in our communities and the walls of fear, ignorance, denial and disinterest.

These walls protect child abuse, not children. So if we are going to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of Australia's children we must bring child abuse out into the open.

As a first step NAPCAN is calling on all Australian adults to start thinking and talking about this issue, not just people who have children but everyone, to help solve this problem.

From the beginning of National Child Protection Week on 6 September to the end of Children's Week on 1 November, NAPCAN and its partners are conducting the largest ever survey of community attitudes. This survey has been designed with the assistance of leading researchers from across the country to gather information which will help in the planning of effective strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect. You can play a part in this.

Start by having your say at www.preventingchildabuse.com.au.

If you do not have access to the internet you can be part of the survey by calling Ph: 1800 126 456 (Site and lines open from 6 September 2009).

NAPCAN NCPW Breakfast EVENTS

NAPCAN will be holding a breakfast launch in most States & Territories. We would welcome your attendance. See the relevant event details in your State & Terrritory.

National Launch
Canberra: Tuesday 8th September

State & Territory Launches (please click on the link to view the relevant invitation)

Tuesday 8th September - Canberra , Brisbane , Darwin , Perth
Wednesday 9th September - Sydney
Friday 11th September - Melbourne
Monday 7th September - Launceston

ACT Events

Tuesday 8^th Sept - Breakfast Launch of NAPCAN's National Engagement Strategy

7am for 7.15am, The Lobby Restaurant, King George Terrace, Parkes.  Guest Speaker Prof. Alan Hayes, Director Australian Institute of Family Studies.  Cost $50 per person.  Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.au or phone 0408 478005 for more details.

Friday 11^th Sept - Kambah Paint and Play NCPW Morning Tea

Adventure Playground, Springbett St, Kambah.  Free event.  Contact 0408 478005

All parents, grandparents, carers and young children welcome!

Thursday 17th Sept - Foster Care Information Session

Galilee is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides foster care for children in need. We are a caring, friendly organisation that values our Foster Carers and offers great training, encouragement, advice and practical support to help them in their role.

When:    Sept 17th at 5pm and 7pm, Oct 20th at 5pm and 7pm

Where:   Galilee, Pearce Community Centre, Collett Place, Pearce

RSVP:     6290 2191 or by email: galilee@galilee.org.au

Monday 26th Oct - NAPCAN Display

A display of NAPCAN publications will be promoted in the Capital Hill Early Childhood Centre all week.

NSW Events

A workshop aimed at sport and recreation club administrators which provides simple and effective ways to promote a safe sporting environment for children. A must for all sport and recreation clubs that involve junior participants.

NSW Sport and Recreation, Ourimbah Campus Brush Rd, OURIMBAH

matthew.sawyer@dasr.nsw.gov.au

Tues 8th Sept - Child Protection Fun Day

Community Fun day to be held at Nar-un-bah Schools as Community Centre Fennell Bay Public School - Bay Road Fennell Bay in the school grounds highlighting the importance of keeping children safe and that this is everyone's responsibility. There will be a particular focus promoting spending quality time with your children.

The event will be 10am - 12pm

Tues 8th Sept - Families in the Fair

Inter-agency sponsored activities, stalls, resources and information for children and their parents.

Erina Fair - The Hive, 9:30a.m - 1:00p.m

Tues 8th & Thurs 10th Sept - Child Protection Awareness in Warnervale

Warnervale Family & Community Centre staff will be attending Woongarrah Public School to rpomote awareness of child protection in their community, andto encourage parents/carers to participate in the NAPCAN survey.

Woongarrah Public School entrance, Mataram Road, Woongarrah, Tuesday 8.30am - 9.30am & Thursday 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Tues 8^th Sept - Community Information Booth

Child protection information and NAPCAN brochures to be handed out at a community infrormation booth in the local shopping centre.

Tues 8^th Sept - Child Protection Week Information Stall

Information stall at Thomas Ware Plaza, Fairfield to provide information to the community about services that can support families as well as information on positive ways to guide children's behaviour, the importance of play, children's self esteem, etc.

Tues 8^th Sept - Staying Safe with Salurri Workshop

A two hour interactive parent-coaching workshop where parents learn protective behaviours to teach their children. $20 for parents to attend. Bookings Essential - barbara@parentscope.com.au.

Hillview Child Care Centre, Cowper St, Warrawong, 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Wed 9^th Sept - Teddy Bear's Picnic

A collaboration of organisations, services and interested businesses support families by bringing to the Tweed Heads region a fun and free event known as The Teddy Bears Picnic.

This year promises to be as actioned packed with activities as in the past and best of all they will be fun and free to participate. The services involved will have resources and information readily available to enhance families knowledge of what's available in their community.

The children will have activities available to inspire their creativity and make them smile. Local pre-school colouring-in will be displayed for all friends and family to admire and the event promises lots of wonderful interactive involvement for parents and their children.

The over riding message of Child Protection will be strongly felt throughout the day and a special guest appearance of Ditto the Lion from Bravehearts will be a highlight.

Recreation Park Tweed Heads, 10am-12.30pm

Wed 9^th Sept - National Cybersmart Detectives Activity

Schools from across Australia will participate in an internet safety activity for children aged 10-12yrs.

The Cybersmart Detectives program is an online interactive game that alerts children to online risks and promotes safer internet practices. During the hour long activity students work in teams interpreting data and making suggestions about how to resolve issues raised in the game. Police, educators and ACMA's Cybersafety experts will respond to their suggestions in real time.

The activity will be held in various schools across Australia on Wednesday 9th September at 10am AEST (eastern) and 9:30am ACST (central) and again on Thursday 10th September at 9.30am AWST (Western).

Contact: graham.rodrick@acma.gov.au

Thurs 10^th Sept - Child Protection Information Stall

Information stall.

Rowans Arcade Ulladulla, 10am - 2pm

Sat 19^th Sept - Children's Service Expo

The Child Protection Interagency Group in Coffs Harbour is manning a stall at the Children's Service Expo.  There will be fun activities at the expo including face painting, entertainment and children's artwork exhibition. There will also be information about Child Protection services with information about keeping children safe.

Event to be held at the Coffs Harbour Showground, 10am - 2pm.

NT Events

Gunbalanya Youth Centre, 10am - 3.30pm

sharmane.siebert@nt.gov.au

QLD Events

Mon 7^th & Tues 8th Sept - Take Action Now- information stand

Children's Art Activities, Details for completing National Child Protection Week Survey, Child Protection Resources and people to discuss child protection issues available.

Wilsonton Shopping Centre, Bridge Street, Toowoomba, 9am - 4pm

Mon 7^th - Fri 11^th Sept - Art Display to Raise Awareness of Child Protection

Artworks by children in the prep year and year 1 will be displayed in the school shelter shed, along with NAPCAN flyers posters and brochures.

Our Lady of Lourdes School, 2 Ascot St., Newtown, during school hours.

Tues 8^th Sept - Rainbow Day for Child Protection Week

The children will come to the Centre dressed in rainbow coloured clothes.  Staff will plan a range of visual arts and fun activities with rainbow theme. We will also have a white helium balloon for all the children to raise awareness for white balloon day.

Mother Duck Childcare and Preschool, 59 Manly Road, Manly

Tues 8^th Sept - White Balloon Day

White Balloon Day : Family Fun Day

Shakespeare Child & Family Centre, Shakespeare St, Mackay

Tues 8^th Sept - Circles of Safety

Free community mini-festival with rides, entertainment, children's activities. Information stalls and exhibitions provided by local agencies and support services will also be a feature of the event.

Ravizza Park, Edmonton, 3pm - 6pm

Tues 8^th Sept - Protective Behaviours Pantomime

Pantomime focused on protective behaviours for years 1-3 students.

St Saviours School Hall, 3 times slots, by invitation only, james.leighs@police.qld.gov.au

Wed 9^th Sept - A Raise of Hands for Child Protection Awareness

Handprint panels will be joined together to make a banner which will be wrapped around our grand old Queenslander building to show our support.

Morning Tea and banner launch to be held at Mercy Family Services, 15 Church Street, Goodna at 10:00am.

Wed 9^th Sept - Playgroup in the Park

A free morning of fun and activities for the Under 5's and their parents and carers. Jumping Castle, Bozo Bus, Face Painting, Story Telling and more!  Morning tea provided for little and big people.

Goondiwindi Town Park, Marshall Street, Goondiwindi, 9.30 am to 12.00 pm

Wed 9^th Sept - Through the Eyes of Innocence

We will be holding a Photo Exhibition. All photos will be taken by children of our service showing what makes them feel safe. Finger food and beverages will be available.

Burrowes Community Hall, Burrowes State School, 3rd Avenue Marsden, 6.30pm.

Wed 9^th Sept - Take Action Now

An information stand in Gardentown Shopping Centre

Gardentown Shopping Centre, Toowoomba (Margaret St), 9am -3.30pm

Wed 9^th Sept - Family Fun Day

Free entertainment, activities, information, food and drinks.

Fogarty Park on the Cairns Esplanade, 2pm-5pm

Thurs 10^th Sept - Empowering Indigenous Women

A day of empowering indigenous women: with information, story-telling, lunch and promotion of healthy families. Special guest Mereki.

Boobera Lagoon, Boggabilla, 10.00am

Thurs 10^th Sept - Mackay Family Day Care Community Fun Day

Free Children's Community Fun Day to promote Child Protection Week.

Queen's Park, Mackay, 9.30am to 11.30am

Thurs 10^th Sept - Reconnecting after Violence Seminar

Presentation by Australian Childhood Foundation for Government & Non Government Agencies

The Lookout Function Room, The Old Bundy Tavern, Quay Street, Bundaberg, 9.30am - 4.00pm. Contact: christine_fraser-hall@health.qld.gov.au.

Thurs 10^th Sept - Creating a Greater Understanding to Working Together to Protect our Kids Forum

Bridging the gap between the community when it comes to protecting our children. Forum will include guest speakers and agency expo.

North Lakes Community Centre Hall, Lakefield Drive, North Lakes, 9.30am - 2.30pm. Contact: tamaraa@prnc.org.au.

Fri 11^th Sept - Happy Healthy Parenting Expo for Mums & Dads

A parenting expo to draw together the whole community to recognise the joy of healthy happy parenting, with the aim to work together as a community; helping to raise awareness of the issues of child abuse and neglect, by strengthening support networks and open pathways for parents to obtain help and relevant support.

Gympie Civic Centre. 10am to 6pm

Fri 11^th Sept - Rainbow Day, Bundaberg

Fun morning with activities designed for the under 5 age. The target group is day-care centres, carers with young children, and new mums and dads. 

All the service providers in the local region attend and provide information to parents and carers about their service and help within the area. Rainbow Day has been an annual event in the community for five years now. The police, ambulance, fire servicers along with the landing of the ENERGEX helicopter are always a big attraction.

PCYC, 9.30am - 11.30am. Contact: lyn.alma@lccq.org.au.

Fri 11^th Sept - National  Child Protection Week Symposium

An all day symposium featuring several guest speakers discussing a vast array of topics relevant to the protection of children. Speakers are from NAPCAN/Play a Part, Ipswich Crime Prevention Unit, Task Force Argos, Family Planning Qld, Drug Arm Australasia, Project Safe Hands.

University of Southern Qld Auditorium, Springfield Campus, Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central, 9.30 to 3pm.  Contact: alana@napcan.org.au.

Fri 11^th Sept - Fun Afternoon in the Park

Face painting, bubble activity, jumping castle, arts n crafts, Blazer the Bear and the Qld Fire and Rescue. Talking about your generation activity, Art competition winners announced and more.  Come along to our free event for a few hours with the children and at the same time learn about how to keep our children safe.

Moranbah Townsquare, 3pm - 5pm.  Contact: ciswmdss@moranbah.net.au.

Fri 11^th Sept - Family Fun on a Friday Night

The activity is a variety of games and activities for family teams.  The activity will promote community attitudes about keeping children safe in a supporting family environment.  Healthy lifestyle choices will be promoted at the event and also resources from the Responding Early Assisting Children (REACh) program.The activities are designed to create a teamwork environment between children and adults, with both physical and mental challenges used to promote awareness of child safety issues in a family friendly environment.

Contact John Sharp for more information, mcda@burnett.net.au

Fri 11^th Sept - Fantastic, Fun, Family and Community Morning Tea

Demonstration of the Butterfly Wings Child Parent Program followed by a community morning tea

Springwood Community Centre, 9:30 - 12:00

Fri 11^th Sept - Protective Behaviours Workshop

Workshop for Parents: covers areas such as feeling safe, support networks, meeting our needs and violence and abuse.

50 Paxton St, North Ward, 9:30am-12:30pm, contact 1300 364 277 to register.

Sat 12^th Sept - Discovery Coast Sport & Recreation Fair

A community fair....National Child Protection Week Rainbow Art & Activity Tent.

165 Anderson Way, Agnes Water, 12pm til midnight

Sat 12^th Sept - Family Fun Day

Join us for a family fun day with loads of free and affordable activities including a jumping castle, face painting, animal farm, pre-loved toy stall, magician, bubble stall, art zone, sausage sizzle, art display, cupcake stall, drumming circle, 96.5 Street Machine...

Silky Oaks Children's Haven, 218 Manly Road, Manly,  9:00am-12:30pm

Sat 12^th Sept - Family Fun Day

A morning of fun for the community - Traditional Welcoming & Story telling, Bungee Run, Skate Comp, BBQ, Dancers, Art & Craft, Face painting & more!

George Davis Park, Mossman, 9am-12pm

Sat 12^th Sept - Community Family Fun Day

Free fun for the whole family : Jumping Castle, Sandpit, Face Painting, Art Workshops, Play Dough Tent.

258 Spring Street, South Toowoomba (Grassed area at the front of Spring Street Christian Church), 9.30am - 12.00pm

Sat 12^th Sept - Picnic in the Park Innisfail

A community partnership event `Family Fun Day' including entertainment, sausage sizzle, games, puppet show, info stalls & more.

ANZAC Park - Edith Street, Innisfail (opposite Coles), 10am to 2pm

Sun 13^th Sept - Safety Together in the Park

Morning in the park.

Centenary Park, Dysart, QLD 4745, 9.30am -11.30am

Sat 19^th Sept - Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

An entire float created by children for the renowned Carnival of Flowers. The message will be Child Safety is everyone's responsibility.  Banners will be carried by children, highlighting child safety awareness.

SA Events

The Children and Young Person DVAG will hold a stall at the Adelaide Central Market, where workers from the DVAG and associated organisations will be providing information to families about issues related to child protection, as well as materials to children.

Adelaide Central Market, between 10am and 2pm

Tues 8^th Sept - Safe Play Safe Start

Centacare Catholic Family Services will hold a stall where workers from Centacare and associated organisations will provide information on issues related to child protection as well as play activities and a free Sausage sizzle for families and children.

Salisbury Civic Square (cnr of John St and Church St), 11am-2pm.  Contacts: 0418 806 058, losborne@acentacare.org.au.

Tues 8^th Sept - Western Domestic and Family Violence Action Group free community event

The Western Domestic and Family Violence Action Group (WDVAG) will be holding a FREE community event for children, youth, adults, parents and guardians. The event will include: Sausage sizzle, Face painting, Showbags, Bubbles, Balloons, Playdoh workshop, Art activity, Local agency information, Child protection information.

The Port Mall Courtyard, St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide, 10am - 2pm.

Fri 11^th Sept - Playgroups at the Square

Community event with all local playgroups coming together and participating in a giant playgroup, including a special playgroups on parade.

Starting at 10am, with the parade at 11am.  Contact Kim Wright for more information kim.wright@health.sa.gov.au.

Mon 14^th Sept - Display of Children

Painted, wooden, silhouettes of children will be displayed, representing different forms of abuse.  These will be located in the park in the main street of Angaston. For more information, contact carkwright@anglicare-sa.org.au.

TAS Events

Join Faerie Periwinkle for a lovely faerie story time and a balloon. (Admission is by donation, and all funds raised will go to NAPCAN.)

The Faerie Shop, 11/77 Salamanca Place, Hobart,10.30am - 12.30pm

Sat 12^th Sept - Child Protection Week BBQ Event

BBQ,mobile activity, music activities day.

Mission Australia Centre, Chigwell House, Berriedale, 11.00am - 2.30pm

VIC Events

The Australian Institute of Family Studies is proud to host this special NCPW09 event as part of the AIFS Seminar Series.  A free public seminar presented by Dr Adam M. Tomison, Director, Australian Institute of Criminology.

State Library of Victoria Conference Centre, Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, La Trobe Street, Melbourne.  10am to 11:30am

RSVP: aifs-seminars@aifs.gov.au

Thurs 17^th Sept - Morning Tea

We are providing a morning tea to try and prevent child abuse. There will be a donation bucket and the internet provided to do the surveys.

Macedon Ranges Community Based VCAL, Kyneton, 10:30am.  Contact:  lil_miss_jess44@hotmail.com

WA Events

These will be all day events to get National Child Protection off to a flying start and then after a week of programs in Wiluna the 2nd leg of cricket will take place.  This event will focus on interaction, participation & communication.

Bondini Aboriginal Community, Wiluna.  For more information, contact barrie.seldon@dcp.wa.gov.au

Tues 8th Sept - Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse and Mature Minors: Challenges for Clinicians

This half-day Forum, hosted by Statewide Protection of Children Coordination (SPOCC) Unit, WA Health, is designed to provide mandatory reporters within Health (doctors, nurses and midwives), as well as other professionals who work with mature minors, with greater confidence and clarity  in working well with this client group and the new legislation. Guest speakers from Health, Police, and Department for Child Protection will share their expertise and generate practice-based discussion.

Function Room, Level 2, Princess Margaret Hospital, Roberts Rd. Subiaco, 8.30am - 12.30 pm

Wed 9^th & Thurs 10^th Sept - Child Protection Week Events

Two events happening at major shopping centres.

• Minnawarra Park, Armadale on the Wednesday 9th September
• Centro Maddington Shopping Centre on Thursday 10th September.

Both between 10am - 2pm.

Fri 11^th Sept - Child Protection Week @ Schools

Lunchtime sizzle and early warning signs information.

Cable Beach Primary School, 12pm

Sun 20^th Sept - Family Fun Day

Community event that includes free and low cost activities for children/youth/families including parenting info tent, arts, crafts, rides, support agency info & internet access to complete survey.