See below for information that can be used by those looking to generate media around National Child Protection Week (4-10 September 2022).
For additional information please contact NAPCAN on contact@napcan.org.au.
See below for information that can be used by those looking to generate media around National Child Protection Week (4-10 September 2022).
For additional information please contact NAPCAN on contact@napcan.org.au.
NAPCAN has a number of senior staff, experts, and board members who are available for interviews or comment on most topics relating to child wellbeing. Please contact Helen Fogarty on 0410 541997 or helen.fogarty@napcan.org.au to coordinate.
Media release: 4 September 2022
Australians urged to give every child a ‘fair go’ as National Child Protection Week starts today
National Child Protection Week begins today, 4 September, and this year’s theme is ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go’.
NAPCAN Patron, Governor General David Hurley, highlights the importance of all Australians working towards a common goal of every child, in every community being loved, cared for, having their needs met and being afforded the chance to realise their potential: “This goal must be important to all Australians.”
“I commend all of you who are already working hard each day – as individuals, community members, volunteers and workers – to help create communities that support families and children. Together we can make a positive difference in children’s lives to support them as they grow to adulthood.”
NAPCAN CEO Richard Cooke says all families need effective support from their communities to lighten their load so they can focus on building the strong relationships with their children that are so important for early brain development and future health.
“Prolonged ‘toxic’ stress, such as living in a community with high rates of abuse and violence, may stop children from getting a strong foundation for life.”
“The stress of finances, health, work or relationships can make it difficult for parents to navigate life and provide the stability that is so important for children.”
“We encourage everyone to work together to ensure every neighbourhood across Australia has strong foundations for families and children – from jobs, stable housing, health services, financial support, and child care – through to libraries, parks, playgrounds, clubs, and social supports.”
“When we address these root causes of stress, we lighten the load for families and create healthier communities for everyone, particularly children.”
National Child Protection Week runs from 4 – 10 September and involves community events (online and offline) all around Australia.
A key part of the 2022 campaign is a series of free online webinars, open to everyone who wants to support families and children to thrive in their community.
The Governor-General will officially launch National Child Protection Week at a public live-streamed event on Monday 5 September.
Register for the launch and other webinars at www.napcan.org.au/final-official-program-webinars-events-2022/
NAPCAN is the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. For more information visit www.napcan.org.au.
NAPCAN coordinates National Child Protection Week annually with support from the Department of Social Services and many organisations and individuals across Australia.
ENDS
Media contact: Helen Fogarty, NAPCAN, helen.fogarty@napcan.org.au 0410 541997
About NAPCAN & primary prevention
The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) advocates for the rights of children and young people. We know that the only way to keep children and young people safe from harm is to stop abuse before it occurs and prevent them from entering the statutory child protection system. We know that ‘primary prevention’ is the best option for children, for families, for communities, and for government budgets.
Primary prevention of child abuse is defined as any intervention that prevents child abuse from occurring, including strategies such as:
NAPCAN makes a significant contribution to the wellbeing of Australia’s children and young people by raising awareness of child abuse and neglect in Australia, and promoting and implementing effective prevention strategies and programs, including professional development and respectful relationships education.
National Child Protection Week 2022
The need for prevention is highlighted by the high human and financial cost of child abuse and neglect in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Child protection Australia 2019–20 report (Child welfare series. Cat. no. CWS 78. Canberra: AIHW):
Limitations of child protection statistics as an indicator for child maltreatment incidence according to Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) Resource Sheet, Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics — June 2017: Traditionally, child protection data have been perceived as a conservative estimate of the occurrence of child maltreatment (Bromfield & Higgins, 2004). Child abuse and neglect often go undetected due to the private nature of the crime, the difficulties children experience in making disclosures and being believed, and a lack of evidence to substantiate the crime (CFCA, 2015). The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that many victims may not disclose the abuse for many years, and some may never disclose at all (Mathews et al., 2016). Child protection data only include those cases of abuse and neglect that were detected and reported and are therefore likely to be an underestimation of the number of children abused or neglected (Mathews et al., 2016).