National Child Protection Week 2020 Webinars

Thanks to everyone who was involved with the National Child Protection Week 2020 webinar program. Recordings of the NAPCAN-led webinars and additional resources are now available via the links below.

Many of the National Child Protection Week resources will continue to be useful throughout the year and can still be accessed via the Get Involved page. 

Supported by Department of Social Services. 

Watch the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd)  launch National Child Protection Week 2020 with an inspiring speech for these challenging times. The rousing address by keynote speaker Dr Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute, invites us to reflect on the value of children in our society. Drawing on the experience of COVID-19, he maintains that Australia has the money and resources to protect children and families, provided we deem it important enough.

Webinar Recording

View the insightful discussion between two renowned experts in the child maltreatment field, who look at the complexities and opportunities of applying a public health model to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Emeritus Professor Nigel Parton and Professor Daryl Higgins engage in a stimulating conversation about what applying a primary prevention lens could mean for the child welfare sector in the UK and Australia. Learn about some of the key things we all need to consider when looking at the prevention of abuse and neglect as a society rather than just a sector. 

Hear from Professor Donna Cross from Telethon Kids Institute and international expert on framing, Dr Nat Kendall Taylor explain the way words and framing impact how people understand and engage with issues and opens up new ways to consider information and proposals. In this webinar Dr Kendall-Taylor walks through new Australian research done in partnership with the Telethon Kids Institute (CoLab) about how we can best communicate about early childhood education and care. Find out what metaphors and communication techniques work best to engage audiences with these issues so that we can see real policy and practice change. 

Hear from two leading Australian thinkers on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) policy, Thrive By Five CEO and former South Australian Premier Hon. Jay Weatherill and ARACY CEO Penny Dakin. Learn about the gaps in policy development and opportunities for system reform across early childhood; from child care, pre-school, child protection, infant and maternal health, community and family support. Join a movement to collectively progress ECEC as a national priority. 

Children thrive when governments, communities, organisations and business all work together in a coordinated way to put children first. Watch this recording for a fresh discussion about primary prevention at all levels. Judge Andrew Becroft, Children’s Commissioner NZ joined us from New Zealand to discuss the importance of an overarching framework for children’s wellbeing. Professor Sharon Goldfeld from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute highlights how different factors in our communities – physical, social, socio-economic, services, etc – influence the way that children develop. Chris Boyle, CEO & Founder StandbyU Foundation, highlights the role of the business sector in protecting children, with the Westfield Helensvale partnership he refers to as ‘Retail therapy: Re-imagining the role of shopping centres in the community’.

Hear from Professor Sharon Goldfeld from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute who utilises KiCS (Kids in Community Study) to highlight how different factors in our communities – physical, social, socio-economic, services, etc – influence the way that children develop. A society that is good to children is one with the smallest possible inequalities for children, with the vast majority of them having the same opportunities from birth for health, education, inclusion and participation – how can you be a part of making this happen? Covid-19 has had significant impacts on communities and Sharon shares valuable insights on where the sector needs to focus. Also gain some great practical ideas from Hyahno Moser’s experience with the Neighbour Play Project: a project to get kids playing outside together in their local areas again, active, social and away from screens.

Hear  Jodie Griffiths-Cook, Children and Young People Commissioner ACT and Liana Buchanan, Commissioner for Children and Young People Victoria in conversation about protecting and promoting children and young people’s rights and participation in their jurisdiction and nationally. They share unique insights from their roles and experiences and have helpful advice on how you can incorporate different strategies to ensure your organisation is including children and young people in the decisions that affect them.

This panel includes a formidable line-up of advocates for children who collectively bring a wealth of knowledge together in a wide-ranging conversation facilitated by Megan Mitchell, the former National Children’s Commissioner. Hear them discuss the most hopeful things they have seen in their roles and what their vision for the future is. Gain insight into what policies and programs they see as making a difference and what they’d like to see more of. 

The panel  includes 

• Helen Connolly, Commissioner for Children and Young People SA

• Judge Andrew Becroft, Children’s Commissioner NZ

• Janet Schorer, NSW Children’s Guardian
• Leanne McLean, Commissioner for Children and Young People TAS

Watch leading advocates for First Nation children discuss the most important themes arising in the sector today. What are the essential things to consider in relation to improving implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle? How do you include culture as an integrated part of practice? Is racism a concern in the protection of First Nation children from harm? See  Anne Hollonds, the incoming National Children’s Commissioner facilitate a robust and enlightening discussion between four key Commissioners. This is a conversation not to be missed. 

The panel  includes 

• Natalie Lewis, Commissioner for the Queensland Family and Child Commission
• April Lawrie, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People SA
• Justin Mohamed, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children & Young People VIC
• Colin Pettit, Commissioner for Children and Young People WA

Hear about a few of the key national initiatives that are bringing together organisations to collectively prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children. The impact of Covid-19 on children and their families has highlighted the need for coordinated national action to put children first. Learn about the next steps for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, the Every Child campaign and the Families Matter campaign. What are these initiatives seeking to achieve and how can you be involved? Watch and gain some valuable insight into national trends and priorities as Australia looks to build back better after this pandemic. 

The panel includes:

• Dr Brian Babington, CEO, Families Australia
• Brenton Philp, Families Group, Department of Social Services
• Richard Weston, CEO, SNAICC
• Leith Sterling, Executive Director, Child & Family, The Benevolent Society
• Sign up to the Family Matters campaign: https://www.familymatters.org.au/join-landing/
• Sign up to the Every Child campaign: https://www.everychild.co/