E-mail: contact@napcan.org.au | Phone: 02 8073 3300
SHOPS PLAY THEIR PART TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKING ENVIRONMENTS AND DISPLAYING COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS.
Be a positive role model. Be aware of your behaviour, what you say, how you say it and the way you act. Children and young people learn from the people they listen to, so make your influence positive!
Have family friendly work conditions available to staff who are parents. Flexibility allows parents to meet the needs of their family and to cope in times of stress.
Welcome children with a smile. Consider your manner and listen to what young people say. Consider providing a play area or colouring competition in your shop to demonstrate your recognition of children and support of families’ access to your products.
Consider the impact of product placement on children and young people. Limit access to products which are a risk to physical safety (e.g. knives, chemicals), physical health (junk food) and identity development (media which includes sexualised images of young women).
Display information about community events and opportunities for recreation. Increasing access to events will support families to get involved in their community.
Partner with a local community organisation or school to support children and families. For example, sponsoring a child’s sporting activity increases opportunity for families to be involved in their community.
Think about safe and respectful ways to be an active bystander if you see an adult being inappropriate towards a child or young person.
CAROLINE ATWOOL : CO-OWNER OF THE EARTH FOOD STORE, BONDI
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO “PLAY YOUR PART” TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY:
The Earth Food store is a child friendly, stroller friendly, welcoming and inclusive organic shop and cafe. It is a place where mothers with young children, pregnant women, and families can come and connect with the local community while they do a shop, I have taken the time to create a safe and happy environment where parents feel they can come to get assistance, meet other parents, have a bite to eat and feel part of the local community. I think its important that more shops promote a connected local organisation that people can drop in and feel like they can be supported. The Earth Food Store also has a kids menu, and is informed of the local community services and assistance programs for anyone whom asks. Keeping kids safe means more than serving baby-chinos.
ROSLYN SAKREWSKI : HAIR SALON
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO “PLAY YOUR PART” TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY:
As a local shopkeeper in Bondi, I have been seeing families grow up over the past 16 years. Children are passing my salon on their way to school, and everyone is keeping an eye out for them and each other. In our community, everyone helps each other; and us shopkeepers on Campbell Prd are just trying to be aware of the children in the area; where they are and what they are surrounded with, it’s a big community feel here.
I try to keep my radar up on odd behaviour outside my shop by adults, but also if kids in my shop are behaving or saying something inappropriate for their age I would alert their parents to ensure they are aware of what might be going on in that child’s life. Finally, as a shopkeeper I think it is important to make children and families with children feel welcome at my shop and let parents know that their children will be looked after.