Child protection is everybody’s business. It’s the slogan we hear with familiar regularity, particularly during Queensland Child Protection Week (QCPW) that runs from the first Sunday in September each year. The purpose of the week is to highlight the importance of child protection in our state and remind every Queenslander that we all can play a role in ensuring children and young people and their families are safe, well and supported.
Child Protection week is a National event organised by the National Association of the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN). In Queensland, Child Protection Week is co-ordinated by the Queensland Child Protection Week Committee comprised of government and non-government organisations in the child protection and family support sector, including NAPCAN, and auspiced by ACT for Kids. Led by Project Manager, Caitlin King and Chaired by Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Anna Nolan, the committee oversees the operationalisation of QCPW.
QCPW is funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women. It has several sponsoring partners that include: Department of Health, Department of Education, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Family and Child Commission and Channel 7.
It is of significant note that during Queensland Child Protection Week 2019 additional focus will be given to the promotion of child protection messaging within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. “The Queensland Child Protection Week Committee is pleased to announce the introduction of the Queensland Child Protection Week Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Grant” said Caitlin King, QCPW’s Project Manager. “This is such an important grant and we’re delighted to add this to the opportunities we offer in highlighting child protection in Queensland. We are all concerned by the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families in the child protection system. This grant offers organisations and communities an opportunity to focus on this issue and take charge. It is a small amount but it’s the beginning of conversations and celebrations needed in sharing child protection practice and messages in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
The plans for QCPW 2019 are underway. Each year, the week is launched with an Awards Ceremony at Parliament House. The aim of the awards is to recognise and note those within the sector and wider Queensland community who contribute significantly to child protection and the holistic wellbeing of children and families. The QCPW Committee has recently called for award nominations. This requires thinking of people, organisations or entities in the sector or wider community who have contributed to the improved opportunities, wellbeing or safety of children and young people with the aim that all are safe and supported in our families, communities and support systems. The categories for Award nominations are as follows:
Professional (Non-Government)
Outstanding contribution to promoting child protection issues in their capacity as a professional working in the child protection (or related) field.
Professional (Government)
Outstanding contribution to child protection at a practice, policy or service development level within the public service.
Volunteer
Invaluable contributions to child protection made by volunteers working in government or nongovernment agencies.
Regional Program
Program that operates within part of, or across, a region to address some aspect of child protection.
Education Initiative
Development of an innovative approach, research or resource to promote child protection.
Youth Participation
Involvement of young people in the planning of a local activity to promote child protection.
Media & Communications
Program that operates within part of, or across, a region to address some aspect of child protection.
Community Initiative
Development of an innovative approach, research or resource to promote child protection.
Addressing overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, children and young people in the child protection system
Outstanding contribution through policy, programs or practice.
There is ample time to look to your colleagues, community members, friends and networks to identify child protection and family support leaders and stalwarts or organisations or programs deserving of mention in their contribution to the child protection and family support sector.
Awards nominations close on 31st May.
Queensland Child Protection Week is focused on sharing messages of child protection with the sector and wider community. By promoting the value of children and focusing attention on the issues of child abuse and neglect, Queensland Child Protection Week focuses attention on child protection being everyone’s business and ensuring that all across Queensland communities take responsibility for children experiencing holistic wellbeing. This campaign runs all year long through sharing the key messages of child protection. There are 21 messages in total. The 10 key messages are:
- Child protection is everyone’s business. The responsibility lies with adults in keeping children safe from harm. All members of society need to play a part in ensuring children are nurtured and safe.
- Adults are essential in ensuring children’s safety and well-being.
- Listening to children and young people is the number 1 indicator in assisting their safety and well-being.
- Children and young people are honest. They are unlikely to lie about abuse. They are more likely to stay quiet about abuse or harm than to speak up (especially if they know their abuser).
- Mean or cruel words harm children and young people.
- Understanding why people harm children and young people is essential in helping to prevent child abuse.
- The corruption of children and young people by being forced into acts against their will, including illegal activity, harms children and young people.
- Being ignored, going hungry and feeling and/or being treated as invisible harms children and young people.
- Seeing or directly experiencing domestic and family violence harms children and young people.
- Being physically, verbally, sexually or emotionally abused harms children and young people.
The messages shared throughout the year culminate in a fulsome week of events and activities held by Queensland communities whereby key messages are shared. Each year approximately 100 events are held throughout Queensland. These events are usually conducted by recipients of the QCPW regional grants and/or activity grants.
The QCPW Committee has recently called for communities and organisations to apply for regional and activity grants. Regional Grants of $5,000 require a comprehensive community process and event to be delivered sharing messages of child protection and engaging a significant number of local members and key stakeholders. They are available for each of the five regional areas of Queensland:
- Moreton
- North Queensland
- Central Queensland
- South East
- South West
Activity grants garnish funding of up to $1000 to non-government organisations, community organisations and networks. The Queensland Child Protection Week Committee encourages applications for events that have been designed to positively support the theme and aims of Child Protection Week. Such activities are invited to:
- promote the theme ‘Protecting children is everybody’s business’
- promote QCPW Key Messages
- provide people with an opportunity for ongoing involvement in helping to prevent child abuse and neglect
- where possible, link participants to a broad range of information, resources and services already available through government and non-government organisations.
All grant applications for QCPW events close on 17 May 2019.
In 2019, Arts grant recipient, Hands-on Art will continue the momentum built in 2018 to ensure that their message of shining a light on child protection will be a state-wide message shared further across communities, organisations, schools and via many funded child protection week events. Their project of constructing lanterns with messages through art sessions with children and young people has become a signature event of QCPW. Hands-on Art plan further growth this year through identified hubs and video workshops via YouTube. They plan to expand their reach via a ripple effect through which those involved in 2018 will be asked to refer a friend to become involved in the campaign to spread the organic reach in their local area. From there state-wide committees will assist further growth. Education Queensland is a key player in this process via their promotion to schools. Other groups include: Queensland Scouts and Guides, Playgroup Queensland, YMCA, PCYC, kindergartens, organisations with a cultural focus such as Australian South Sea Islander Arts and Cultural Development Association, Tonga Multicultural Youth and Community Northside Inc (TMY&CN) and various youth services. Hands-on art are currently devising communication processes to include key personnel, social media and other means to keep all involved up to date and ensure the increasing reach of the shine a light on child protection arts campaign.
2019 marks the 33rd Anniversary of Queensland Child Protection Week.
2019 QCPW begins Sunday 1st September until Saturday 7th September, 2019.
For further information visit the Queensland Child Protection website.