NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION WEEK 6-12 SEPTEMBER 2020

Note: While Covid-19 is sadly turning life upside down for most of society, plans will still go ahead for National Child Protection Week. Events may need to be online, but the message that we all have a part to play will be more important than ever.

This year National Child Protection Week will celebrate its 30th year with the theme: Putting children first…

‘Putting children first’ was front of mind when the National Child Protection Week campaign was launched in 1990, with the aim of bringing abuse and neglect out of the shadows and putting child wellbeing on the national agenda.

Since then, the need to put children first has been recognised time and time again as an important pillar for boosting the wellbeing of all children in Australia.  

Last year’s National Child Protection Week campaign was based on research that shows the importance of putting children first when talking about parenting, and continued the message that conversations are a key part of engaging the whole community in caring for children.

Under this year’s theme of ‘Putting children first’ we invite all Australians to look at how they can prioritise children in their lives and communities and to engage in National Child Protection Week – as individuals, and as part of families, organisations, communities and society.

Putting children first means prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children. To grow up well children need to feel safe and loved, have a chance to play and explore, have a say in decisions that affect them, and access to essential things like food, shelter and healthcare. 

For children to thrive we need to come together as a community and put children’s needs first during National Child Protection Week and every week. 

Please feel free to use the theme in the way that resonates best for you.

• This might mean promoting the things we are already doing (or can do) right now to put children’s safety and wellbeing first.
• It might mean reflecting on the past 30 years of how our communities have been putting children first.  
• It might mean looking ahead and thinking about where we need to focus our attention into the future.
• Or perhaps a bit of ‘all of the above’.

Visit the NAPCAN website here: https://www.napcan.org.au/national-child-protection-week/