Each year National Child Protection Week aims to engage, educate and empower Australians to understand the complexity of child abuse and neglect and work together to prevent it. The 2022 theme was Every Child, in every community, needs a fair go. To treat of all Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive! CREATE had an action packed week – here’s a bit of a wrap up from all the state teams.
- The Queensland team held three events, kicking off with an online escape room activity on Monday which was enjoyed by young people across the state, hosting the MP Leanne Linnard an Director General Diedre Mulkerin at an intimate dinner event in Cairns on Tuesday, and closing the week off with a big, fancy dress dinner party on Saturday night in Brisbane with karaoke and a photo booth. This event had some special guests aswell with the Director General Diedre Mulkerin and CREATE’s own Executive Director – Joseph McDowell attending.
- The Northern Territory team hosted a large connection event at Jingili Water Gardens in Darwin with slip n side and a picnic lunch, which was really enjoyed and appreciated by all how attended. Alice Springs co-hosted an connection event with other local community groups, with music from the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir and Guwanbal Gurruwiwi.
- The Victorian team had a massive entertainment filled event for Child Protection Week on Saturday night with roller skating, go karts, laser tag and other activities with around 100 young people attending! Victoria also won a Child Protection Award for the MYAG Program – go team!
- This year CREATE was proud to sponsor an award at the South Australian Child Protection Awards. This was a great opportunity for the sector to celebrate the highlights and achievements of those who work with our children in the care system on a daily basis. This year also saw one of our own, Fabian McPhee a child protection award for “involvement in young people having a voice”. Congratulations Fabian!
- Tasmania launched a collaborative art piece at Child Safety Reception, of which 37 young people from around Tasmania contributed to as part of a Child Protection Week connection activity. All the art was utilised in a artwork which lines the walkway into child safety services. The theme was “What it looks like for my community to be healthy and thriving” which combines the NAPCAN theme. The Minister was present and spoke about the art piece, and our Young Consultant Nikita spoke about participating in the art activity and what the theme means to her. At the event Minister Jaensch and Claire Lovell (Executive Director of Children and Families) awarded CREATE in Tasmania a Certificate of Appreciation for all we do for Children and Young People in care.
- CREATE Western Australia attended an engagement event where Young Consultant Kathleen had the opportunity to speak. The event was focused on how young people felt support in their lives and what we can do to support young people further. A key quote from Kathleen was:
“I felt isolated as I was estranged from my family… I started to realise I was not alone in my struggles and wanted to prevent the struggles I went through from happening to other young people in care”.
It’s so great when young people recognise CREATE as a key organisation who has had significant impact on one’s life. - The New South Wales team centered a Youth Advisory team in Port Macquarie around engaging with resources from the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) and exploring the year’s theme that ‘Every child, in every community, deserves a fair go’ and how this can be actioned for children and young people in out-of-home care. Young people were asked to describe what this meant for them and some of the responses were:
“Some people need a bit more help that can be mental health, physical and medical so they can have a fair go…”
“Everyone’s different but you shouldn’t be treated different.”
