This week is National Child Protection Week. Everyone is encouraged to reflect on the important work being done across Australia, to keep children safe and help them thrive.
As a national advocacy movement Every Child, has continued to elevate the conversation about the wellbeing of children and young people. More recently, they’ve asked Australians to sign the Wellbeing Commitment.
Freya Whitehead, Every Child Advocate says, “By signing, you’re joining a movement alongside thousands of organisations and individuals who want our government to ensure; that every child starts school ready to learn and every young person leaves school ready for life and work.”
The bigger picture
Every Child are long-time supporters of National Child Protection Week (NCPW) led by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), who are Australia’s first secular for purpose organisation that focusses entirely on the prevention of child abuse and neglect before it starts.
"To treat all of Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive and be healthy."
"NAPCAN urges us to think about the importance of the ‘bigger picture’ in addressing child abuse and neglect. The ‘bigger picture’ sits at the core of our Every Child advocacy - to reduce fragmentation of support systems and promote prevention by ‘stacking’ supports across the wellbeing framework to disrupt adversity and trauma."
It Takes 6
"The evidence tells us It Takes 6 for every child to start school ready to learn and every young person to leave school ready for life and work.* Being valued, loved and safe, living free from abuse and neglect is one of the six basics kids need to thrive."
"Along with material basics such as housing and income support, having a positive cultural identity, access to quality health, learning and participating in decisions – all are essential elements for child and youth wellbeing."
Pandemic pressures
"Before COVID, too many children and their families were unable to access the basic social supports needed to do well in life. The pandemic has added to these stressors – placing even more at risk of abuse and neglect. We know children and young people in jobless households, without decent housing and those with disabilities, are at particular risk of hardship."
"Significant structural changes are needed in the way children, young people and their families are supported in Australia. We’re talking about accessible, well-coordinated supports across the breadth of services they need throughout their lives."
This is why Every Child are calling on Governments to invest in a National Child & Youth Wellbeing Commitment that ensures every child, every young Australian, gets their six needs met.
"This Commitment would require our governments to: Endorse and invest in this six-point framework as a nation-building priority and report regularly on the delivery and the coordination of services across these six core areas."
"So, if you agree that every child, in every community, needs a fair go, then show your support today by signing the National Child and Youth Wellbeing Commitment, today."
More information
Find out more about the Wellbeing Commitment here
