Launch of National Child Protection Week, Australian Catholic University, Canberra
[E&OE]
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal People, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today.
Good morning and welcome as we launch National Child Protection Week.
We all know just how important childhood is. It’s a special time—of learning, growing, imagination, adventure and boundless potential. A time to discover the world and find your place in it.
Childhood is precious and should always be safe and secure, innocent and carefree.
But, to all our regret, this is not always the case. Research suggests that as many as 1 in 4 Australian children experience some form of abuse or neglect. This, of course, is completely unacceptable.
Unacceptable for the children. But also unacceptable for their families. And unacceptable for all Australians.
The challenge we all face is how do we tackle child abuse? How do we make childhood the safe, loving and wonderful time that it should be for all children?
The work of the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect is focused on providing answers to those questions. It is a complex task.
There is no single ‘one size fits’ all solution, but there are some things we know for certain.
Children thrive in stability.
They do best when life is on an ‘even keel’.
They prosper when supported by happy and loving families.
They are at their most confident and engaged when they live in neighbourhoods that are connected and in communities that care.
The bottom line is children want to be loved and to be safe. It is all any of us want, really.
But achieving this can be difficult.
Life is full of challenges. And protecting children actually begins by helping parents and families navigate their way through ‘choppy waters’. Pointing the finger and appropriating blame achieves little.
It is by supporting parents to do the best job they can that we create the best environment and deliver the best outcomes for children.
And we all have a role to play in this:
- By valuing all children and listening to their voices.
- By being involved in our children’s lives and being a good role model.
- By helping out if we see friends and neighbours struggling.
- By finding ways to contribute to our community.
The people we have grown to be.
The society we live in today.
And the future of this nation.
All these things have their genesis in childhood, in families, in how we raise and care for our children, and in how we nurture, encourage and engage with the next generation.
It is an enormous task; an enormous responsibility.
We don’t always get it right, but we must always do our best.
And by always putting the child first, by always showing compassion and empathy, we can 'play our part' and help make childhoods what they can and should always be.
Thank you.
[Ends]