Here we are, midway through National Child Protection Week, one of the busiest weeks in the calendar for our office!
From advocating for the rights and best interests of children and young people at a national level; to sponsoring an award for supporting the voices of children and young people in care; and most importantly keeping the phone lines running and getting advocates out to talk to children and young people – read on to hear more about what the Guardian is getting up to, and how we are living this year’s theme ‘every conversation matters’.
Amongst the business of this week, we are keeping the message of National Child Protection Week in mind – bringing together children, young people, families, communities, and government to celebrate what’s working, to have hard conversations about what’s not, and to work together to ensure every child in every community gets ‘a fair go’.
To kick off the week, the Guardian, alongside other Commissioners and Guardians from around the nation, has featured in a short video about how conversations can be a powerful tool to keep children and young people safe.
Shona’s message reminds us of the importance of creating opportunities to talk with children and young people not only about the hard or scary things in life, but also about the exciting things – what drives, motivates and inspires them:
“This National Child Protection Week it is so important that we reflect on what we are actually here for. And it’s the little, and not so little, people in our lives. We all have a calling to ensure that they grow and thrive in our families and in our care.
Let every conversation we have make a difference and leave them feeling better for that conversation.
We must have conversations about the hard stuff, but also let us have conversations about their hopes and their dreams. And let’s go further and make those things happen. No matter how big or how small they may seem.”
It’s definitely worth checking out the full video to see what other advocates have to say about having important conversations, actively listening, and acting on what the experts – children and young people – tell us.
Speaking of important conversations, this week the Guardian is currently in Meanjin (Brisbane) attending Third Sector’s 2nd National Youth Justice Forum, co-located with NAPCAN’s 7th National Child Protection Forum.
The Guardian chaired the pre-conference day yesterday, bringing delegates from both forums together to discuss cross-system strategies and collaboration between youth justice and child protection – and, tomorrow, will be speaking on a panel focused on youth custody reform. Shona says:
“Today I am walking on Meanjin country, on the lands of the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples, committed wholeheartedly to my responsibility to bring the words, perspectives and voices of the children and young people in detention and care in South Australia, and amplify them on this national stage. I do this proudly and as the conference participants heard yesterday, I do this with a lot of energy and without apology.
“I am grateful to be given this platform to speak and honour this responsibility. This forum is a place where government decision-makers and community leaders from across the country can – and must – come together and talk straight. This is a place to come together and say – again and louder than ever before – these systems that are envisioned to care and nurture our children are not working and this vision is not being achieved.
“I have been dutifully listening to the innovation across the country – innovation from local communities and families – and young people themselves. I am convinced we can make the best possible impact on children and young peoples lives and the vision of caring and nurturing well for them is achievable.
Its about breaking through to those with decision making power, the financial means and control of the red tape. I am convinced and inspired more than ever that we need to find the courage to try something different. Something led by children and young people’s knowledge, wisdom and experiences, supported by the adults, systems and communities around them to lift them up.
I hope that this conference brings us one step closer to all that we collectively can be for our children and young people who need us the most to be courageous and brave, just like them.”
What’s coming up?
National Child Protection Week is a really great opportunity to shine a light on children and young people in care who share their experiences and voice to build a better system for other children and young people.
It is also important to highlight positive examples of how the voices of children and young people in care are being amplified. As such, the Guardian is sponsoring the ‘Voice of Children and Young People’ award at the South Australian Child Protection Awards which will be held later this week.
The Voice of Children and Young People award recognises an individual or organisation supporting the voice of children and young people in care to be heard in the decisions that impact them.
We’ll also be keeping an eye on the ‘Outstanding Achievement of a Child or Young Person’ award – and send our congratulations to finalists Tanaya, Peter and Jacinta. You are all winners in our eyes!
The activities above are just a snippet of what we’ll be getting up to this week, and as this blog post draws to a close, we wanted to circle back to what really matters – the conversations that we have with children and young people, with our friends and families, with our colleagues, and within our communities.
There is power in these conversations.
This week we ask you to reflect on the conversations you have at every level, and how you can use these conversations to support children and young people to be safe – and to live out their hopes and dreams.
To find out more about National Child Protection Week and how you can get involved check out NAPCAN’s website.
