Statement by National Centre CEO Dr Leanne Beagley for National Child Protection Week
As an advocate for listening to and acting in line with the voices of those at the heart of our work, I was delighted to watch this very short video capturing the insights of children about what makes a strong and supportive community for children using a model of the jigsaw. If you do one thing this week to mark National Child Protection Week, I encourage you to watch this and hear what is being said. I wish I could thank the 7–11-year-olds who participated and lent their voices and shared their ideas with researcher Dr Sharon Bessell, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.
Fittingly, National Child Protection Week is promoting the message ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’ and the community jigsaw gives us a way to make this possible. As adults, we have to step into this and promote a safe and supported life for every child, now and into the future.
The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse has a laser-sharp focus on child sexual abuse and on children’s safety, so we welcome the chance to mark a national focus on child protection. But the National Centre’s focus is not just on children. We are also here for those adults and older people who live with the lifelong often ravaging impact of child sexual abuse in their lives. Child Protection Week is a chance to honour them – the courage of those who have lifted the lid on abuse, shared their stories and advocated for change so that other children don’t experience what happened to them.
