Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.
That’s the key message of this year’s National Child Protection Week, the 25th annual awareness campaign of the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).
This morning I was pleased to attend the Tasmanian launch of this important event alongside many invited guests, including the National Commissioner for Children, Megan Mitchell, and Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children, Mark Morrissey, at a breakfast in Hobart.
I was also pleased to congratulate the Tasmanian winner of NAPCAN’s 2015 Play Your Part Awards for Inspiring Prevention Initiatives – Mission Australia’s South East Gateway together with alliance members, Baptcare, Good Beginnings, Hobart City Mission, Jordan River Services and Pittwater Community Centre, for its Integrated Family Support Service.
This year the focus of National Child Protection Week is on families, workplaces and communities combating the impact of family violence on children and young people.
While the impact of family violence on children and young people is too often overlooked, it must be acknowledged that a child who even only witnesses family violence is still a victim of family violence.
As we have said with the launch of Tasmania’s first family violence action plan, tackling family violence is everyone’s responsibility.
We can, and should, all play a part in building a safer community, particularly for our children and young people, whose experiences today will shape our tomorrow.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to better protecting Tasmanian children and ensuring they have a brighter future.
Importantly, we are working to grow the economy to create jobs, our number one priority, which will help to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and encourage more secure, stable households for families.
Our Plan for Children, Young People and Families includes a wide range of early intervention, prevention, and health promotion activities.
Recently, I announced that we will be redesigning our child protection system to better protect children from abuse and neglect.
The Government is also committed to rolling out the Respectful Relationships Program across our schools, which will help change the attitudes and behaviours that lead to violence.
But this is not only a job for governments and those dedicated community sector organisations and individuals who work with vulnerable children and young people; it is a responsibility we all share.
Businesses, community sector organisations, sporting clubs, can together all do their part by ensuring that where children are involved the environment is safe.
This National Child Protection Week I urge all Tasmanians to consider what role they can play in helping to keep our children safe.
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Human Services
