Australian Government - MyChild.gov.auNAPCAN calls for all to participate in national survey
Participate in national survey and help join the fight to prevent child abuse.
The safety and wellbeing of Australia’s children is near and dear to all of our hearts.
It is tragic that in Australia tens of thousands of children suffer abuse and neglect each year. How can this happen in our community?
Maree Faulkner, CEO of NAPCAN, National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, says that walls protect child abuse—the walls of our houses and institutions and the walls we erect through fear, denial and disinterest. It’s time to break down these walls and bring child abuse out in the open.
Therese Rein, NAPCAN’s National Children’s Champion, is now calling on the community to participate in the largest community survey ever undertaken in Australia, to gain insight into the sensitive issue of child abuse and to assist in developing prevention strategies for the nation.
Launched in conjunction with National Child Protection Week, the simple online survey will provide NAPCAN and its partner agencies with information to improve the protection of Australia’s children. Ms Rein believes all Australians share in the responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of the children in our community.
“Last year alone over 30,000 Australian children were either abused or neglected. This happens in all communities, and it is an issue which affects us all,” Ms Rein said.
NAPCAN is calling on all Australian adults, not just parents, to start thinking and talking about preventing child abuse by giving a few minutes to fill out the online questionnaire.
Child abuse and neglect is Australia’s number one social problem. NAPCAN’s mission is to advocate on behalf of children and young people, and promote positive change in attitudes, behaviour, policies, practices and the law to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Australian children.
NAPCAN’s work is especially important—it provides a coordinated national approach for child abuse prevention, tackling the causes of child abuse and helping to break the cycle.
The national survey is an easy way for all Australians to make a positive impact on the safety of children, and the results of the survey will be essential in the planning of effective strategies for the future.
The survey has been developed in consultation with six of Australia’s leading researchers, to be easily understood and relevant to everyone.
“Many businesses, government departments, unions and community organisations have already signed on to help distribute the survey and to allow their staff to take the time to complete it. NAPCAN now needs help from the entire Australian public—protecting our kids is everyone’s business,” said Maree Faulkner.
“We’ve seen already that effective prevention strategies can work, and from this we know that much more can be done. This survey is so important for us to plan for the future safety and wellbeing of all Australian children.”
Please view the Online Survey or call 1800 126456. We will be open for participation until 1 November 2009.
For more information visit NAPCAN