Child Australia has marked National Child Protection Week with a renewed call for proactive vigilance and collective responsibility in safeguarding children.
The organisation’s Board and Executive have released a united statement reaffirming zero tolerance to harm, emphasising that child safety must be lived as daily practice and culture, not simply confined to compliance.
CEO Tina Holtom said,“When we work with children, we carry the greatest responsibility there is. Safety can never be left to chance or paperwork, it must live and breathe in every conversation and be at the core of every decision we make. Our role is to create a culture where prevention comes first, and where children and families feel safe and respected.”
To strengthen and extend this commitment, Child Australia has taken several significant steps, including:
- Appointing Child Safety Champions across every service and program area to provide daily leadership and guidance.
- Developing new roles dedicated to safeguarding and compliance, ensuring child safety remains visible, resourced, and supported at every level of the organisation.
- Strengthening recruitment, complaints, and grievance processes to ensure children’s voices and rights remain central.
- Enhancing the Child Safe Working Group to drive continuous improvement and accountability across the organisation.
- Embedding the “See It. Stop It. Say It.” initiative as a collective call to action reminding staff, families, and partners that safety is everyone’s responsibility, every day.
These commitments are embedded in Child Australia’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, which places child safety alongside service quality, sector leadership, workforce development, and community impact as core priorities.
Child Australia is also playing an active role in advocating for stronger child safety across the education and care sector. Through its representation on external advisory groups, contributions to government reform processes, and public awareness campaigns, the organisation is ensuring that child safety remains central to sector-wide policy and practice.
The launch of “See It. Stop It. Say It.” has extended beyond internal use, becoming a conversation starter across the broader community. With a focus on collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and continuous improvement, Child Australia is positioning child safety as both a community responsibility and a national priority.
Together with families, educators, partners, and communities, Child Australia is committed to building a culture where safety is the foundation, and every child feels safe, respected, and empowered to thrive.
