NT childcare centres take part in national Bravehearts Day to bring awareness to child sexual abuse
With child safety at the forefront of family's minds, Territory childcare centres are commemorating a very timely event in National Child Protection Week. Read the details.
With children’s safety fresh on the minds of Territory families, a number of NT childcare centres are throwing their weight behind a national fundraising effort to help society’s most vulnerable.
Bravehearts is an Australian child protection not-for-profit organisation solely dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse.
Each year, the organisation draws attention to issues of child sexual abuse on September 12, known as Bravehearts Day.
The special day is part of the National Child Protection Week which takes place from September 7 to 13, with this year’s theme being ‘every conversation matters’.
Child abuse is prolific in Australia, with a Bravehearts study finding one in three Australian girls and one in five boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
Centre Manager of Milestones Early Learning Darwin City Chelsea East said the charity’s goals and values align with her work as an early childhood educator.
“I decided to sign our service up for Bravehearts Day because child safety is at the heart of everything we do,” Ms East said.
“Bravehearts’ vision — to create a world where children are safe — aligns directly with our responsibility as educators to protect, empower, and guide children in understanding their rights and boundaries.
“We want to demonstrate to our community that child safety is not just a policy, but a daily practice woven into our teaching, relationships, and service culture.”
Ms East praised the educational component of the Bravehearts program.
“The mandatory Bravehearts training our team are currently completing has been really important because it goes beyond our existing qualifications and training and equips our team with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to protect children in our care,” she said.
The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) said this year’s National Child Protection Week would be particularly relevant to Australians given recent horrific revelations coming out of the childcare sector.
“It is a particularly important time to remind our communities that child abuse and neglect is preventable, and that each and every one of us has a role to play,” NAPCAN chief executive Leesa Waters said.
“During this week and beyond, NAPCAN is sharing tools, resources and information that will give Australians confidence about the positive role they can play in creating safer futures and safer communities for our young people.
“It’s important to remember that perpetrators aren’t just active in early learning spaces; we need regulation across all sectors, but we also need adults to step up and learn about the places where children are being cared for.
“No matter whether you’re a parent, a childcare worker, a shop owner, a health practitioner, an aunt, uncle, friend or neighbour – you can make a difference. National Child Protection Week is a chance for everyone to ask, ‘What can I do today to make a child’s world safer?’” says Waters.
Schools, childcare centres and organisations working with children are encouraged to register Bravehearts Day online at www.braveheartsday.com.au.
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Originally published as NT childcare centres take part in national Bravehearts Day to bring awareness to child sexual abuse
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