Port Douglas Community Service Network Inc held an event earlier this month for Child Protection Week, promoting the value of children and focusing attention on the issues of child abuse and neglect.
Erin Easton from the Port Douglas Community Service Network’s Child & Parent Support Program hosted the annual Child Protection Week Family Fun Day down at Rex Smeal Park in Port Douglas.
Around 300 guests attended the event, mostly local families with pre-school aged toddlers and children kindy and prep school groups.
With the aim to promote Child Protection Week and to inform participants of local child-related services, Erin declared the event a wonderful success.
By promoting the value of children and focusing attention on the issues of child abuse and neglect, the objectives of Child Protection Week are to:
- raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection, including child abuse prevention, treatment, research, education, service provision and support for children, young people and families
- create a statewide umbrella focus for child protection allowing government and non-government agencies to present a cooperative and coordinated community oriented campaign
- support and value professionals and volunteer child protection workers by providing ‘best practice’ training and a forum to exchange ideas and information
- offer a framework to recognise advances in the field, and thereby contribute to better outcomes for all children and young people, especially those who have been harmed or are at risk of harm.