Child Protection Week
In September, Australia celebrates National Child Protection Week. The theme this year is “Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation To Action.”
This theme resonates well with us in the LCA. Over recent years we have had many “conversations” about Child Safety: many of us have engaged in Safe Church training, we have Working with Children/Vulnerable People Checks, we conduct safety checks and risk- assessments and we have our LCA Child Safety Standards where each congregation is responsible for its Child Safety Standards Action Plan.
But do these conversations actually translate into meaningful actions, or do they remain in the realm of the theoretical? Are our Action Plans acted out?
As I have travelled around the Vic/Tas District and wider afield, I have seen many switched-on congregations, where child safety is a very obvious and integral part of congregational life. Meaningful activities are taking place. Sadly, I’ve also visited congregations where there is no indication that children or their protection is important.
Developing and driving a culture of child safety (everyone’s safety!) happens through many small steps over a period of time. Celebrating an event such as National Child Protection Week is an opportunity to highlight the topic and remind ourselves – of the theory and the practices.
There are numerous Child Protection Week resources available online https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw-2/ as well as our own excellent LCA items https://www.lca.org.au/child-safety-standards/css-resources/
How will you use Child Protection week in your congregation?
- How will you communicate about Child Protection Week?
- What resources will you access and display or use?
- How might you incorporate this theme or reminder into worship?
- How might you pray?
- How is your congregation tracking with its Child Safety Standards Action Plan? Is this well-communicated?
