At this time each year organisations like CREATE celebrate National Child Protection Week: an opportunity for government, business and community to come together to promote the safety and well-being of children. The enduring message of National Child Protection Week is that protecting children is everyone’s business and we all have a role to play in protecting children from harm. CREATE celebrates the week by organising special events for children and young people in care and taking part in broader celebrations of the children, young people, carers and workers that make up the care system.
As the week draws to a close CREATE crews around the country are looking back on some the amazing events they organised or were part of. We kicked things off with the annual CREATE Child Protection Week Fancy Dinner in Brisbane, which each year gives young people a chance to recognise someone who has made a positive impact on their life, while at the same time enjoying a fancy dinner and some excellent dancing !!! This year’s theme was ‘Super Heroes and Heroines’ and guests were treated to a special dance performance by MnB Entertainment and an inspirational address from CREATE board member Catherine Moynihan.
In Victoria on Monday night the Vic CREATE team attended the Victorian Government’s Protecting Children Awards – where they have a special CREATE award. CREATE would like congratulate our finalist Christine Van Helfteren and our winner of the 2018 CREATE Award, Bek Nash-Webster. Bek – your dedication and care to the children and young people you care for makes an amazing difference in the community!
On Wednesday we had events in both ACT, Tasmania and South Australia! CREATE in Tasmania had an amazing afternoon tea to celebrate Child Protection Week on Wednesday. We had 3 brilliant Young Consultants speak about the re-launch of the Charter of Rights. The Tassie team have been working with the young people on an Identity art piece over the past few months in the Youth Advisory Groups.
In the ACT Young Consultant Shelley was the star at a Child Protection Week event when she introduced the CREATE Foundation video resource ‘LGBTQ Dos and Don’ts’ made by young people with an out of home care experience to support better practice by workers and carers. You can check out this amazing resource and others here: https://create.org.au/resources/lgbtq/
Meanwhile in Adelaide we have the official launch of the SORTLI app launched in South Australia! Sortli is a phone app designed by young people transitioning from care to independence FOR young people with a care experience! It lots of handy advice on the tricky questions young people might have growing up! The app was launched by Chief Executive of the SA Department of Child Protection, CREATE SA Coordinator Claudine Scalz and CREATE Young Consultants Tricia and Brooke! Check out how Sortli works with CREATE Young Consultant Andre in this short video:
Also on Friday night we had our FIRST EVER CREATE Child Protection Week Dinner in Townsville, where, similar to Brisbane, young people brought along someone who had been a positive influence on their life. Annie and Jayden from CREATE were excellent MCs on the night and pretty much everyone got up and had a dance ! Check out CREATE mascot Gus being his usual gross self here below!
Next week is National Foster Carers Week in many state around Australia – stay tuned for more details !
