August 31, 2012

The South Burnett will be marking Child Protection Week with a series of special activities designed to shine a spotlight on the many organisations and individuals working to assist children in the community.

On Wednesday night, the 2012 South Burnett Child Protection Week Awards will be presented during a dinner at Wondai RSL.

Awards categories are:

  • Rookie of the Year – A person who has begun work in the child protection / family support sector in the South Burnett within the preceding year and who has demonstrated the values and attitudes of respect for children and families, good practice, collaboration, creativity and commitment.
  • Child Protection Leadership Award – given in recognition of someone who has displayed leadership beyond their own specific service or role, which advances the capacity of our community to protect children and support families.
  •  Joy Kite Award for Exceptional Practice With Families – this inaugural award acknowledges the contribution of someone in direct practice, who has displayed excellence in their work with children, young people and families.

Guest speaker at the dinner will be Brisbane lawyer Stephen Page and entertainment will be provided by Muddy Flats.

Tickets cost $35 a head and can be purchased from the Wondai Diggers Club or Uniting Care Community at 1 Victoria Street, Kingaroy.

Other highlights of the week include:

  • Tuesday, September 4 – Promotional sausage sizzle at Benarkin State School
  • Thursday, September 6 – Sausage sizzle at Taabinga State School
  • Thursday, September 6 – Professional development workshop with Stephen Page from 9:00am-noon at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre. For more information phone Uniting Care Community on  (07) 4160-4600.
The Child Protection Week Committee will also be presenting two books to each of the 30 schools in the local area.
The books chosen this year are “Blue Cheese Breath and Stinky Feet” by Catherine Depino (which contains practical tips for coping with bullies), and “The Red Tree” by Shaun Tan”, a thought-provoking book for children about hope.
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has urged the local community to get on board during Child Protection Week to help promote the message that “protecting children is everybody’s business”.

“Child Protection Week runs from September 2-8, and is a chance for the community to openly confront the issue of child abuse and neglect,” she said.

“It’s also an opportunity for us all to consider how we can work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all Queensland children.”

The week is co-ordinated nationally by the National Association for Child Abuse and Neglect, and in Queensland by the Child Protection Week committee, comprising representatives from government and non-government agencies concerned with child protection issues.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, (centre), with Assistant Minister for Child Safety Rob Molhoek and Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Tracy Davis during a visit to the South Burnett last week; the MPs met with local groups working in child safety