September 3rd- September 9th, 2023 is National Child Protection Week. This year marks a decade since a group of local organisations came together in a commitment to improving outcomes for Illawarra children and their families. To celebrate this local initiative and as part of raising awareness of Child Protection Week, there are a number of family fun events taking place in the Illawarra on Thursday 7th September.
National Child Protection Week in the Illawarra
NCPW aims to promote a safe and supported life for every child, now and into the future.
Child abuse and neglect is one of Australia’s most significant social problems. In 2021-2022, around one in 32 (178,000) Australian children aged under 18 came into contact with the child protection system.
A group of local organisations, that provide support to children and their families across three local government areas are proud to have hit the milestone of working together for ten years. Collectively, this group form the South Coast Child Wellbeing Network (SCCWN).
This year, SCCWN are holding three family fun events, taking place simultaneously across the Illawarra. The aim is to bring awareness to some of the support services that are available to local families, by engaging with a broad cross-section of the community. The SCCWN events are a soft entry approach to engaging with some of these services and are designed in a way that focuses on fun activities while informing and encouraging participation in early intervention and education opportunities.
These events will be held at local shopping centres in Dapto, Warrawong, and Nowra in the morning of Thursday 7th September, 2023.
SCCWN member, Johanne Sneddon says, “What’s so unique and noteworthy about this initiative is the commitment of organisations large and small to collaborate to increase awareness of issues relating to child wellbeing and child safety. Individual members move on, but the baton is passed wihthin an organisaton, ensuring the continued work of the Network. I’m not aware of any other informal group who have been working togther in this way for such a sustained period within the child protection field.”
Who are the South Coast Child Wellbeing Network?
SCCWN is a voluntary collective of both government and non-government organisations. These organisations are:
- Anglicare Family Mental Health Support Program
- Barnardos Family Support and Communities 4 Children Services
- Big Fat Smile Transition to School
- CareSouth
- Cullunghutti
- Department of Education
- Early Start Discovery Space at University of Wollongong
- ECTARC
- Farmborough Road Schools as Community Centres
- Goodstart Early Learning
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Heal
- District School Link Program, Child Protection Counselling Services, Child Wellbeing Unit
- South Coast Medical Service
- Aboriginal Corporation Family Connect and Support Program
- University of New England, Social Work
- University of Wollongong, Pulse Kids Uni
- William Campbell Foundation
- Wollongong City Council
Any local services that support children and their families across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven areas are eligible to particiate in the Network and are encouraged to get involved by contacting SCCWN spokesperson Samantha Lukey on 0432 119 481
