By Jacquie Cheetham
This National Child Protection Week, the theme “Every conversation matters: shifting conversation to action” calls on all of us all to move beyond awareness and into meaningful change.
At Inner Sydney Voice, we know that real change begins with listening deeply, amplifying voices, especially those of people who are often not heard, marginalised, or disadvantaged, including children and young people, and acting together with purpose. ISV works alongside community services across the inner city and eastern suburbs to promote social justice, inclusion, and the rights of children and young people. The organisations we support are deeply committed to upholding children’s rights and creating environments where children feel safe, heard, respected, and empowered to speak up.
Recent reports of abuse in childcare centres have highlighted the urgent need for stronger safeguards and accountability. These incidents are a painful reminder that child safety must be embedded in every aspect of service delivery.
Every conversation with a child is an opportunity to build trust, understand their experiences, and shape services that truly meet their needs. Last year, my colleague, Charlie Coorey, undertook consultations with a diverse audience of young people. Charlie explains:
Many of the young people I spoke with said, “people don’t come and ask us what we think”. More often than not young people with varying disabilities are not consulted to the same degree as other young people. As a sector we need to explore how to ensure the voices of the most marginalised and disadvantaged children and young people are heard – are youth advisory groups representative of young people who have lived experiences as consumers of mental health services, LGBTIQ+ young people, young Aboriginal boys and girls, those living in public housing spaces, who have language backgrounds other than English or living in Out Of Home Care? Though there are agencies who represent the needs of those portions of the youth population, many of the young people tragically do not receive the specialist supports that enables them to participate and be ‘included’ like others.”
Every conversation matters, because when we intentionally listen to the most marginalised young people, we can design services and systems that genuinely protect and empower them.
The Child Safe Standards, introduced in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, also ask us to listen to children, empower them, and ensure that their voices are heard and respected. They are a commitment to children’s wellbeing.
To help organisations take the next step, ISV is hosting a Child Safe Standards Workshop on Wednesday 22nd October, facilitated by the Office of the Children’s Guardian. This practical session will support services to understand and implement the 11 Child Safe Standards, which provide a clear framework for creating child-safe cultures. Including offering tools engaging children in decision-making, building transparent, responsive systems, and assessing risk, using materials specifically designed for TEI services. The workshop will help organisations embed the standards with their everyday practice with confidence and ease.
Join us in making child safety a lived reality. Because every conversation matters, and every action counts.