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Rebecca Dudding, the Community Development Co-ordinator at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre in Sydney, took up the Child Friendly Challenge during National Child Protection Week '06, by organising an Art Competition in five of the local schools. The outcomes included: great participation and involvement of the KiDS themselves; very clear ideas about what KiDS need to grow up well, and a great celebration of community, by bringing so many people together. MORE Top |
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A men’s group has been set up to help Indigenous male youths in Bowen, north Queensland, stay out of trouble.
Girudala Indigenous Mens’s Group spokesmen Peter Bickey and Brett Young said the body was set up because there was nothing specifically for men in the town. It was felt some of the young people were lacking a proper masculine influence.
Initially the group is targeting Indigenous male youths from Grade 5 up. Later, it is hoped to expand to help all young people in Bowen. The group's first major activity was a camping and fishing weekend away. Not only dis everyone enjoy a great weekend, the boys were shown appropriate male role modelling.
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Outside many schools in Queensland there are short term parking zones where it is expected a quick "drop off" or "pick up" of children will occur. At times this can be a rather stressful experience for parents and children alike. Recently I drove past Brookfield State School and noted that in their short term parking zone the signs were "Stop, Kiss, Go" instead of the range of impersonal signs that appear in most Queensland schools such as " Stop and drop off" "Stop and Go". This sign highlights the importance of valuing our children at the start of the school day, nurturing them at all opportunities, and focusing on their needs rather than the next thing on the parents agenda. I hope this observation inspires other schools to use this simple child focused strategy to develop their child friendly community at the school gate.
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With an emphasis on creating communities that are not just child friendly but family friendly, the BUDS program of Newcastle, aims to assist communities become supportive and welcoming to children and their families. MORE Top
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The Darebin Pramwalkers Program is a popular initiative that aims to improve the health and wellbeing for parents in the Victorian city of Darebin. MORE
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The Diamond Creek Primary School , Walking School Bus program is sponsored by VicHealth, Nillumbik Community Health Service and Nillumbik Shire Council. There are 7 schools in the shire that run the program. Diamond Creek Primary School has 138 of its 215 students enrolled in the Walking School Bus program. MORE
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During National Child Protection Week 06 the Toowoomba Working Party (a Community Action Network) held a poster competition. Local children were asked what was a child friendly community and where did they feel safe and happy. They also held a Hello Baby! Welcoming Ceremony led by the Mayor, Dianne Thorley. From this the team have produced their first printed resource, the 2007 Hello Baby! Calendar, Funded by both private and corporate donations, this Calendar will be distributed to the families of babies born at the Toowoomba Base and St Vincent 's Hospitals in Toowoomba this year ... MORE
If you would like to donate to the cost of these calendars to ensure that supplies are maintained, or if you would like to fund a version of this calendar to be distributed in your community or town, contact NAPCAN QLD HERE.
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The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council Inc is a health resource body for a group of independent Aboriginal community controlled health services in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. KAMSC recently launched it's Protective Behaviours Community Way Package: a safety package developed for children to help them deal with their problems and find the right sort of help.
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An innovative community project that has enriched the lives of hundreds of children in the Minto area. MORETop |
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Making use of images, this is a very clever yet simple Community Plan which invites every one to take responsibility for change. MORETop |
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The Northcote Community Soccer group began when 7 year old Harvey sent invitations to some of his friends, their siblings and parents for a soccer match at a local park in Northcote, Victoria, in 2003.
Among the eight families who went were Harry, Joe and their father Jeff. It was so much fun that Harvey’s dad said he would be there every Sunday at 10am for whoever can come. The Community Soccer group is now in its fourth year, and the families are so close, they go away together on Australia Day. MORETop |
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The pilot program is being implemented in three primary schools in the Parramatta area. This program seeks to provide curriculum, social and cultural support to newly arrived refugee children and their families with the intended outcomes being: aiding refugee settlement, raising mainstream community awareness about refugees, and facilitating chances for social contact and mutual appreciation between refugee and mainstream communities. MORE
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This is a FREE street based playgroup for families and infants (0 - 5years) around the Rosemeadow-Ambarvale Community in Campbelltown NSW, which provides games for children such as Painting, bubbles, music, playdough, craft, climbing, stories and sing songs. The aim of this group is to give tips and ideas to mums and dads in assisting them with parenting. Child Friendly Challenge: See how they really are making the local streets child friendly HERE For more information on Street Treats and to view the flyer HERE
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The Children’s Advocacy and Resource Association (CARA) initiated the Welcoming Babies ceremony 10 years ago in partnership with the Townsville City Council and Thuringowa City Council. There are now three ceremonies per year with each ceremony welcoming around 150 babies. MORE
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Volunteers cuddle and comfort babies in instances when their mothers can't.
The program involves staff from the Special Care Nursery, the Women's Alcohol & Drug Service and volunteers recommended by the Mirabel Foundation. The volunteers are carefully selected, and have to undertake training and police checks. They attend the nursery for about 3 hours on a roster system. MORE Top |
