September 7 to 13 is Queensland Child Protection Week and the key message for 2014 is that protecting children is everyone’s business.
With this in mind, the Gold Coast City community have united to play their part in protecting children through educating and engaging families in everything child health and wellbeing.
Over 20 agencies, both government and non-government, have connected and collaborated in the name of Gold Coast City children and the result is three exciting family fun day and expo events to be rolled out during the upcoming third annual Child Protection Week.
Covering many miles to enable maximum participation, events are planned for Burleigh Heads, Broadwater Parklands in Southport and Oxenford.
Offering a range of free activities, including live entertainment, jumping castles, face painting, interactive games and sausage sizzles, the three events promise fun and frivolity for all the family.
Each event will also provide education, support and information for families from a range of local government and community organisations, all aimed at schooling up the Gold Coast City community in all the ways they can support children’s healthy development and safety, as well as providing information linking families to local support services.
The Burleigh Heads event will be held Monday 8 September 2014 at Burleigh Heads Memorial Park in Connor Street, kicking off at 3.00pm and finishing at 5.30pm, with a free sausage sizzle and a visit from the Gold Coast Suns and other special guests.
For the northern Gold Coast, Wednesday 10 September 2014 is the date for the Oxenford event, being held at Oxenford and Coomera Community Youth Centre at 28 Leo Graham Way, Oxenford. The event starts at 9.30am and will finish up at 12.00pm, with a free morning tea for all the guests as well as an animal farm and children’s train.
The Great Lawn at Broadwater Parklands in Southport will host the final event on Friday 12 September 2014, starting at 9.30am and finishing at 12pm with a free sausage sizzle, lots of games, a reading corner and a fire truck on display.
Child abuse and neglect remains significantly under-reported and with over 35,000 confirmed cases of children abused or neglected in 2013 alone, a whole of community effort is required to promote, implement and effect child safety in Gold Coast City. Child protection is everyone’s business and we all must play our part in ensuring children are safe, healthy and nurtured.
Get on board for Child Protection Week and come along to one of the fun family events – enjoy the entertainment, seek assistance from the services and learn how we can all make a difference in protecting children in our community.
For more information about Child Protection Week, visit the website here
