AFP wins Queensland Child Protection Week Award for children’s story

The Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) has won an Education Initiative Award for its story Jack Changes the Game.

A first-of-its-kind for law enforcement, the book was developed by the AFP’s ThinkUKnow program and ACCCE. Jack Changes the Game was funded by the AFP Commissioner’s Innovation Fund, which promotes inventive and pioneering thinking to help the AFP stay a step ahead of crime and maximise its impact on the criminal environment.

The award was presented during a ceremony at Brisbane Parliament House on 30 August 2023. Written by notable children’s author Tess Rowley and illustrated by Shannon Horsfall, the book is based on a real report to the ACCCE, and provides adults with useful tips on how to talk to children about online safety.

Aimed at children aged five to eight years, the book is designed for educators, parents or carers to read with children, and gives age-appropriate advice on how to recognise online child sexual exploitation, including online grooming, how to take action, and how to make a report to police.

The creation of the book was informed by a reference group who provided subject matter expertise and guidance to the author and illustrator, ensuring the book was age appropriate. Reference group members included Dr Andrea Baldwin, Professor Susan Edwards, Kelly Humphries and Professor Kerryann Walsh.

ACCCE and Human Exploitation Commander Helen Schneider accepted the award on behalf of the AFP.

“This book is a powerful resource to help families around Australia begin important conversations about online safety,” Commander Schneider said.

“By starting these conversations early, we can de-stigmatise this crime type and work together as a community to help protect children online.”

Jack Changes the Game fills in a gap for parents and educators, who, despite knowing the importance of early intervention, education and empowering children are key tools to prevent harm may find these conversations uncomfortable and challenging, and offers an icebreaker for parents and carers.

“The ACCCE is built on partnerships, and I would like to acknowledge our dedicated AFP project team who worked with the Queensland Writers Centre including our author Tess Rowley and illustrator Shannon Horsfall, and our wonderful reference group members who helped develop this important resource,” Commander Schneider said.

Every primary school in Australia has received a printed copy of Jack Changes the Game to share within their school community. An eBook of Jack Changes the Game and learning resources are available at thinkuknow.org.au 

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report 

If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit www.accce.gov.au

Follow the ACCCE Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages to learn more about what the ACCCE does to keep children safe online.