Bravehearts visits Geelong West to boost child safety outcomes

Popular inservice program Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure, an initiative of child protection organisation Bravehearts visited Geelong West Busy Bees recently to support kindergarten students to understand more about child safety and protection from child sexual abuse.

Key messages like “It’s okay to say no” and “Nothing is so yucky that you can’t tell someone about it” were shared with the children, who also enjoyed dancing and participating in sing-alongs and short games which reinforced important safety messages about the body’s warning signs, such as wobbly legs and a fast heartbeat, e-safety, and who to speak to when they feel unsafe.

“Child safety is such a big component of everyday living now especially with…the safety concerns around online and I think it’s great to have the kids feel that they are in power,” Busy Bees Victorian operations director Shaun Nicholls said when speaking with local news source Surf Coast Times.

Programs such as Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure, he continued, have so much potential to support children to speak with their families and trusted people when seeking help.

“Child safety is such a big component of everyday living now especially with…the safety concerns around online and I think it’s great to have the kids feel that they are in power,” he added.

Bravehearts have helped Busy Bees build its own framework to safeguard children, helping to ensure that they have everything they need to feel safe and protected.

The special visit to the children at Geelong West came as registrations open for the organisation’s largest annual fundraiser, Bravehearts Day, which will take place on September 6.

“We’re calling on Australians to band together to help make uncomfortable conversations more comfortable,” Bravehearts chief executive Alison Geale said, urging the community to support the event and take collective action against child sexual abuse, a crime experienced by one in four Australian children.

“By donating, hosting a fundraising event or taking on the #BraveChallenge, we are one step closer to reversing these devastating statistics in a bid to help protect society’s most vulnerable – our children.”

This year marks the first time the #BraveChallenge has been introduced to the fundraiser, with the community invited to, either as an individual or group, take on a simple challenge, from fitness to baking, or participate in “brave” conversations.

All funds raised will support the delivery of Bravehearts’ personal safety program to children across the country, as well as its counselling services.

For more information, or to get involved in Bravehearts Day, head to braveheartsday.com.au or phone 1800 272 831.

The original coverage of this story may be found here.