Queensland child protection week awards 2025

Life Without Barriers is proud to have won the Child Safe Organisation Award in the 2025 QLD Child Protection Awards.

National Child Protection Week 2025 will take place from 7–13 September, led by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN). This year’s theme, Every conversation matters: Shifting Conversation to Action, encourages Australians to move from awareness to tangible steps that promote the safety and wellbeing of children.

As part of the week’s celebrations, Life Without Barriers has been recognised with the Child Safe Organisation Award at the 2025 Queensland Child Protection Week Awards, acknowledging the organisation’s strong commitment to child safety and wellbeing.

From the Board to volunteers and frontline staff, Life Without Barriers is deeply committed to creating an environment and culture where children are valued and respected, their voices are heard, and their safety and wellbeing is prioritised.

All staff sign up to the organisation’s commitment to child safety, We Put Children First, which explicitly describes expectations in relation to working with children and outlines clear steps for raising safety concerns. Staff and carers who work with children also undertake extensive training and practice support activities to strengthen the organisation’s ability to protect children and respond quickly and appropriately if they are harmed, or at risk of harm.

Life Without Barriers’ internal systems provide a framework that supports and delivers on its commitment to child safety.

The organisation continues to work in partnership with the child and family sector, governments, and academia to build knowledge and share resources that help create a world in which all children are safe and respected.

“Child safety is a shared responsibility across our whole community,” Life Without Barriers Child Safe Organisation Manager, Melinda Clarke, said. “Valuing children, respecting their rights, and listening to their voices forms the basis of creating spaces that are safe for children. We’re proud to be recognised for our work in implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, and we’ll continue to prioritise child safety in our own organisation, as well as contributing to the broader sector and community.”

Life Without Barriers is a not-for-profit organisation working in more than 500 communities across Australia, providing support to children, young people, families, people with disability, older Australians, and people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. The organisation is committed to advancing reconciliation and ensuring that children and young people grow up safe, connected, and supported.

For more information on 2025 child protection week visit here.