G8 Education commemorates White Balloon Day

G8 Education will be commemorating Bravehearts’ White Balloon Day this year by encouraging children across its network of 500 centres to raise awareness for the protection and wellbeing of children to dress up as a professional of their choice. 

From tradies to teachers, firefighters to fishermen and nurses to newsreaders, children have will be dressing up in recognition of the important role each professional has to play in keeping children safe.

White Balloon Day was adopted by Bravehearts, Australia’s leading child protection organisation with a focus on providing advice and support to those affected by child sexual assault, as a way to raise awareness about the issue of child sexual assault and encourage those that have experienced it to speak out. 

The first White Balloon Day took place in 1997 and has occurred every year since and this year coincides with National Child Protection Week, a NAPCAN initiative. 

G8 Education Managing Director Gary Carroll said “Children and families are at the heart of everything we do and our involvement in White Balloon Day is a reminder to us to remain courageous and vigilant in ensuring the safety and protection of the children attending our centres.”

He went on to note that “Due to the size of our network of centres and the breadth of the communities in which we operate, together we are in a position to make a substantial social contribution towards child protection in Australia.”

Hetty Johnston AM, Founder and Executive Director of Bravehearts commented that “We’re delighted that G8 Education has joined forces with Bravehearts for White Balloon Day to raise vital awareness of child protection and much needed funds to support Bravehearts’ important work.”

“Protecting kids is everyone’s job, no matter what line of work you’re in. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach – even if you don’t work with children, everybody has a role to play in looking out for Australian children and protecting them from harm.” 

As part of the their commemoration of White Balloon Day G8 will be encouraging families and team members across its network to make the ‘Pledge to Protect’ kids for White Balloon Day – a gesture that costs nothing, takes less than 30 seconds, and can be completed online at whiteballoonday.com.au.

In addition, any gold coin donations collected from the families of children dressing up will be passed to Bravehearts to help make Australia a safer place for all children.