This National Child Protection Week (September 7-13), Parramatta Diocese has launched a new Child Safe Resources Hub and appointed a counsellor to provide additional support for children, families and parishes. Source: Catholic Outlook.
This year’s theme, “Every Conversation Matters – Shifting Conversation to Action”, highlights that while dialogue is essential to raising awareness, challenging harmful norms, and generating new ideas, real change comes when conversations are turned into meaningful action.
National Child Protection Week leads into Safeguarding Sunday on September 14, an initiative of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
The Child Safe Resources Hub is divided into three sections: Junior, Middle School, and Older Kids. Each section will contain an age-appropriate children’s code of conduct, guidance on what to do if safety concerns arise, links to key information and contacts, downloadable posters and more.
It features artwork from children who participated in the 2024 Kids’ Voices Art Competition, reflecting the theme, “My Church is a safe place for me”.
Maria Kervin, manager, Prevention, Healing & Support, said the hub, through its imagery, is designed to give children a genuine voice on the important topic of safeguarding.
“The hub allows children to engage with safeguarding in an age-appropriate way, express their thoughts and feelings, and share them with peers in their own age group,” she said.
“It will grow over time, providing ongoing support and education for children and our communities.”
Lorena Portocarrero recently joined the diocese as a healing and support counsellor, providing therapeutic support to individuals who may have experienced harm, including those indirectly affected.
Motivated by her faith, Ms Portocarrero emphasised the importance of creating a safe and welcoming space for individuals who have experienced trauma, “where they are genuinely heard and welcomed”.
“Through our smallness, we hope to reflect the love, arms, and heart of Jesus, so that the Church can be a source of care, growth and hope.
“My role is to accompany them on that journey, but the healing itself belongs to God and the person, which looks different for every person.”
Details: Child Safe Resources Hub .
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New Child Safe Resources Hub available for National Child Protection Week (Catholic Outlook)
