MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed to: 8 September 2009
NAPCAN launches Australia’s largest national community survey
Survey seeking strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect
Therese Rein, Children’s Champion for the National Association for the Prevention of
Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), today called on the Australian community to
participate in the largest attitudinal survey ever undertaken in this country.
The survey is part of a nation-wide campaign to gain insight into the sensitive issue
of child abuse and to develop more effective ways to prevent it. The key message of
the campaign is:
Walls protect child abuse, not children.
Help breakdown the walls and bring child abuse out into the open.
Launched at the start of National Child Protection Week, the simple online survey at
contribute to the development of prevention strategies that really work.
Ms Rein delivered a message for the Week saying all Australians share the
responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children.
“Last year alone over 30,000 Australian children were abused or neglected. This
happens right across Australia, in all communities, and it is an issue which affects us
all,” Ms Rein said.
The launch in Canberra this morning called on all Australian adults, not just parents,
to recognise the importance of this issue and to give a few minutes of their time to fill
out the online questionnaire.
The survey is part of a broader community engagement plan being funded by the
Commonwealth Government under the Framework for Protecting Australia’s
Children. It has been designed by NAPCAN in conjunction with six of Australia’s
leading social researchers to be easily understood and relevant to everyone.
Referring to the theme of the national campaign, NAPCAN’s CEO Maree Faulkner
said: “There are many walls in our society that hide child abuse – the real walls of our
houses and institutions and the walls of ignorance, denial and disinterest.
“These walls protect child abuse, not children. With this survey we’re aiming to
breakdown the walls and bring child abuse out into the open so that we can prevent it
from happening in the future.
“This survey gives everyone a chance to take action. We’ve already seen prevention
strategies that do work, and from this we know that much more can be done. This
survey is so important for us to plan for the future wellbeing and safety of all
Australian children.
“Businesses, government departments, unions and community organisations have
already signed on to help distribute and promote the survey, allowing their staff to
take the time to complete it. Now NAPCAN needs help from the entire Australian
public – protecting our kids is everyone’s business,” Ms Faulkner said.
1800 126456, and will be open for participation until 1 November 2009.
RADIO NEWS GRABS AVAILABLE:
Therese Rein, NAPCAN Children’s Champion
Telephone Grab Hotline: 1300 732 445, Menu 3, Option 2.
Media interviews and materials are available. Please contact:
Erin Young, Avviso Public Relations
02 9358 6575 / 0432 977 529
eriny@avviso.com.au
NEWS 
