Empowering Children to Be Safe

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Empowering Children to Be Safe
Vital information for parents, teachers and other
concerned adults
PACT Conference 25 March 2009
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Purpose

• To provide an overview of the knowledge and
  skills required by parents, teachers and other
  concerned adults to maximise the people safety
  and wellbeing of children and young people and to
  encourage them to reach their full potential.

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Why?

• Ignorance
• Relay ineffective, yet time-honoured safety
  messages
• Embarrassment
• Protecting childrens innocence

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Key focus areas

• Background information
• Key safety concepts
• Supportive strategies

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Background information

• Awareness of risks
• Methods used by offenders
• Indicators of abuse
• Dangerous messages and practices

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Awareness of safety risks

• Child abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Bullying
• Family conflict
• Mental health issues

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Methods used by offenders

• Who offenders are
• How they access children
• Who they target
• Grooming behaviour
• How they silence children
• How they can be detected

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Indicators of abuse

• Physical and behavioural indicators
• Handling disclosures
• Reporting suspicions

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Dangerous Messages Practices

• Stranger Danger
• Obey an adults instructions
• Expectations of affection
• Positivity bias
• The policeman/woman will take you away
• Failing to effectively prepare our children

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Key Safety Concepts

• 1. I am special, so are you!
• 2. Safety is my right
• 3. My body belongs to me
• 4. I can get help

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1. I am special, so are you!
Important
fantastic
wonderful
one-of-a-kind
awesome
unique
deadly
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I am special, so are you!

• To build a healthy self esteem and
• encourage respect and empathy for others.
• 1. Appreciating individuality
• 2. Expecting respect
• 3. Expressing ourselves assertively
• 4. Building resilience

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Safety is my right

• To identify and effectively respond to
  potentially unsafe situations.
• 1. Right to be safe with people
• 2. Corresponding responsibilities
• 3. Preventative safety measures
• 4. Feeling unsafe
• 5. Personal emergencies

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My body belongs to me

• To identify, prevent and stop all forms of abuse.
• 1. Body ownership and parts
• 2. Defining abuse
• 3. Responding to abuse
• 4. Known abusers
• 5. Strangers
• 6. Safe and unsafe secrets

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I can get help

• To access help from trusted adults and
• relevant organisations.
• 1. Benefits of talking with someone
• 2. Developing a safety network
• 3. Using a safety network
• 4. Assisting others

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Cautionary notes

• Ensure information provided is age and
  developmentally-appropriate
• Prepare NOT scare
• Transfer knowledge into safe behaviour through
  active participation and practice

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Supportive strategies

• Openness
• Positive role modelling
• Behaviour rehearsal
• Minimise opportunities
• Act if you suspect abuse

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Questions?
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Personal Safety Australia www.personalsafetyaust.
com Childrens Safety Australia
Inc. www.childsafety.org.au Tel (07) 3379
4475