Page 3801 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 24 September 2019
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Earlier this year, COAG endorsed the national principles for child safe organisations. The ACT continues to work with the National Office for Child Safety to promote and implement national principles across organisations and the community services sector that work with children and young people. Building on the national principles, conversations with the community are ongoing about the way institutions can be supported to strengthen their approaches to child safety and become safer for children and young people.
The ACT government is also working with the Australian government and with states and territories to support the development and implementation of a new national strategy to prevent child sexual abuse. Together, these mechanisms provide a suite of protections aimed at reducing the risk of, and preventing, child sexual abuse.
Madam Speaker, in relation to the royal commission, of course, the focus there was on institutional responses to child sexual abuse. I think most of us in this place have spoken more broadly about the fact that child abuse takes many forms and that we have different responses. We have specific responses in relation to child sexual abuse and that is absolutely appropriate. We also have a suite of responses in relation to abuse and neglect of young people in other forms, whether that is physical or emotional abuse.
We are constantly seeking to strengthen those. I thank the community, our mandated reporters and our voluntary reporters who, on a daily basis, put the best interests of our children first. By working together, we can support Canberra’s children to have the opportunity to grow up safe, strong and connected.
Discussion concluded.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Gentleman) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Australia Nepal Friendship Society
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (3.39): Those in Canberra’s Nepalese community are warm, kind, intelligent and passionate people. This past Friday I had the pleasure of attending the Australia Nepal Friendship Society’s 2019 Dashain night. This event was supported by the Canberra Nepalese Football Club, the Canberra Nepalese Cricket Club, the Canberra Nepalese Volleyball Club and the Non-Resident Nepali Association of the ACT and Queanbeyan.
Dashain is the longest and most auspicious Hindu festival in Nepal, traditionally observed for two weeks. It is enthusiastically celebrated across the entire country as well as by people of Nepalese background across the world, honouring the goddess Durga’s victory over evil. Dashain emphasises the importance of family reunions. In many ways Dashain is to Nepalese what Christmas is to westerners.
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