As part of National Child Safeguarding Week (6 -12 September) teachers at Clonard will be initiating conversations titled ‘One Talk at a Time’. This action further supports the Catholic Church’s Safeguarding Sunday, which is marked on September 13. Safeguarding Sunday reminds us that safeguarding is an essential part of mission. 

‘One Talk at a Time’ is Australia’s first national awareness-raising campaign aimed at preventing child abuse. It encourages adults with children and young people in their lives to learn about the issue and have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations with children, young people and other adults.  

At Clonard, child safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility however, we have multiple staff who support child safeguarding, including a Child Safeguarding Leader, the 6 WELCOMs, our Learning Diversity Leader and a Child Safeguarding Officer. We encourage students to talk any trusted adult at school.  

Around 1 in 4 Australian adults have experienced child sexual abuse. 

It can happen within families, by other people the child or young person knows or does not know, in organisations and online. Child abuse can have profound, long-term impacts across all aspects of a person’s life, including their physical and mental health, education, employment and relationships.  

All children have the right to be safe from abuse. We all have a role to play in creating safe environments for children and young people and preventing abuse. Conversations have the power to prevent child abuse. 

You might not be an expert in the topic, but no one knows the people in your life better than you do. You are the right person to have conversations with children, young people and other adults around you. 

Teachers will be watching the video: ‘One talk at a time -At the Park’