Child protection week a reminder to keep children safe
It's Child Protection Week, and this year our message is that kids do well when parents are supported.
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More parents than you might realise also want to know how they can be better parents.
And for parents who are finding things a bit tough, early intervention can nip little problems in the bud before they become big problems that affect them parenting well.
As a government we're working hard to deliver an ambitious 10 year program of child protection reforms, with a focus on providing those supports and early intervention services to parents and carers so we can prevent our children and young people from entering the child protection system.
For parents who need some supports, we've funded free access to the Triple P Positive Parenting program, we're rolling out Family and Child Connect and Intensive Family Support Services across the state, and we're providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with culturally appropriate support through Family Wellbeing Services.
We're starting to see the results of our early intervention approach, with 13% fewer children needing ongoing intervention by the time those investigations are complete compared with 2014.
However, there is still more to do.
As well as supporting parents, I want to remind everyone that all of us have a role in keeping children safe, and that protecting our children and young people is everyone's business.
Child Protection Week is a good reminder to us all to think about how we can actively contribute to keeping children safe.
Di Farmer MP
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women
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Students encouraged to participate in The Critics' Choice
I am writing to urge Queensland schools to participate in The Critics' Choice initiative this year.
The program coordinated by QUIT Victoria aims to reduce the prevalence of tobacco smoking amongst young people.
Students from grades five to ten are encouraged to watch various anti-smoking advertisements and vote on the one they feel is most effective in discouraging young people from smoking.
Voting opened on July 15 and is running until September 20.
Currently, one in four Queensland children live with a daily smoker and 5 per cent of teenagers aged between 14 to 19 smoke daily1.
Resources for teachers are available on The Critics' Choice website for students to undertake in the classroom and should spark some engaging conversations.
Schools registered with Cancer Council Queensland's QUEST program who take part in The Critics' Choice also have the chance win a $300 sporting equipment voucher for their school.
As we work towards a future free of cancer, we urge the community to also take steps today to help prevent the disease.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease, including cancer, in the developed world. In Australia, smoking causes around one in five cancer deaths, which includes more than 3400 deaths in Queensland each year.
Together, we can encourage Queenslanders to reduce the risk of smoking-related cancers.
To find out more about The Critics' Choice or to access the teacher's resources, please visit, https://criticschoice.quit.org.au/.
For more information about how to quit smoking, contact Quitline 13 Quit (13 7848) 7am - 10pm, 7 days a week for support and encouragement to quit or visit quitnow.org.au.
Chris McMillan
CEO, Cancer Council Queensland