The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) was established in 1987 to make the discussion of child abuse and neglect less of a taboo topic. The aim of NAPCAN is to provide support and encourage changes, in individuals and community, to prevent child abuse and neglect before it starts. In order to raise awareness of this excellent organisation and how it works toward the protection of children in our community, we celebrate ‘National Child Protection Week’ in September.

The important work of NAPCAN links directly with what the Safeguarding Team has been working on. As a team, we have been working through training to understand the different types of abuse, ways to report abuse and how to assess risks for the different areas at St Joseph’s Springvale Parish, including St Mark’s Dingley Village.

This year, we are fortunate enough to get several children in our community to participate in a modified National Child Protection Week art activity. These pieces of artwork will be displayed on our Parish website through a video and shown during our livestream masses on Sunday, 12 September.