People often think that “Child Protection” means a government department with the authority to take children away from their parents. Certainly there is a Government Child Protection Department in every State and Territory in Australia, whose job is to intervene in families where children are considered to be at serious risk of harm or neglect. However, this is only one part of a much larger range of Child Protection services and activities being provided in Australia.

What does Child Protection mean?

The broad definition of Child Protection means the responsibilities, programs and activities undertaken by government and non-government organisations to prevent or stop children being harmed in any way. This includes the prevention of all forms of child abuse such as physical and sexual abuse. It also includes the prevention of any form of discrimination, exploitation or neglect.

 At Save the Children, our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.
 
For example, Article 19 in the UNCRC  says – “All children should be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse”.

In order to protect children from harm we need to make sure they survive in healthy and safe environments, get access to an education and are able to participate fully in life. This is why Save the Children provides a range of programs in Australia. All of them aim to make life better for children, their parents and caregivers and give them opportunities, today and in the future.

Want to know more about Save the Children's position on Child Protection and related issues? Download the position papers below:

Child Protection
Bullying
Corporal Punishment

To see what stance we take on other issues that affect the lives of children and young people check out all our position papers.