Protective Behaviours Workshop empowers little Aussies

At ACT for Kids we're proud of our innovative programs to prevent and treat child abuse and our contribution to the protection and wellbeing of Australian children. Last year, we introduced a new preventative program called Learn to BE SAFE with Emmy - a Protective Behaviours Workshop which to date has educated over 2,000 Gold Coast grade one students.

The workshop was developed by two very experienced and dedicated ACT for Kids therapists, Samantha Melching and Katie Bunch, in direct response to a community need to help educate and protect at-risk kids in the Gold Coast region.
ACT for Kids Executive Manager Research and Programs, Katrina Lines, said "teaching children how to identify when they feel unsafe and what to do when that happens is an effective self-protective tool that will stand them in good stead their whole lives. Prevention is always more effective than trying to pick up the pieces once child abuse has occurred."

The program is based on a cognitive behavioural framework that provides kids with simple and practical skills to ensure their interpersonal safety. Through five one-hour sessions, children learn how to distinguish between ‘safe’ and 'unsafe' situations, understand the differences between private and public parts of the body, to recognise early warning signs of potential danger and people they can talk to if they feel unsafe.
 
Activity-based, fun and interactive, the workshops have been well received, with positive feedback from teachers and students. Educating 2,000 children in a year is a great achievement, but there is still a long way to go.

The program was fully funded in 2009 by a generous grant through Perpetual Trustees; however, we are now seeking funds to support the 2010 workshops. We need $70K annually to fund a co-facilitator so we can continue educating kids in the Gold Coast region.

Friends of ACT for Kids, a Gold Coast based fundraising team, is motivated to engage the local community and ensure the program will run again this year. If you can help we would love to hear from you! Please call 1300 228 000 or email mail@actforkids.com.au for more information.

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