PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Mr VENNING (Grey) (16:51): Today I want to talk about the National Child Protection Week from 6 to 12 September of this year. I want to acknowledge the important work being done right across Australia to keep children and young people safe. This year's theme is particularly powerful: 'Every conversation matters, shifting conversations to action'.
Talking about the safety and wellbeing of children matters. Talking about family violence matters. Talking about mental health, vulnerability, neglect and the pressures facing families matters.
But conversations alone are not enough. The real challenge is making sure those conversations lead to action. Here I'd like to mention quickly my recent trip to the APY Lands with Julian Leeser, the federal shadow minister for Indigenous Australians.
The APY Lands are remote Indigenous communities in the far north-west of South Australia. They have a lot of challenges, particularly when it comes to the youth in those communities. Some of those schools have between 160 to 180 kids on the books.
When I was there, the attendance rates were somewhere between 10 and 20. Most of those schools have about 50 to 60 children that have not been seen in years, and the principals refuse to take them off their lists because hopefully one day they'll pop up somewhere. These are the realities of what goes on in some of these communities.
What frustrates me is that DCP seem to treat Indigenous kids different to non-Indigenous children. You see it in black and white up in these remote communities. If there is a child in danger and the parent is an Indigenous parent, DCP has different rules.
I don't think that's acceptable. That is letting harm happen to our young Indigenous children. Something's got to change.
Back to my address. As I said, these moments can be small, but every intervention can make a huge difference. National Child Protection Week reminds us that protecting children isn't only about responding when something has gone terribly wrong.
It's also about preventing harm before it occurs. It's about building strong families and strong communities where children feel safe, valued, heard and, of course, supported. That requires all of us.
I want to acknowledge the incredible contribution of the frontline workers, the volunteers, the community organisations who work every day to support vulnerable children, young people and their families. This includes people working in child protection, domestic and family violence, education, health care, mental health and policing. These are not the most attractive jobs for young people coming out of school and university, but it's important work.
Sometimes it's thankless work, but it's very important work, and I want to thank those that do it. Many of these organisations in the regions are volunteer driven. They are often incredibly difficult jobs.
These volunteers are dealing with families at some of the most challenging points in their lives. They see the consequences of violence, instability, trauma and disadvantage. Yet every day they continue to show up for children and families who need someone in their corner.
Their contribution deserves our recognition and our support. We should also acknowledge that keeping children safe is inseparable from addressing family and domestic violence. Children don't have to be the direct target of violence to be harmed by it.
Growing up in a home where violence, fear or intimidation is present can leave lasting consequences for a child's development, wellbeing and sense of safety. As I was speaking with some of the amazing teachers and principals up in the APY Lands and in other communities across the state or the electorate of Grey, I was thinking about Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
If a child feels unsafe and is hungry, that is no place for them to learn. That is the most important part for some of our young kids who are in vulnerable situations. That's why prevention matters, and ensuring that families can access the right services at the right time.
Due to lack of investment and lack of support, this does not always happen in regional South Australia, despite family violence being more prevalent in the regions. That's why government investment in preventing family, domestic and sexual violence and improving outcomes for children is so critical.