Tomorrow on Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest child safety awareness and education day, it is an important reminder of our duty to protect every Australian child.
Daniel Morcombe was abducted and murdered in December 2003 while waiting for a bus just days before his 14th birthday.
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation was established by Daniel’s parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe in 2005. It aims to equip children with knowledge about how to stay safe in both physical and online environments and supports younger survivors of crime.
Federal Assistant Minister for Children and Families Michelle Landry, and the Morcombe family’s local Member of Parliament Ted O’Brien, said that Day for Daniel is an occasion that has continued to honour the legacy of Daniel Morcombe and reminds all Australians of our duty to protect children.
Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said that the Daniel Morcombe Foundation continues to go from strength to strength as it delivers on its mission to make Australia a safer place for children.
“Over the last 12 months the Foundation has delivered some major initiatives, including the largest Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson – with over 121,000 children watching this live streamed event,” Mr O’Brien said.
“In July, the Foundation launched the new Changing Futures program, to provide educators and frontline staff with the tools they need to identify, respond and provide early intervention to pre-teens displaying harmful behaviour.
“It is testament to the ongoing advocacy of Bruce and Denise that the Foundation’s community awareness and education campaigns have been such a tremendous success.”
Assistant Minister Landry said that child safety remained one of the Morrison Government’s top priorities.
“Every Australian child should have the opportunity to be safe, supported and reach their full potential,” Assistant Minister Landry said.
“To this end, the Morrison Government is taking action and working closely with Commonwealth agencies, states, territories and key non-government stakeholders to develop the successor plan to the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.
“Day for Daniel unites our community like nothing else and by working together I firmly believe that we can help secure safer environments for our kids and protect them from harm.”
In recognition of Day for Daniel 2020 on 30 October, Federal MPs and Senators were each given a Day for Daniel badge to wear in Parliament this week in support of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
With COVID-19 restricting this year’s Walk for Daniel event on the Sunshine Coast, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation is encouraging everyone to register for My Walk for Daniel, and walk for Daniel wherever you are on 30 October.
