Child Protection Symposium focusses on changing the conversation

Professionals from across North Queensland will gather tomorrow at the 2019 North Queensland Child Protection Symposium to highlight the importance of supporting parents in order to help children thrive.

The annual symposium, which is a collaboration between the Townsville Hospital and Health Service and the National Association for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), is this year being held in the lead up to National Child Protection Week (1-7 September).

Townsville Hospital and Health Service child protection unit clinical nurse consultant Caroline Whitworth said the symposium would focus on changing the way health professionals communicate and engage with families to help children thrive in their environment.

“There’s no question that a child’s upbringing can have a profound effect on a child’s development which is why the conversation is evolving from simply talking about child welfare, to looking at how we can better support parents to get to the root of the issue,” Ms Whitworth said.

“It is often assumed that good parenting comes naturally to individuals; however, this is not always the case.

“An individual’s personal circumstances can shape the options they see as being available to them.

“To raise thriving kids, parents need support to navigate life’s choppy waters; as industry professionals we need to work out how to best engage with parents and communicate with them.”

Ms Whitworth said the symposium brought some of the best minds in child welfare together in one event.

“We are privileged to have 2019 Senior Australian of the Year and NAPCAN Board Director Dr Sue Parker who is a former paediatrician and child rights advocate, JCU youth mental health expert professor Brett McDermott and Queensland University of Technology Director of the Childhood Adversity Research Program professor Ben Matthews as just some of the experts who we are lucky enough to have presenting at our forum,” she said.

Ms Whitworth said while health professionals played a vital role in child protection, it was up to everyone to keep children safe.

“Child protection is everyone’s business,” Ms Whitworth said.

“As an organisation, and as a community, we need to continue to work collaboratively to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children.”