The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) is the leading independent advocacy body working to develop and promote effective strategy, policy and action for prevention of child abuse and neglect throughout Australia. NAPCAN works within a public health conceptual framework focusing its expertise and energies on primary and secondary prevention strategies.
The organisation develops its prevention strategies on the basis of sound evidence, expert advice and consultation across its extensive national network.
It advocates to the Australian governments for the allocation of public resources for prevention and works with government on the design and implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies which impact on the whole community whilst targeting those at greatest risk.
NAPCAN also:
- Works directly with children and young people to strengthen
their protective behaviours and to build their resilience and
life skills. Two examples are NAPCAN's national LOVE BiTES
Program which targets 14 - 16 year olds with an innovative
and interactive program to break the intergenerational cycle of
sexual and domestic violence, and the SOSO (Smart Online Safe
Offline) program that works within the digital social networking
sites to educate children and young people how to stay safe in
their own "virtual" community;
- assists 'at risk' parents through face-to-face programs, and by
providing practical support and guidance through an extensive
network of professionals and practitioners. Specifically, NAPCAN
provides an array of resources and conducts educational
programs which promote and develop the knowledge and
skills necessary for positive parenting. In the Northern Territory
for example NAPCAN works directly with parents in remote
communities;
- works in local communities to facilitate the development of child
friendly communities, building social capital and strengthening
the resources available to support families and children at risk.
A key example of NAPCAN's work in this area is the Play a Part
Program which is being developed to provide a sustainable
and replicable model for the development of child friendly
communities. Currently being piloted in 5 centres in Queensland,
the experience of the Play a Part program is already providing
the model for child- oriented community development in other
states;
- raises public awareness of child abuse and neglect and
promotes universal and/or targeted strategies for positive social
change. NAPCAN's hard hitting "Children See Children Do"
advertising campaign has achieved international recognition
for its promotion of the message that the safety and wellbeing
of children is the responsibility of all adults.
NAPCAN Board of Directors
Teresa Scott, President and State Director - Queensland
Linda Smith, Vice President Director (media specialist)
Olya Booyar, State Director - New South Wales
Anthony Burton, State Director - Northern Territory
Catherine Campbell, State Director - Western Australia
Janine Carger, State Director - South Australia
Chris Greiner, Director (legal specialist)
Pat Jewell, State Director - Victoria
Sue Packer AM, State Director - Australian Capital Territory
Sean Pitt, Director (finance specialist)
Vicky Russell, State Director - Tasmania
Adam Tomison, Director (child abuse prevention specialist)
