National Child Protection Week (6-12 September 2026) is a time for Australians to come together around a simple but important idea: every child has the right to feel safe, supported, and heard. The week raises awareness of child abuse and neglect while encouraging all of us to take action that strengthens families, communities, and the supports around children and young people.
This year’s theme, Every Conversation Matters, Shifting Conversation to Action, recognises that meaningful change happens when we move beyond awareness and take practical steps to help children thrive.
At Brisbane Youth Service (BYS), we see every day that protecting children is about more than responding to crises. It is about creating the conditions that help children, their parents, and caregivers feel connected, supported, and safe.
Child protection begins long before a crisis
When people hear the words “child protection”, they often think about intervention after something has gone wrong. But prevention is just as important.
Children do best when they have strong relationships, supportive communities, and early access to support. That is why National Child Protection Week focuses not only on responding to harm, but on strengthening families and communities before challenges become crises.
Protecting children is not the responsibility of one system or one service. Parents, carers, neighbours, educators, health professionals, community organisations, and governments all have a role to play.
Supporting young parents supports children
Around one in three young people accessing BYS support are parents. Many young families are navigating homelessness, financial pressure, domestic and family violence, mental health challenges, and complex service systems, making an already demanding time even harder.
Programs such as Safe Young Mums and Bubs recognise that supporting parents and supporting children go hand in hand. Workers walk alongside young families, providing parenting coaching, guidance around child development, and practical support that helps parents build confidence, strengthen their parenting skills, and connect with their children.
Programs such as Safe Young Mums and Bubs recognise that supporting parents and supporting children go hand in hand. Workers walk alongside young families, providing parenting coaching, guidance around child development, and practical support that helps parents build confidence, strengthen their parenting skills, and connect with their children.
If it’s negative, if it’s really directive and deficit-based, we won’t get the good outcomes that we want. Young parents are far more likely to engage when they feel respected, supported, and recognised for their strengths.
Building strong foundations for children
“There has been a strong focus on strengthening our practice with children and recognising them as a key recipient of our services,” Lou said.
Responsive, back-and-forth interactions between children and caring adults help build the foundations for healthy development, wellbeing, and resilience. This understanding sits at the heart of BYS’s family-focused work.
Whether it is helping a young parent understand developmental milestones, supporting families to connect with health services, or creating opportunities for parents to build peer networks, the goal is the same: ensuring children have the relationships and support they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
Partnerships also play an important role. For example, through collaboration with Children’s Health Queensland, child health nurses visit the Safe Young Mums and Bubs site, making it easier for young parents to access advice and support in a familiar environment.
Every conversation matters
“The most important outcome that we can contribute to, is the strengthening of the attachment relationship between a parent and their child, as that alone will be the strongest protective factor for the child against future victimization. What we do today, will have an impact in the future” Lou said.
This National Child Protection Week, we are reminded that protecting children is everyone’s business. Every conversation that builds understanding, every action that strengthens a family, and every effort to create safer and more supportive communities contributes to a brighter future for children and young people.
By listening to children and investing in the conditions that help them thrive, we can move from conversation to action. When children and young people are supported, our whole community benefits, now and for years to come.
One‑third of the young people we support (aged 12–25) are parents, caring for young children while facing homelessness and complex trauma themselves. Young parents need support that recognises both their own needs and their children’s.
Brisbane Youth Service offers individualised support, parenting groups, and a program for young dads, helping them stay connected, build parenting skills, and strengthen family safety and wellbeing. Our Safe Young Mums and Bubs Program provides specialised accommodation and intensive, wraparound support for young mums or pregnant people experiencing homelessness and domestic, family or sexual violence, and their babies.
Donate today to help break the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage
One‑third of the young people we support (aged 12–25) are parents, caring for young children while facing homelessness and complex trauma themselves. Young parents need support that recognises both their own needs and their children’s.
Brisbane Youth Service offers individualised support, parenting groups, and a program for young dads, helping them stay connected, build parenting skills, and strengthen family safety and wellbeing. Our Safe Young Mums and Bubs Program provides specialised accommodation and intensive, wraparound support for young mums or pregnant people experiencing homelessness and domestic, family or sexual violence, and their babies.
Donate today to help break the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage
We’re nearly 50!
Since 1977, Brisbane Youth Service has walked alongside young people facing disadvantage and homelessness. Almost five decades on, our mission remains: helping Brisbane’s young people shape new futures. As we approach our golden jubilee in 2027, we invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements and resilience of young people, listening to their voices, and driving lasting change, together.
We’re nearly 50!
Since 1977, Brisbane Youth Service has walked alongside young people facing disadvantage and homelessness. Almost five decades on, our mission remains: helping Brisbane’s young people shape new futures. As we approach our golden jubilee in 2027, we invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements and resilience of young people, listening to their voices, and driving lasting change, together.