Australia had 309,571 reports of child abuse and neglect in 2006-2007 (AIHW 2008)
The Protective Behaviours Program teaches children, young people and adults a range of skills and strategies to help prevent and reduce child abuse and violence in our communities.
Whilst the task of preventing child abuse appears daunting for most parents, teachers and service providers, Protective Behaviours provides a framework that can be easily adapted to home, school and community environments.
Children who have been taught Protective Behaviours are more able to discern threats to their safety and are more likely to suggest using personal safety strategies than comparison children (Johnson, 1985)
In order to work towards preventing children becoming victims of abuse, particularly sexual abuse, it is important to educate children on their rights to personal safety and the way we do this is by teaching children the following:
“We all have the right to feel safe at all times”
and
“We can talk with someone about anything, no matter what it is."
It is important that we empower children so as they are able to apply these preventative strategies as everyday life skills. The Protective Behaviours Program teaches children all of these preventative strategies in a non threatening and non sexual way.
For information on the Parent Workshops please refer to the Parent Information page.