White balloons take flight to protect children

WHITE Balloon Day is tomorrow (Friday), and the annual national campaign will again aim to increase community awareness of child sexual assault to prevent a crime affecting more than 58,000 children across Australia every year.

The annual initiative by Bravehearts is endorsed and funded by the Department of Social Services.

While the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has smashed the wall of silence surrounding cases of child sexual assaults in institutional environments; sadly the majority of these crimes are perpetrated inside the family unit or by someone known to the family.

Bravehearts founder and executive chair Hetty Johnston said increasing awareness of child sexual assault through White Balloon Day – now in its 22nd year – during National Child Protection Week was critical.

“Child protection is everybody’s business, because it takes a village to raise a child, an entire community of adults and stakeholders, and we must work together to better protect our children and allow them to grow up safe from harm.

“With rates of child sexual assault and exploitation in Australia remaining at crisis levels, now more than ever before Bravehearts needs the support of communities and governments to help increase awareness to protect our children from a crime that breaks the little hearts and spirits of Australia’s most precious treasures – our children.

“Of women who were victims, more than 90 per cent knew the perpetrator with 55 per cent being relatives. For male victims, more than 80 per cent knew the perpetrator with 23 per cent being relatives.

“Sadly, if we were to bring all these children together in one place, they would fill the MCG not once, but a staggering eight times. That is the tragic magnitude of this largely hidden crime against Australian children with the long-term damage caused estimated to cost the Australian economy between $13.7 billion to $38.7 billion.”

During National Child Protection Week everyone can help our children stay safe by participating in White Balloon Day and registering at whiteballoonday.com.au.

Phone the toll-free support line on 1800 272 831 Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 4:30pm (AEST) or head to bravehearts.org.au.