Laura Campbell

Give children a dedicated voice in federal decision making AND to address abuse, neglect and trauma with a focused government action. Children are going to need more than just a minister to fix an issue that is alarmingly high. 62% experienced abuse, neglect and trauma as a child. Only 38% of parents were not perpetrating abuse, neglect and trauma onto their children? That is a FAIL. Consider why. Generational trauma needs to be tackled. How? Make psychology a core course in curriciulum starting in preschools (that is developmentally appropriate). Talks in schools about what is okay and not okay so that children can recognise what goes on is not okay, to feel empowered to speak up and know who and where they can seek support. More safeguards are needed: in daycares, preschools, schools, before and after school care, general practices, hospitals (and NOT just public schools, catholic, christian and other privatised schools also. Same Safeguards and external bodies to audit across the board). Just because a child comes from a family that can afford to pay for private education does NOT mean they are safe from abuse in the home. More school counsellors. More training in professionals and employees to detect and report. Having the skills to detect not just signs of physical snd sexual abuse in children but also psychological/emotional abuse and emotionalneglect: it is underestimated in impact and harder to detect (therefore more training to identify is needed). Also, on that note: children who have been abused and have matured into late teens/adulthood and have associated trauma but have not yet had children of their own: more happening here is needed too. Often children fear speaking up when they are still a child and/or living under the same roof that the abusers live in. More youth refuge, more associated supports: healthcare, psychological support, safe housing, food security. Children need a voice but they also need the right adults to show, teach and guide them.