World Children’s Day 2020: Investing in our future means investing in our children

The National Safe Church Unit is inviting people across the life of the Uniting Church in Australia to recognise World Children’s Day on 20 November by reflecting on their Church’s commitment to be a safe place for children and young people.  

“The 2020 theme for World Children’s Day, investing in our future means investing in our children, is at the heart of our commitment to keep kids safe” said Rev. John Cox, Director of the National Safe Church Unit.

“Investing in our future will always mean investing in our children. The UCA created the National Safe Church Unit to provide the necessary resources and information to empower people across the life of the Church to grow and sustain a culture of safety, which includes a consistent and best practice approach to child safety.

“We have an incredible group of dedicated people collaborating with us and leading this work in their Synods.

“We have asked a lot of these stakeholders in 2020, and together we have made huge progress in growing our safe church culture and the resources required to support this,” said Rev. Cox.

The National Child Safe Unit website at safechurch.uca.org.au hosts a growing suite of resources to support UCA Synods, Presbyteries, Congregations, Agencies and schools to grow their culture of safety.

More resources will be shared in 2021; including a new National Child Safe Curriculum, which will provide nationally consistent child safety training for the Church.

“The Church’s continued investment in keeping our children and young people safe is a non-negotiable investment in our future,” said Rev. Cox.  

World Children’s Day first began on 20 November 1954 and grew in prominence in 1959 when the United National General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and again in 1989 with the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Find out more about the work and resources of the National Safe Church Unit here, including the Principles of a Child Safe UCA and download a poster.

Contact the National Safe Church Unit info@safechurch.uca.org.au

Contact your Synod Safe Church lead person here