Thursday, October 24, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

A Legacy Of Safety

Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton has worked closely with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF) for approximately 20 years.

From the commencement of the 2015 school year, the teaching of a Child Safety Curriculum in all Catholic kindergartens, prep, primary schools and colleges in the Diocese of Rockhampton has been mandatory.  This safety curriculum is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education and consists of classroom lessons across 3 phases of learning: Prep to Year 2; Years 3 to 6 and Years 7 to 9.

Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton Kindergartens, Primary Schools and Colleges along with implementing the DM Child Safety Curriculum, have over the past 20 years engaged with the many events and learning opportunities for both students and staff delivered, facilitated and provided by the DMF.  Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton was also instrumental in working collaboratively with DMF to develop a Safety Curriculum for Early Years (Kindergarten) based on the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum Prep to Year 2. The Child Safety Curriculum - Early Years was developed for kindergartens across Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton. It reflects the key messages emanating from the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum intended for school-age children. In addition, there is an emphasis on the connection between the early years setting and the home environment and the significance of effective communication between the child’s family and educators.

The diversity of topics and focus of the DMF has assisted with a broader understanding of what it means for kindergartens, schools and the wider community to keep children safe.  The parent resources have been utilised by our schools and kindergartens to share with parents in an ongoing basis. Across our schools here has been a very strong attendance at the Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson which provides online lessons for early years and primary schools.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe have been welcomed to many of our Primary Schools over the past 20 years, sharing Daniel’s Story and the message of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation with students, staff and parents.

We are very proud to have been in a position to both support and work collaboratively with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation over these past 20 years enabling conversations to be had with children and young people about their own personal safety. Our schools participate annually in the Day for Daniel held on the last Friday in October. Our school’s participation in this day reinforces the message that the Daniel Morcombe Foundation prescribes to.

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