PRESS RELEASE: Who is keeping your child safe? NAPCAN urges parents to look beyond the school gate this National Child Protection Week

With children increasingly spending time in a range of settings outside established child-safety systems, NAPCAN is urging parents to ask more questions about every place their children spend time.

Ahead of National Child Protection Week, 6–12 September, NAPCAN says child safety must extend beyond schools and early childhood centres to all settings where children spend time, including tutoring businesses, sporting clubs, dance schools and other services that need strong safeguarding and oversight.

Private tutoring is one growing area where parents may have limited visibility of who is supervising their children and what child-safe practices are in place, particularly in major cities.

“Parents rightly ask questions about safety at schools and childcare centres, but may know very little about the people supervising their children in other settings,” NAPCAN CEO Leesa Waters said.

“Whether it is tutoring, sport, dance, recreation or another activity, parents should feel confident asking who is responsible for their child’s safety and what safeguards are in place.

“Who is the tutor? What is their background? Does the organisation have child-safe policies? Are staff trained to recognise concerning behaviour and respond appropriately?
“These are reasonable questions and parents should feel confident asking them.”

This year’s National Child Protection Week theme, “Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action,” calls on adults to move beyond awareness and take practical steps to protect children.

NAPCAN is encouraging parents and carers to:
– know who is spending time with their children and where;
– ask organisations about screening, supervision and child-safe practices;
– create regular, informal opportunities for children to talk;
– notice changes in a child’s words, behaviour or mood; and
– listen, believe and act when a child raises a concern.

“Children do not always tell us directly when something is wrong,” Ms Waters said.

“Listening means paying attention to what children say, how they behave and what may have changed. Children need to know that if they speak up, an adult will take them seriously.”

This year, National Child Protection Week’s official launch event will be held on 4 September at Customs House and opened by Minister for Social Services, the Hon Tanya Plibersek. The program will focus on digital and media literacy.

NAPCAN is urging adults to take a more active interest in children’s digital lives and talk early about respectful relationships, consent and peer-on-peer harm.
“We cannot protect children in online spaces we make no effort to understand,” Ms Waters said.

“Ask children to show you what they watch, who they follow and how their online world works. Be curious and approachable, not only restrictive.

“The child protection system cannot keep children safe on its own. Prevention begins with adults paying attention, asking questions and acting when something does not feel right.”

ENDS

Notes for editor:

Media contact:
Clare Walker
0420 507 376
[email protected]

NAPCAN spokespeople available for interview:
Leesa Waters, NAPCAN CEO
Lesley Taylor, President of NAPCAN board
Upon request, NAPCAN has several other senior staff, experts, and board members
who are available for interviews or comment on most topics relating to child
protection and wellbeing.

Related resources:
● National Child Protection Week, Child Protection week info
● NAPCAN ‘Tips for Playing Your Part’ – Community prevention resource
● National Child Protection Week, Pledge you action
● National Child Protection Week, Webinar program
● National Child Protection Week is held from 6–12 September 2026.
● National Child Protection Week is led by NAPCAN, the National Association
for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
● The campaign brings Australians together to share ideas, strengthen
communities and turn conversations about child safety into practical action.
● Read NAPCAN’s media guide for reporting on children and young people.