Australian Childhood Foundation, YMCA partnering to protect children

National not-for-profits, Australian Childhood Foundation and YMCA Australia have partnered to establish the Australian Child Safeguarding Business Coalition to drive action on child safeguarding across Australian businesses and improve outcomes for young people. 

In establishing the Australian Child Safeguarding Business Coalition, extensive research and market analysis have been conducted over the past 12 months.

International management consultancy, Nous Group, developed the Case for Change report, which highlighted that Australia is one of the fastest-growing markets for child sex abuse material in the world and that the prevalence of child sexual abuse online is also growing.

With seed funding from Westpac Group’s Safer Children, Safer Communities program, the Australian Child Safeguarding Business Coalition will work collaboratively to assess risks to children and young people, develop policies and practices and share resources to help enhance organisational child safeguarding within their businesses. 

Joe Tucci, CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation said, “Child sex abuse and exploitation is an issue that demands everyone’s attention and action.

“For decades, our research has demonstrated that the community actively avoids the problem of child abuse. One in six respondents did nothing when faced with a child they believed was being abused.”

The role of businesses in child safeguarding is significant, according to Phil Doorgachurn, executive director at YMCA.

He said, “Businesses may inadvertently be putting the safety of children and young people at risk through their products and services, marketing and distribution methods and relationships with, and investments in local communities.

“We are delighted that already, Westpac, TikTok, IHG Hotels & Resorts, The GPT Group and TBWA are joining with us to establish the Coalition.”

Siobhan Tothill, chief sustainability officer at Westpac said businesses have a responsibility to children who are some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“Supporting the Coalition means we can work with other organisations who share our interest and commitment to safeguarding children. If we get it right for our children today, we are setting up our communities to be safer into the future," she said.