Let Their Voices Be Heard – A Bundaberg Community Project
Let their voices
be heard
Let their Voices be Heard is a community project that was coordinated by the Bundaberg Child & Youth Protection Partnership in collaboration with individuals, organisations, and services who assisted or worked with local children. This valuable community resource, involved gathering, recording and presenting the views of local children and young people.
The Story so far...
Bundaberg's Charter for Children
and Young People's Wellbeing
In 2012 the Bundaberg community started work on developing a formal Bundaberg Charter for Children and
Young People's Wellbeing.
The Charter was launched during Child Protection Week 2013 with over 40 community services, government agencies, businesses and schools committing to the following Charter Principals.
Our local community is responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of children and young people is a priority
Children and young people in this community will grow up in a safe environment.
Children and young people are valued and respected.
Children and young people are able to know, explore and maintain their culture including their identity, values, gender, ethnicity, abilities, sexuality and spirituality.
Children and young people are encouraged and enabled to develop healthy relationships with others.
Children and young people have opportunities for their learning, social and recreational development, encouraging them to realise their potential.
Children and young people are given a voice and enabled to make decisions about their lives and their contribution to our community.
Families are given support and resources to nurture children and young people.
Bundaberg's Let Their Voices Be Heard Community Resource
In 2014 the Bundaberg Let Their Voices Be Heard Community Resource was launched by the Child and Youth Protection Partnership.
The resource was designed around Bundaberg's Charter themes of community, wellbeing, safety, respect, identity, healthy relationships, opportunities, having a voice and support. Over 500 local children across the broader Bundaberg region participated in a variety of activities within schools, childcare centres and in a variety of community settings, where children’s thoughts and ideas were heard around these themes. Activities were designed by counsellors and community workers skilled in working with children and the results, captured in this resource, demonstrate children letting their voices be heard. Children not only participated, the activities empowered them. As a result their participation has provided a tapestry of creative and thoughtful responses and beautiful artwork that highlights their views.
The children’s words and pictures give us a glimpse into how they see their world. It is a world of diversity and positivity where the children of the Bundaberg region express their strong connection to family and their community regardless of the obstacles and complexities they may face.
Download the full Let Their Voices Be Heard Community Resource to see and hear about our community through the eyes and voices of the young people of Bundaberg.
How you can get involved
- Take the Pledge and Sign the Charter. Sign and display the Charter at your workplace.
- Start a conversation at home, with your friends and at work about how we can all contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people. Tips for talking to children about personal safety.
- Read the Let Their Voices Be Heard resource and share the themes with the children and young people in your life.
- Participate in Child Protection Week events in your neighbourhood.
- Play your Part - Tips for businesses, carers, community workers, teachers, neighbours, churches, aunts and uncles.
- Join the conversation online. Check the Wide Bay Kids Facebook page - read the tips, commentand share the posts.
