Every Conversation Matters: Centacare NQ’s Rock Garden for Child Protection Week

Every Conversation Matters: Centacare NQ’s Rock Garden for Child Protection Week

At Centacare North Queensland, we believe in the power of community and conversation, especially when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of our children. This year, in recognition of Child Protection Week, we’ve introduced an initiative that invites everyone to take part: the Centacare NQ Rock Garden.

Why a Rock Garden?

The theme of this year’s National Child Protection Week is "Every Conversation Matters," highlighting the importance of open dialogue about child safety and wellbeing. Our Rock Garden serves as a physical symbol of these conversations - a place where each rock represents a shared commitment to protecting and nurturing our children.

How It Works

From September 2nd to 6th, the Rock Garden will be set up at our Townsville office location 410 Ross River Road, Cranbrook. Staff have been painting rocks with messages of hope, protection, and positivity. These rocks will be placed in our front garden, creating a vibrant display that showcases our collective dedication to child protection.

We invite families from our community to join in. Families can paint their own rocks, swap them with others, or take one home as a reminder of the importance of child protection. This inclusive activity encourages conversations between parents, children, and community members about the role we all play in keeping children safe.

Why Participate?

Child Protection Week is a time to reflect on the vital role we each play in safeguarding our children’s futures.  The popular phrase ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ is something I think about often, perhaps given my own career I would reflect that it takes a village to build a safe place for children to thrive” said Paula Washington Executive Director.  By participating in the Rock Garden, you’re not just painting a rock - you’re contributing to a broader conversation about safety, trust, and the importance of community support to safeguard our children and vulnerable.

Each rock tells a story, and together, they form a powerful message: that every child in our community deserves to grow up in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. By engaging in this activity, we’re promoting an environment where these crucial conversations can thrive, helping to create a culture of protection and care that extends beyond this week.

Join Us in Making a Difference

We encourage everyone - families, workplaces and community members - to take part in this initiative. Whether you’re painting, swapping, or simply admiring the Rock Garden, your involvement helps to strengthen our community’s commitment to child protection.

Let’s come together to ensure that every conversation about child safety is heard and valued. Join us in celebrating Child Protection Week and making a lasting impact through the Centacare NQ Rock Garden. Together, we can make a difference, one rock or conversation at a time.

Want to learn more about how to keep children safe?

Kaleidoscope (for kids)- Kaleidoscope is a Centacare NQ developed life skills education program to support children identify feelings, increase knowledge about personal safety and learn protective behaviours to help them feel safe and be connected to adult networks they can ask for help.

The program uses interactive sessions teaching children their right to feel safe, how to identify their feelings, differences between safe and unsafe secrets and behaviours, and how to identity and manage different situations where they may feel unsafe.
LOCATION: Townsville & Outreach (subject to request)
LEARN MORE: About Kaleidoscope Here

BRIDGE Program (for families) – Is a free program that provides support for families to improve both family and individual functioning, wellbeing, and safety.
LOCATION: Townsville, Magnetic Island, Burdekin, Ingham, Charters Towers and Mount Isa.
LEARN MORE: About the BRIDGE Program Here

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
Within the Townsville Diocese. LEARN MORE: Here

NAPCAN - The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) was co-founded by Rosemary Sinclair AO and Christine Stewart OAM in 1987, because they saw that the abuse and neglect of children was a taboo topic in Australian society in the 1980s. They were determined to change this and create safer communities for children. They set about to achieve this vision with the assistance of a passionate team of volunteers and a range of influential and committed partners.
LEARN MORE: About upcoming Child Protection Webinars Here

Qld Child Protection Week - Child Protection Week in Queensland is coordinated by the Child Protection Week Committee under the auspicing body of Act for Kids. In other states NAPCAN runs National Child Protection Week.
LEARN MORE: About the Key Messages Here