From 7–13 September, Australia marks National Child Protection Week, a time to reflect on the role we all play in keeping children and young people safe. This year’s theme, “Shifting Conversation to Action,” aligns closely with Outcare’s commitment: child safety isn’t something we simply talk about – it’s something we live and embed across every part of our organisation. At Outcare, safeguarding children is more than a responsibility – it’s part of our DNA. It guides how we work with our staff, how we deliver services, and how we build relationships with the communities around us.
In this video, David Cain, Managing Director and Toni Bolte, Practice Lead share how Outcare is embedding child safety standards across our people and programs, and why this work is central to who we are as an organisation.
Turning Words into Action
Our commitment to child safety includes:
- Supporting our people with training, resources, and guidance to feel confident in safeguarding.
- Listening to the voices of children, young people, and families, especially in our Youth Residential programs, so that lived experiences shape our services.
- Embedding safety in our culture, policies, and practice to ensure it’s at the centre of how we operate.
- Working in partnership with communities and organisations to create safe, supportive environments.
To kick-start the week, Outcare employees gathered to explore how each of us – personally and professionally – can support and promote the safety and inclusion of children. During the interactive session, Toni introduced our Child Safety Board, where everyone has the opportunity to post their individual commitment on a shared wall.
This could be a simple step we take in our role, or a personal action we’ll make in our daily life. Every contribution matters.
A Shared Responsibility
Child safety is everyone’s responsibility, and each of us has a role to play. As David and Toni highlight in the video, every action—whether personal or professional—can make a difference in protecting children and building safer communities.
We encourage you to explore resources from NAPCAN and the Centre for Relational Care, and to reflect on how you, too, can shift conversations into meaningful action.
Together, we can create communities where children and young people feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.
“Our commitment is about action. That means equipping our staff with training, guidance, and the tools they need to feel confident in creating safe, inclusive environments for children and young people. It also means listening—truly listening—to the voices of children, families, and communities so their experiences guide how we shape and grow our programs.” – Toni Bolte, Therapeutic Lead
Our Request for Action
We encourage everyone – our staff, partners, and wider community – to take part in National Child Protection Week by:
- Exploring valuable resources from NAPCAN and the Centre for Relational Care.
- Reflecting on how your role can contribute to child safety.
- Starting conversations that don’t just raise awareness but create positive change.
At Outcare, we know that protecting children is not just a responsibility – it’s an opportunity to create stronger, safer communities for generations to come.
About Outcare:
Outcare supports individuals facing challenges such as intergenerational trauma, mental health issues, family and domestic violence, and systemic barriers. While we have deep expertise in the justice and child protection systems, our work extends beyond those sectors to meet people where they are, when they need it most. We help build connected, resilient communities by walking alongside individuals on their journey to healing, empowerment, and positive social engagement.
Outcare is part of PeopleKind Group. For media enquiries, please contact: communications@outcare.com.au.
