Crime Report
Crime Prevention Office
Innisfail Police
2 McGowan Dr,
PH: 4061 5777
Crime prevention is everyone’s business /
August 2013 / Senior Constable Megan Denning
Please forward this to any community member who may be interested.
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The Cassowary Coast Patrol Group is committed to reducing crime in our area
Play your part in assisting with Crime Prevention
www.qld.crimestoppers.com.au
To report anonymously via phone or online.
Consider POLICELINK for reporting of non-urgent crime
Click here HERE for more information
If you would like to report a non-urgent incident call Policelink. You can also contact Policelink for general enquiries.
Policelink is staffed 24/7 and is just another way you can report incidents to police.
If the matter is urgent or life threatening contact 000
For more information visit the NHW website:
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/nhwq/default.htm
or the NHWQ MyPolice Blog:
http://nhwq.org/
The vision of NHWQ is:
Strong and Connected Queensland Communities
The mission of NHWQ is to:
Encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together to reduce crime and improve community safety.
QueenslandChild Protection Week –
1 to 7 September 2013
Protecting Children is Everybody’s BusinessPlay your Part
Child Protection Week is coordinated nationally byNAPCAN and, in Queensland, by the Child Protection Week Committee under the auspicing body of ACT for Kids.
The committee is comprised of representatives from a range of government and non-government agencies concerned with child protection issues.
By promoting the value of children and focusing attention on the issues of child abuse and neglect, the objectives of Child Protection Week are to:
· raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection, including child abuse prevention, treatment, research, education, service provision and support for children, young people and families
· create a statewide umbrella focus for child protection allowing government and non-government agencies to present a cooperative and coordinated community oriented campaign
· support and value professionals and volunteer child protection workers by providing 'best practice' training and a forum to exchange ideas and information
· offer a framework to recognise advances in the field, and thereby contribute to better outcomes for all children and young people, especially those who havebeenharmed or are at risk of harm.
White Balloon Day 2013
White Balloon Day is a Bravehearts signature event held annually during Child Protection Week to raise awareness about child sexual assault and help empower survivors to break their silence. This year our goal is to raise $500,000 to help make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child. One in five children will be sexually assaulted. You can easily help us reduce this alarming statistic. Organise a white themed event at your school or workplace or simply tie a white balloon to your letterbox to show your support. Money raised will support education, prevention and counselling programs for children who have been sexually assaulted. /
QueenslandChild Protection Week –
1 to 7 September 2013
Tips for ParentsBased on Bravehearts’ Ditto Keep safe Adventure program, the 5 basic principles we need to teach our children (remember: it’s never too early to sow the seeds of personal safety) are:
1) To trust their feelings and to distinguish between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ feelings
2) To say ‘no’ to adults if they feel unsafe and unsure
3) That they own their own bodies
4) That nothing is so yucky that they can’t tell someone about it
5) That if they feel unsafe or unsure to run and tell someone they trust.
More detailed 10 tips:
As parents and carers of children there are a number of key steps we can take to build resilience and protect our children against sexual harm:
· Inform children that it is wrong for adults to touch them inappropriately and to engage children in sexual activity with them.
· Encourage your children to feel comfortable telling you anything, especially if it involves another adult. Encourage your children to identify other trusted adults they can talk to in confidence.
· Learn about the people with whom your child is spending time.
· Knowledge is power. Teach your children about their bodies. Teach them the correct language to use when describing their private parts. Emphasise that those parts are private. This will make them more at ease if they need to tell you about a touch that made them feel uncomfortable. Additionally, if a child uses a word like “garage” or “golf stick” to describe their private parts, a disclosure might be missed.
· Be an active participant with your children's activities, you will have a better opportunity to observe how the adults in charge interact with your children. If you are concerned about anyone's behaviour, take it up with the sponsoring organisation.
· Notice when someone shows one or all of your children a great deal of attention or begins giving them gifts. Take time to talk to your children, find out why the person is acting in this way.
· Teach your kids that they have the right to say NO to any unwelcome, uncomfortable, or confusing touch or actions by others. Teach them to tell you immediately if this happens. Reassure them that you are there to help and it is okay to tell you anything.
· Be sensitive to any changes in your children's behaviour or attitude. Encourage open communication and learn how to be an active listener. Look and listen to small cues and clues that something may be troubling your children, because children are not always comfortable disclosing disturbing events or feelings. This may be because they are concerned about your reaction to their problems. If your children do confide problems to you, strive to remain calm, non-critical, and non judgmental. Listen compassionately to their concern and work with them to get the help they need to resolve the problem.
· Practice basic safety skills with your children. Make an outing to a mall or a park a "teachable" experience in which your children can practice checking with you, using pay phones, going to the restroom with a friend, and locating the adults who can help if they need assistance.
· Be aware of safe Internet practices. Teach your child never to give out their last name, address, or phone number to a person on the Internet and never to meet Internet friends in person without a parent’s supervision and consent. Parents should help children choose a screen name that does not disclose information about their location. Teach children not to post pictures with identifying information such as a school uniform. Always keep your computer in a public area of your house – not in a child’s bedroom. If multiple computers for multiple children are necessary, consider laptops with wireless Internet.
Additionally there are some basic rules that we need to teach our children to keep them safe when they are not at home or with their parents.
Rules for younger children might include:
· Know your name, address, phone number and your parents’ name
· Always check with your parents or person in charge before going anywhere – even going somewhere with someone you know.
· Always take a friend with you when you go somewhere
· Never go anywhere with someone you don’t know - run away if someone tries to get you to go with them
Rules for teens might include:
· Don’t go out alone – there is safety in numbers
· Always let an adult know where you are going
· Never go anywhere with someone you don’t know
· You can say ‘no’ if someone makes you feel uncomfortable or threatens or pressures you to do something you don’t want to.
Here are some online specific tips:
There are some very basic tips you can share with your child, you should NEVER:
· Never tell anyone your name, address, phone number or school
· Never send a photo of yourself to anyone that you don’t know
· Never tell anyone your credit card or bank details
· Never make plans to meet anyone you find online - people you meet online aren’t always who they claim they are
· Never talk to anyone who is nasty or makes you feel uncomfortable
You should ALWAYS:
· Be careful who you talk to in chat rooms or on instant messenger
· Ask permission to use chat rooms
· Tell your parents or carer if someone says something to you in an email or chat room that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
· Stay away from websites that are not meant for children
· Remember that people are not always as they seem online
For further information please follow the link to the braveheart website: http://www.whiteballoonday.com.au/pages/tips-for-parents.php
White Balloon Day BBQ
Friday 6th September – between 11am and 1pm.
Innisfail Child Protection & Investigation Unit will hold a BBQ outside Rees & Co Butchers in Edith Street, Innisfail.
$2 sausage sizzle –
proceeds will go to Bravehearts foundation
Please come along and support this great cause!!!