The Sunshine Coast will turn red this Friday – October 28 – for an important day that aims to keep every child safe.
Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day, in memory of Palmwoods teenager Daniel Morcombe.
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The Daniel Morcombe Foundation, founded by Bruce and Denise Morcombe, held the first Walk for Daniel in November 2005 to symbolise a trip home their 13-year-old son was not able to complete.
It follows a 4km path near where Daniel walked from Palmwoods to the Nambour Connection Road in Woombye, where he waited for the bus to take him to Sunshine Plaza shopping centre in Maroochydore, before being abducted in 2003.
The Walk for Daniel is now in its 18th year.
More than 1.5 million Australians have joined the foundation in wearing red and creating community awareness every October.
More than 6100 schools and early learning centres, plus hundreds more businesses and individuals, will host events to spread child safety messages in recognition of Day for Daniel.
This year’s theme is Brave Conversations.
“Day for Daniel is an opportunity for Australians to make a statement that crimes against children are not acceptable in modern Australia,” Mr Morcombe said.
As well as community awareness, DMF produces responsive and evidence-based educational resources, including several lesson plans to make it easier for teachers and parents to educate children on Day for Daniel.
The lesson plans are derived from the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum and cover topics ranging from feelings to cyberbullying.
“Day for Daniel is all about educating children (and their families) about their personal safety in both physical and online environments,” Mrs Morcombe said.
“We urge you to have a brave conversation with your children.”
For more information on Day for Daniel, to register for an event or to access educational resources, visit danielmorcombe.com.au.
Day for Daniel objectives
- to raise awareness about child safety and protection and to promote a safer community for children.
- to educate children regarding their personal safety and empower them to “recognise, react and report”.
- to provide free safety and educational material.
- to honour the memory of Daniel Morcombe.
- to raise funds to enable DMF to produce new research and evidence-based resources.
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