This National Child Protection Week (September 7-13, 2025), the theme “Every child in every community needs a fair go” comes with a powerful call: “Every Conversation Matters – Shifting Conversation to Action.”
At Pathfinders, we believe conversations spark change. We’re turning discussions about child safety and wellbeing into real, impactful actions to protect and empower children, youth, and families.
Join us in starting conversations that lead to a fair go for every child.
Conversations That Drive Action
Pathfinders listens to the needs of regional NSW communities, where access to resources can be limited, and transforms those insights into programs that deliver results. Every conversation – with families, carers, community leaders, or children themselves – fuels our mission to break cycles of disadvantage and create brighter futures.
Out-of-Home Care: Conversations Build Safe Homes
We talk with families and communities to understand the needs of children who can’t safely stay at home. These conversations lead to action: recruiting and training foster carers to provide stable, loving homes, whether temporary or permanent. By facilitating supervised family time, we ensure kids stay connected to their roots while thriving in safe environments. Start this conversation: Could you or someone you know become a foster carer to give a child a secure future?
Women and Children’s Refuge: Conversations Offer Safety
Dialogues with women and children escaping domestic violence inform our Inverell Women’s and Children’s Refuge. These conversations translate into action: providing crisis accommodation, counselling, and resources to rebuild lives free from harm. Start this conversation: How can your workplace or community support safe spaces for families in crisis?
Youth Homelessness: Conversations Create Opportunities
We engage with young people aged 16-24 to understand the challenges of homelessness. Our Armidale Youth Homelessness Support Service acts on these insights, offering accommodation, education, employment, and mental health support to build independent futures. Start this conversation: What can we do to ensure youth in your community have access to opportunity?
Aboriginal Early Years: Conversations Honour Culture
Through conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, our Aboriginal Early Years Program provides culturally rich preschool education for children aged 2-6, setting them up for success while celebrating their heritage. Start this conversation: How can we promote early education that respects and uplifts Indigenous culture?
Our Family Connect and Support program turns conversations about parenting stress, financial hardship, or mental health into early interventions that keep families strong and prevent child protection crises. Start this conversation: What support do families in your community need to thrive?
Conversations That Strengthen Child Protection
Every conversation about child safety at Pathfinders leads to robust, actionable measures:
Working with Children Checks and Screening: We act on our commitment to safety by ensuring all staff, carers, and volunteers undergo rigorous Working with Children Checks and National Police Checks. These conversations about trust and accountability protect every child in our care.
In-Home Visits: Our Family Connect and Support team holds regular conversations with families during in-home visits, assessing needs and providing tailored resources to maintain safe, stable homes.
Family-Friendly Employment Practices: We engage staff and carers in ongoing conversations about child safety, providing continuous training and aligning with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles to prioritize cultural connections.
Your Conversation Can Spark Action
National Child Protection Week reminds us that every conversation matters – but only if it leads to action. At Pathfinders, we’re turning dialogue into real change, but we need your voice. Here’s how you can shift conversations to action:
Talk about volunteering: Share opportunities to volunteer with Pathfinders in your network.
Discuss fostering: Encourage conversations about becoming a foster carer to provide a child with a safe home.
Advocate for donations: Start a dialogue about supporting our programs financially.
Raise awareness: Post about National Child Protection Week and Pathfinders’ work on social media to inspire others.
