Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Protecting Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory

Joint Media Release with:

  • Warren Snowdon MP
    Minister for Indigenous Health
    Member for Lingiari

The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) will receive $1.1 million over the next five years from the Australian Government to deliver a project that supports parents in remote Aboriginal communities to protect their children from being exposed to sexually explicit or very violent material, as part of Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory.

Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin and Minister for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon said the funding is part of the Stronger Futures Classification Education Project which will raise community awareness of the National Classification scheme.

“We want all children to grow up healthy, happy and safe,” Ms Macklin said.

“Ensuring children are protected from viewing unsuitable media and entertainment content that upsets, harms or disturbs them is crucial to their development.

“This project will support parents and families to determine media and entertainment content suitable for children, understand what a family or child can do if they are exposed to unsuitable material as well as avenues to make complaints and get help.”

Mr Snowdon said the funding announcement follows extensive consultations the Australian Government has had with Northern Territory communities which found that parents are concerned about their children being exposed to unsuitable media and entertainment content.

“This funding will support NAPCAN to work with Aboriginal families so that Aboriginal children in remote communities are safe from harmful media and entertainment materials,” Mr Snowdon said.

“As part of the project NAPCAN will work directly with Aboriginal organisations nationally and in the Territory to ensure that information is developed and delivered in a culturally sensitive manner.

“Importantly, Aboriginal people will be employed in the delivery of the project. This is part of our commitment under Stronger Futures.”

The project is part of the Gillard Government’s $3.4 billion Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory initiative which works with Aboriginal people to tackle the unacceptable levels of disadvantage too many people still experience.