Children’s Week is a national annual event held around the fourth Wednesday of October to coincide with UNICEF Australia’s Children’s Day. It is based on the articles expressed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, emphasising play, wellbeing and protection.
Children’s Week aims to recognise the talents, skills, achievements and rights of children and young people with the key message of ‘Celebrating Children’.
A wide range of community events and activities are organised at national, state and local levels to focus community attention on the needs and the achievements of children and young people. Events are coordinated in each state or territory by the state Convenor. In Western Australia, Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation Inc is celebrating 30 years of convening Children’s Week in Western Australia. Meerilinga welcomes the appointment of Children’s Week WA 2013 Family Ambassadors, David Wirrpanda, Shannon McGuire and their children Marley and Eli. Fairy Queen Caroline will remain Children’s Week Ambassador and continue to spread her magic along with the Children’s Week message across the State. Meerilinga coordinates four major events – the WA Children’s Week Launch, the WA Children’s Week Awards, the official Children’s Week Opening event – The Go for 2&5 Family FunSafe Day and EXPO and the Go for 2&5 Children’s Week Art Exhibition. The overarching theme and positioning statement of Children’s Week 2014 is “Celebrating Children”.
The 2014 Children’s Week key objectives are:
- Celebrate children and childhood.
- Provide free activities and events for children and families to participate in which support a happy and healthy lifestyle and to strengthen families by providing free access to informative and relevant community information.
- Raise community awareness of the rights of children.
- Encourage the community to nominate individuals or groups for the Children’s Week Awards
- Promote and celebrate the talents, achievements and capacities of children via the Children’s Week Awards
- Publicise opportunities for community organisations to promote their activities that support children and families.
- Promote and acknowledge sponsors and convenors role in organising Children’s Week WA
The Children’s Week Awards were launched on Wednesday 4 June at Meerilinga’s Beechboro Children and Family Centre. The Awards featured outgoing Children’s Week Patron – Mrs Tonya McCusker with Hon. Tony Simpson, Minister for Local Government and Communities launched the Awards.
The official launch event tied in with the 2014 ‘Right of the Child to Be Healthy’ poster. Based on article 24 ‘You have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment and information to help you stay well’.
The Children’s Week WA Awards recognise and celebrate the positive ways children contribute to the WA community. The awards will also recognise adults who have provided opportunities for children to reach their potential, and services which link WA’s various community groups and resources to improve public access and participation in the education, social skills, health and development of our children.
The awards categories for 2014 are: Schools and You Award, Go for 2 & 5 Awards, Communities Awards and Volunteering Award. As part of the promotional strategy, a ‘People’s Choice’ Art Award has been introduced for 2014. Once entries close on 8 August 2014, Meerilinga will select 6 pieces of art from the Go for 2 & 5 Art Award submissions. Pictures will be displayed at www.childrensweekwa.org.au. The public/schools will be encouraged to vote for their favourite piece of art between 11 & 29 August 2014. The artwork that collects the most public votes will win the People’s Choice Award. This will be announced on 22 October 2014 along with other results.
Children’s Week WA is also very excited to announce the creation of a Facebook page specifically for Children’s Week WA. Make sure you like our official page to keep up to date with Children’s Week WA and share with your friends to spread the message of Children’s Week.