Mike Payne

The 2024 Children’s Week National Theme, based on the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child, Article 27, reminds us that Children have the right to a clean and safe environment. An initial interpretation of this might focus our attention on the physical and ecologicial environments which surround us and are critical to children’s wellbeing, growth and development. We can readily enjoy the increasing provision of safe, fun, natural play-spaces in which children and young people can play, and develop physically and socially. A lot of media attention and public awareness is also focussed, quite rightly, on the short- and longer-term condition of the planet and the global environment which is being bequeathed to future generations.

Just as critical, however are the “unseen” environments which also have a significant impact on their growth and wellbeing. In order for them to be able to have the best opportunity to grow into healthy, resilient and productive members of society, children and young people also need to be able to experience environments which foster and stimulate positive and productive mental, social, emotional and psychological wellbeing and growth. Home, family and care-based environments, and those within schools, caring organisations and institutions, hospitals – to name just a few – all have a responsibility to provide optimal conditions for the development of the “whole” child or young person.

ACT Children’s Week is proud to acknowledge and support the wide range of individuals and organisations within our local community who are providing environments within which our children and young people have the best opportunity to grow, learn and thrive.