Evidence indicates that physical punishment can lead to increased anxiety or depression in adulthood, and the likelihood of people engaging in violence in later life.
There are alternative effective discipline practices that don’t involve physical punishment. These evidence-based practices can help increase children’s understanding of why they are being helped to recognise that certain behaviours are not desirable.
Sixty-six countries have legislated against the use of physical punishment on children and a further 27 countries have committed to doing so. Why is Australia not one of them? 

In this podcast we speak with Professor Daryl Higgins, director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and member of Ending Physical Punishment of Australian Children (EPPAC) advocacy campaign.

In recent months there has been regular attention given by the media to the funding of education. GPV/KCV pays attention to this issue because the provision of a high-quality, affordable education to all children in Australia has been an issue on which we regularly campaign. The attached cartoon as published in The Guardian newspaper highlights the inequities of current funding regimes. We publish it in the hope of provoking thought and discussion.

Regards

Anne McLeish

As loneliness comes into the spotlight it is important that we all do whatever we can to redress it, not only for our own sakes but also for those close to us and in our community.  KCV endorses this paper issued by Relationships Australia and urges you to read and share it about.

Cheers

Anne McLeish

Social Inclusion Action Groups are an important prevention initiative that support local communities to promote social connection and participation in local communities.

Social Inclusion Action Groups are run by local communities and supported by a funded coordinator from their LGA.

Each group will:

• identify local needs, existing initiatives and gaps related to social connection and social inclusion
• test, develop and support a range of funded initiatives that prevent social exclusion and support community participation, inclusion and connection
• promote mental health and wellbeing through place-based coordination and activities/initiatives addressing social inclusion and connection.

A new video from GPV/KCV on positive discipline

GPV/KCV is pleased to launch its video on positive discipline.  It is a feature in the GPV/KCV campaign to ensure that physical punishment of children is made illegal across Australia.

The video is a reminder that positive discipline can work and should be viewed in conjunction with reading written materials on positive discipline.

Non-physical types of discipline for children and young people (booklet)
Reasons not to hit children (article)
Physical punishment in Australia (video)

GPV/KCV commends signing the petition to have physical punishment made illegal across Australia.

This guide has been developed by KCV in response to previous nutrition seminars.

The articles in this magazine have been selected to reflect the conversations that took place at those seminars.

KCV congratulates the Care Support Help Desks on clearing a backlog of requests for Medicare cards and birth certificates for children in kinship care.

The Care Support Help Desk provides support for children in Foster, Kinship or Residential care by:

• applying for vital documents for children in care, including Medicare details and birth certificates

• establishing a link with their My Health Record, where appropriate

• recording and updating immunisations

• preparing letters to Centrelink to enable carers to access financial supports

• preparing letters to access Additional Child Care Subsidy, including before and after school care

• assisting with queries about care allowance payment

• recording school and childcare enrolments.

The Care Support Help Desk is primarily for new carers. However, the phone line and email is also available to existing carers if they need help with obtaining vital documents or support.