The Wire

It was Child Protection Week earlier this month, but sadly, over the past few years, there’s been an increase in proven cases of child abuse and/or neglect. Child abuse is a serious, social problem that affects many countries, but due to the nature of the problem, it’s often seen as a taboo subject, and public discussion is quite limited. The International Society For Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (IPSCAN) is one organisation trying to change this. They’re currently holding their 15th annual congress in Brisbane, which brings together a diverse range of academics, workers and specialists in the field, to discuss various problems and strategies related to child protection. Also present at the forum are a number of youth delegates who speak from their own personal experience, and offer their input into coping and prevention strategies. Ella O’Keefe spoke to Samantha, a 17-year-old delegate from the Beenleigh Area Youth Services Centre, who thinks it’s essential that young people are consulted about their experiences with services, and are also asked for their input in designing or altering services to meet their specific needs.

IPSCAN 15th International Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect