All Posts in exploitation

September 11, 2023 - No Comments!

Treehouses

 

 

The decision to make a treehouse both the centre and the starting point for our protective behaviours game, was intentional. In this game, the treehouse represents the secure-base or safe haven. It was chosen as an alternative to the participants beginning their journey from home or school. We know for many children home or school is the location where abuse, neglect, bullying or other negative experiences may have taken place.  

Treehouses signify freedom, playfulness, adventure and courage. As mentioned, perched up high in a tree, it is possible to gain a different perspective on life and the world around you. A treehouse also provides a space to process, decompress, relax and unwind - experiences we hope that children will have as they interact with this game.      

Children need safe people and safe spaces for their healthy emotional, psychological, and social development. And there are many reasons why these elements are essential.

 

In summary, safe people and safe spaces are essential for children's well-being and growth. They provide the necessary emotional support, security, and nurturing environment that children need to flourish emotionally, socially, and academically.

To find out more about our new protective behaviours program, The Treehouse Game, visit https://www.gozoe.org.au/treehouse-game/

September 6, 2023 - No Comments!

Child Protection Week 2023

More specifically looking into where we start our lives, where we start as a service sector, and where we start as decision makers

As a team, ZOE has had a presence in Australia for well over a decade, but the main focus has always been on supporting the prevention, rescue and restoration work in Thailand as well as raising awareness and bringing education in Australia. 

In terms of looking at the issue of domestic child trafficking, it’s only been the past two years that our attention has been drawn to what this crime looks like in our own country. 

“Where We Start Matters” 

In Australia ZOE is continuing to ask, “How can we assist in combating domestic child trafficking?” This is a very important question and one that we are exploring in depth. Now with an increased understanding of the problem in Australia, we are moving towards our goal of ‘rescuing every child’ and ensuring that no child is trapped in slavery and exploitative situations.  

Treehouse Game: The aim of this game is to help children build (or redefine) strategies around how to identify safe people and safe places. Safe people and places are imperative in children's lives in order to establish strong connections and find trustworthy people they can share with when situations concern them. The objective also includes strengthening protective behaviours, healthy boundaries in relationships, and the skills to identify positive role models. The game focuses on the thought processes and language around recognising and calling out unsafe behaviour (within the game and in real life). This game is targeted at children 10-12 years old (Grade 4-6). Find out more about the game here.


Bringing Up Great Kids (BUGK) Program: The family environment is key for the prevention of abuse in childhood. Parenting programs have been shown to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors associated with child maltreatment. To learn more about the Bringing Up Great Kids program click here.


Education and Awareness: We believe that creating a space for students to learn and ask questions from our team, will encourage them to think holistically about issues and embolden them to use their giftings and talents to become advocates for others. We offer a range of educational talks centered around child trafficking, Modern Slavery, ethical consumerism and exploitation. Each talk has been developed to be age-appropriate and can be modified to ensure that it meets the unique needs of your class. Find out more here.

Curriculum: We also have Year 9 and 10 curriculum. The Australian Curriculum gives teachers the opportunity to explore some of the big issues facing the globe today. These resources were developed to support Year 10, Unit 2: Geographies of Human Wellbeing and Year 9, Unit 2: Geographies of interconnections, with free downloadable versions available to comply with the Australian Curriculum Standards. The curriculum was written by Mark Easton who has written, co-written or contributed to more than forty textbooks for students and guides to support teachers in their use of these resources in the classroom. Find out more here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 21, 2022 - 1 comment.

The Dark Side of Social Media

Did you know that online sexual abuse is the fastest growing major crime in the world?
On Thursday May 5th, ZOE Australia hosted a screening of the documentary, The Children in the Pictures with guest speaker Warren Bulmer, at The Classic Cinema in Elsternwick.

While many of us prefer not to focus on the "dark side" of social media, we can not ignore the fact that there is so much research and evidence outlining the risks for individuals, families and even whole communities. The Children in the Pictures is the type of documentary that every parent, carer, grandparent and teacher needs to watch. It is both eye-opening and confronting whilst being undeniably one of the most relevant and necessary awareness tools in the fight against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the documentary highlights the commitment, dedication and global reputation of Argos and shines a light on what is the world’s fastest growing major crime,

“The cases covered in the film highlight the expertise of our investigators, along with Argos’ innovative investigative strategies that combined with international law enforcement collaboration, have resulted in the rescue of many children from abuse and offenders being brought to justice worldwide,” Commissioner Carroll said.

The film makers hope that this documentary encourages parents and caregivers to have important conversations with their children about online risks and how to navigate the internet safely.

More resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNK0OZF73CE&t=6s eSafety for parents - Online grooming

https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/inside-the-police-task-force-that-has-rescued/13565644

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/afp-warn-about-fast-growing-online-child-abuse-trend

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/07/australian-police-sting-brings-down-paedophile-forum-on-dark-web