Media Release

3 October 2011

Child abuse awareness day a first for New Zealand

A major child abuse awareness day planned for Hamilton on 18 November is thought to be the first of its type in New Zealand. The event, named Buddy Day, is expected to involve thousands in the community.

The community event will see 180 life-size cardboard children, dressed by school children prior to the event, around the city, with a nominated adult ‘Caregiver’ to look after them for the day.

Invitations to participate went out to schools last week. Community, business and political leaders will receive invites to participate as caregivers this week.

The 180 cardboard ‘Buddies’ represent 10% - 1800 - of the child abuse cases substantiated in the Waikato last year.

The event is supported by WEL Energy Trust, Lion Foundation, Bryant Trust and Hamilton.

National child advocacy organisation, Child Matters, will provide leadership, information and support for the community-wide awareness day.

Child Matters CEO, Anthea Simcock, says the day is an opportunity to show that our community cares for our children. Everyone can make their own personal commitment that we will do whatever we can to make child abuse unacceptable in our community.

“Whenever there is an extreme case of child abuse reported there is frequently a large amount of public and media attention. This event will provide the chance to focus on child abuse, and what we can do to prevent it, without having to wait for another case to be reported.”

Organisers of Buddy Day are currently looking for volunteers to dress the cardboard ‘Buddies’ and for adult caregivers to care for them. Buddy Day will take place on Friday 18 November, which also marks the international day for child abuse awareness.

“Our kids will be able to see themselves in our ‘buddy’”, says Shoanna Palone, owner of Sunshine Childcare who has been one of the childcare organisations that have already agreed to participate. “We will be able to incorporate Buddy into our day by talking to the children about what kids need to be happy.”

The ‘Buddy caregivers’ will be asked to take their ‘Buddies’ with them the entire day on 18 November. It is hoped that with so many child buddies being visible throughout Hamilton, Huntly and Ngaruawahia on the day in various work places and public areas, it will initiate conversations about child abuse and what all adults need to do to help prevent it.

“We plan on taking our buddy to each area of our Hamilton facility - where over 70 employees work - during the day and allowing open discussions on what it all means,” says Dean Bell, CEO of Waikato Milking System and volunteer ‘buddy caregiver’. “It should be a bit of fun and a great way to raise awareness.”

The end of the day will see a gathering of the 180 Buddies, their creators and their caregivers in Garden Place, Hamilton, for a time of reflection on the day.

Organisers will use Facebook (www.facebook.com/buddydaynz ) extensively during the planning phase of the event and on the day to provide up to the minute publicity of how the day is unfolding and to use the medium to provide child abuse prevention information.

Anyone in the Waikato wishing to be involved in the day as either a Buddy decorator or caregiver should contact buddyday@childmatters.org.nz or phone 021 751 051.

-ENDS-

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