Latest News & Information
New resources for grandparents
GPV is pleased to announce the availability of written, podcast and video resources in the support of grandparents, parents and carers. We urge grandparents to regularly visit these resources and to alert their families and friends of support that may be suited to their circumstances and needs.
Regards
Anne L McLeish, OAM
Director
GPV/KCV applauds Sweden’s move to reduce “screen learning”.
Moves taken by Sweden to replace books with computers has had a negative effect on learning experiences of children and young people. So 15 years later they are reversing this trend and have allocated millions of dollars to do so.
GPV/KCV welcome comments about this move.
Cheers
Anne McLeish, OAM
Director
The Commissioner calls for action to improve education provision in Victoria
According to a recent report from the Commissioner for Children and Young people (Vic.) in 2023 children in out-of-home care were being expelled at five times the rate of other children and only a quarter were progressing from year 10 to year 12. The Commissioner made 47 recommendations to address the issue and says that the government’s reaction has been unsatisfactory.
GPV/KCV calls on parents and carers to support the Commissioner and her report by calling the office of the Minister for Education Ben Carroll MP to register support for urgent implementation of its recommendations.
Ministerial Office (03) 9651 1233 or Electorate Office (03) 9379 5879.
Regards
Anne McLeish
Director GPV/KCV
The 24th GPV/KCV Board is in place
The Board includes kinship carers and grandparents who are not raising children 24/7. This ensures that decisions made and priorities set are considered from the point of view of the needs of all children, bearing in mind that kinship carers have views about child welfare far beyond those shaped by their role as carers.
The 24th Board’s aspirations for children
Board members shared their aspirations for children, stating that all children in Australia must have access to a high-quality education, grow up with a sense of belonging to family and community, are raised in a safe environment without undue influence of social media, have their health protected, be given opportunities for long term positive pathways in life and to be recognised as individuals whose rights and aspirations need to be fulfilled.
Physical punishment is harmful for Australian children
KCV Podcast #36
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.
Education Funding
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 and highlights the inequities of current funding regimes. We publish it in the hope of provoking thought and discussion.
Regards
Anne McLeish
Director
How to support yourself and others through loneliness
Relationships Australia tip sheet for dealing with loneliness
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.
Regards,
Anne McLeish
Director
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.
Regards,
Anne McLeish
Director
GPV/KCV commends signing the petition to have physical punishment made illegal across Australia.
https://www.change.org/p/end-physical-punishment-of-children-protect-australian-children
OTHER RESOURCES (click on titles to view)
Non-physical types of discipline for children and young people (booklet)
Reasons not to hit children (article)
Physical punishment in Australia (video)
End physical punishment of children – protect Australian children
1,256 people have signed this petition to end physical punishment of Australian children.
In 1979, Sweden was the first country in the world to prohibit all physical punishment of children, including in the home. As of September 2022, 63 countries, including New Zealand, have done the same. Lawmakers in these countries listened to the experts in the field. They also listened to over 50 years of research that demonstrates the negative outcomes associated with the physical or corporal punishment of children.
It’s time Australia listened too! We need to prioritize the safety of children. This petition is calling on you to help a campaign to end physical punishment of children.
Please sign and ask others to sign the petition, which will be sent to Federal and State Attorneys General urging them to change legislation:
The Uluru Statement from the Heart
A list of people connected with GPV/KCV offering their support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. They ask their families and friends to do the same and call on the Australian Government to urgently address the issues raised in the statement.
Become a GPV Member Today
Grandparents Victoria (GPV) is a statewide non- profit organisation of grandparents working together to shape a positive future for all children in Victoria.
