It’s Children’s Week – a week set aside annually to celebrate the right of children to enjoy childhood.
In many ways, it seems such a simple thing – ‘enjoyment’, the state of feeling pleasure and satisfaction. Children’s enjoyment can be irrepressible and infectious. I think of the countless times over the years of being a parent, that I have been filled with ‘joy’ watching the faces of my three children light up as they embrace the experiences life offers them.
Of course, life can never be a continuous flow of joy and wonder and our children must learn how to traverse the mundane, the difficult and the painful. But as a young person leaves childhood, what a legacy for them to be able to say, ‘on balance I enjoyed my childhood’.
There are some fundamental precursors to children’s enjoyment, the important physical basics like enough food and a secure home, feeling safe physically and emotionally, and being ‘held’. We know that for many children in Australia one or more of these foundational elements is lacking.
It was Anti-Poverty week last week (more below) and current figures show that there are 2.65 million adults and children in Australia living below the poverty line. How difficult it must be for children to experience unfettered joy when they sense the ongoing struggle that their parents/carers are facing? I add my voice to the growing number in Australia who are saying that In a country with as much wealth as ours, this is a terrible indictment of our society. More can and should be done and there can be no denying that many of the levers to bring about change rests with the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, had significant impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of many young people across the country. As one of our Melbourne based members reflected to me during the heart of yet another lockdown for Victoria: ‘how can our young people have hope for the future, when their parents are struggling to see a time beyond lockdown?’ I sincerely hope that as restrictions continue to ease for Victoria and NSW, some hope is restored, and enjoyment can be found again. Members have observed that counselling and support for children has been particularly difficult during lockdown with many children hard to engage via online service delivery. As things are opening up, demand for face-to-face services for children is – or is anticipated to – rapidly escalate. Now, more than ever, our children and young people need our support so that they can rightfully feel joy again.
A reminder that FRSA’s Annual General meeting, which is being held virtually this year, is scheduled for Friday 19 November at midday (AEDT). Members will have received their Notice of AGM but If you have not received your notice and would like to attend, please be in touch with Narelle Kay at the National Office (02) 6162 1811 or admin@frsa.org.au.
By Jackie Brady
