CELEBRATING the power of children’s voices in shaping the way they want to be treated, the Nambucca Valley poster competition has announced the winners of its National Child Protection week activity.

Mel Kemp, Bowraville’s St Mary’s School Child and Family Support worker, initiated the competition across the region’s schools to ensure that every child and young person’s voice of the Nambucca Valley is represented and heard by every parent, community member and service provider.

“Children’s voices hold the power to guide adults on how to best respond allowing every child, in every community an opportunity to thrive,” Mel said.

“The poster competition allowed for children and young people to express their needs in a creative way.

“All students communicated that it takes more than just your family to have your needs met and to feel safe.”

Community, school, nature, fruit trees, gardens, playgrounds, food and sports fields were the most common themes of the posters.

“Service providers across the Nambucca Valley collaborated to assist in reaching as many children and young people as we could and were involved in selecting the finalists and donated prizes.”

Services include: Jaanymili Bawrrugga, Lifetime Connect, Pathfinders, CASPA Aboriginal services and support program, Interrelate, Bowra Youth Hub and OneMob Radio.

All service providers are keen to make the competition a yearly event and look forward to watching it grow.

“We all understand that this year was unique with home learning impacting on our reach and the ability for children to participate and submit their posters without being at school.”

Finalists were selected via Zoom with all service providers on the Monday and Nambucca Valley Mayor Rhonda Hoban judged the winners on the following Thursday, 16 September in the council chambers.

Winners were announced on OneMob Radio, with prizes and certificates delivered on Friday as well.

And the winners are:

Preschool – Mila from Macksville preschool.

Stage one – It was a close competition so two winners were selected. Diah from St Patrick’s Primary School and Odin from St Mary’s Primary School.

Stage two – Again, the competition was too close so two winners were selected. Jai from St Patrick’s Primary School and Ella from St Mary’s Primary School.

Stage three – Holly from St Mary’s Primary school.

Honours – Zayn from stage one at St Mary’s Primary School.

 

By Andrea FERRARI