Yvette Belier

Child abuse in all its forms affect the mental and physical health of individuals for life. It’s costly on all fronts, induces severe suffering for many and is likely a trigger for the more serious mental health problems we have in Australia. We need an entirely different child-care, pre-school and overall schooling system. Teachers should be minimally Masters graduates, children should have a right to play unstructured and structured until the age of six or seven. Empathy education should start at age 3. Schools should look like calm, happy and colourful places. Australian classrooms are currently like ‘prison rooms’ plastered with overstimulation. Children should not have to sit on the floor at the feet of the teacher. Children should not eat their lunch sitting on concrete floors outside. Tables and chairs indoors and outdoors and healthy foods should be available at schools. Etc. etc. My list to prevent child abuse is way too long.