National Child Protection Week is an important opportunity to reflect on what it takes to create environments where young people feel safe, respected and supported.

The 2026 theme, Every Conversation Matters, Shifting Conversation to Action, recognises that conversations can build understanding and encourage reflection, but meaningful change happens when those conversations lead to practical action that strengthens support for children and young people.

At Larita Academy, this idea is reflected in Larita EmPath™, our specialist training program for the people who work alongside our young people. EmPath™ was created to strengthen the capability of our broader Larita community, including coaches, support crew, youth organisation partners, employers and other stakeholders, so they are better equipped to understand and respond to the experiences, needs and perspectives young people may bring with them.

The training brings together practical learning across areas including trauma and healing, mental health, neurodiversity, gender, cultural understanding and child protection. Our Child Safety module, It Takes a Village, reinforces that safeguarding young people is not the responsibility of one person or one organisation. It relies on everyone understanding the part they play and translating that understanding into the way they engage with and support young people.

Our responsibility as adults is not simply to ask young people to participate, learn or grow. It is to consider how well we are serving them and to invest in the people, relationships and environments that allow young people to feel safe, seen, valued and supported to become who they are capable of becoming.

National Child Protection Week reminds us that creating communities where young people feel heard, valued, safe and supported requires more than awareness. It requires us to turn what we learn and discuss into meaningful action.