PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 25 DECEMBER 1978
INTERN4ATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD
The General Assembly of the United Nations has proclaimed 1979
as International Year of the Child. In the past we have had
international Years devoted to geophysical research and to the
problems and the position of women.
In these " Years" world nations seek to focus international effort
in an area where advances can or should be made in the interests of
mankind generally. The International Year of the Child will
direct attention throughout the world to the needs and problems
of children, their welfare and their opportunities.
Australia is a land of sunshine and prosperity, of beaches and
playing fields, traditionally " a great place to bring up kids."
But even in this fortunate country, there are still some children
who cannot make the most of these opportunities. Some live in
isolated areas. Others have severe handicaps or difficulty in
settling into Australia because of cultural or language
differences. There are also those children who despite our efforts,
still live in poor family or community circumstances. The
International Year of the Child will focus attention particularly
on these children.
1979 has been designated Year of the Child at a time when society
throughout the world is undergoing new strains. We should
see 1979 as a time to reinforce and support the family in its
central role in the development of children.
As pressures and problems develop in our society, we all have a
responsibility to face them with courage and honesty. It is
essential that our education provides children with the confidence
and the ability to develop and mature in an often uncaring
and intolerant world. We must constantly make sure that our
child care services are directed with a real feeling of compassion
and respect for the special needs of individual children.
In Australia the role of voluntary organisations has been a
significant one for they can provide the kind of compassion
and concern that Governments can never match. Parents, voluntary
organisations, governments, must direct our efforts to dealing
with problems quickly as they become identified.
The theme of the International Year of the Child in Australia is
" Care." Through our own individual actions, through Governments,
voluntary organisations, private enterprise, trade unions and
other community groups we can all join together to ensure the theme
of ' care' is fulfilled. / 2
IJ>> AU S AL I( A
2.,
As a specific measure of support at the launching of this
International Year of the Child, the Federal Government has
decided to allocate $ 1 million to assist in the establishment
of the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia.
This is a trust being established by surgeons, businessmen, and
conmmunity leaders to assist in the coordination of research into
child accidents and their prevention and to educate the
community on child accident prevention.
I believe such a Foundation can do a great deal to focus national
attention on our alarmingly high rate of child accidents, with
their high costs in human and financial terms. Accidents cause
untold misery to children and their families.
My Government will assist with the establishment of the Foundation
by allocating $ 1 million on the understanding that the first
$ 500,000 will be paid immediately and the second $ 500,000
at a later date, and subject to the Foundation gaining State
Government support.
I am sure that this Foundation will receive the wholehearted
support of all Governments and the community. To prevent
some of the human suffering and the cost to the family and
community caused by childhood accidents is, I believe, a
most worthy cause to pursue in the International Year of the Child.