The Palaszczuk Government will provide the Daniel Morcombe Foundation with an additional $720,000 over the next three years to support the annual Day for Daniel.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the Government was proud to support the annual event, which had grown into the largest child safety awareness event in Australia.
Last year’s event attracted around 700,000 participants. This year’s event will be held on October 25.
“Queenslanders hold a special place in their hearts for Bruce and Denise Morcombe and the work they do to honour their son, Daniel, and keep our children safe,” Ms Grace said.
“The Palaszczuk Government backs them 100 per cent. The funding commitment that we are making through this year’s Budget will ensure that the Day for Daniel can continue to grow and achieve its goal of making Australia a safe place for all children.”
The funds will support staffing and resourcing of the award-winning child safety event.
Ms Grace said the funding for Day for Daniel was on top of funding already provided to the foundation to support Bruce and Denise’s role as Child Safety Ambassadors.
“Bruce and Denise were appointed Queensland Child Safety Ambassadors in 2011 and have been visiting schools across the state to inform and educate students, parents and educators about child safety,” she said.
“My department also provides $240,000 per year in funding to support them in their important work in our schools across Queensland and this funding will be continued.”
Ms Grace said the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum, developed in partnership with the Department of Education, had been a popular resource for Queensland state schools.
“The Curriculum is delivered to students in state and non-state schools from Prep to year 9 and while not compulsory, schools are encouraged by the Department to engage with it,” she said.
“Around 435 state schools offered the curriculum last year. The lessons aim to teach students to recognise and report unsafe situations, including harm and abuse.
