Safe Connections: Caring for Each Other & Animals
September 11 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lilly Pilly Children’s Contact Centre will host a free, family-friendly community open day, “Safe Connections: Caring for Each Other & Animals,” designed to promote child safety, respectful relationships, emotional wellbeing, and positive connections between children, families, animals, and the wider community.
The event will welcome approximately 80–120 children, parents, carers, and community members to a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. Through engaging, age-appropriate activities, families will explore important child protection concepts in a positive and non-threatening way.
A key feature of the event will be supervised animal-assisted experiences, where children will learn about gentle handling, recognising the needs of others, respecting boundaries, and responding appropriately to signs of discomfort. These experiences will be connected to broader child safety messages, including understanding personal space, safe and unsafe touch, recognising feelings, respecting consent, and identifying trusted adults to approach when help is needed.
The event will also include creative activities, including a “Safe Circle” activity where children identify trusted people in their lives, interactive role-play to help families practise responding to children’s emotional needs, and opportunities for children to express themselves through art and play. A designated calm space will provide a supportive environment for children who need time to regulate their emotions.
Families will also have access to information and resources from local and national support services, including Kids Helpline and Parentline, helping ensure participants know where to seek ongoing support. By combining education, connection, play, and animal-assisted learning, the event aims to strengthen protective factors, build community connections, and empower children and families to create safer, more caring relationships.
