Media Release: Funding Announcement

AUSDANCE QLD ANNOUNCEMENT

Queensland State Government, Arts Queensland has announced its commitment to funding

$312,987 towards development of a landmark child safety program for the dance sector, adding to the initial $100,000 pledged by The John Villiers Trust in 2022. This Strategic Partnerships funding, will enable Ausdance QLD to complete a three-year pilot of Safedance for Kids.

Safedance for Kids was conceived by Ausdance QLD, the State’s peak body for dance. The funded pilot, with First Nations Cultural safety at its heart, will create content, training, and systems to teach physical, mental, and social safety directly to children aged 8-10 years old in dance studios and communities.

Through six learning modules, children will learn how to nurture their own safety with their caregivers included in the journey. The objective of Safedance for Kids is to teach children how to be safe in their dance activity so they can thrive and enjoy a healthy, lifelong experience of dance. At the same time, teachers learn more about child safety and earn enrolment income.

Developed over two years, partnerships with First Nations People specialising in child safety, health and safety specialists as well as community and studio dance teachers will inform a range of topics including; cyber-safety, physical safety, mental health, body image and bullying. The foundation of First Nations Cultural safety across all modules in this program makes it a world-first.

“Parents are often shocked there is no specific child safety regulation for dance. We’ve heard stories from kids, parents and concerned teachers about incidents putting children at serious risk. We – as an industry – must do better, and this program is the first critical step to making this happen – Julie Englefield, Executive Director.

More than 95,000 children dance in Queensland each week. More children dance than play AFL and Rugby League! $253M is spend on children’s dance activities annually in Australia.

With over 1000 teacher members, Ausdance QLD sees this as the perfect opportunity to improve child safety effectively and efficiently.

For further information, please contact Ausdance QLD

Email: safedance@ausdanceqld.org.au

Tel: 0414629643

www.ausdanceqld.org.au

Interviews available on request