1. Legislative change to prohibit physical punishment 

Let's update our laws to give children the same protections as adults from violence. Australia's outdated laws still include an illogical defence that makes it legal to hurt a child as a form of punishment. Removing this defence will bring our laws in line with what we know about child health and development, and sends a clear message that violence is never ok. It will also bring us in line with what other countries are doing, and will make our laws more consistent (it is illegal to hit an adult in Australia, so it is unfair that children can still be hit). This change does not create a new offence (i.e. it simply removes a defence), and will not lead to additional legal action. 

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2. A public health campaign about how the change in the law will benefit children and families  

What happens to us in childhood – both positive and negative – shapes how our brains grow, and our future health and wellbeing. When parents, carers and policy makers understand early brain development it becomes easier to see what children need to thrive - and how corporal punishment hurts children, families and communities. Violence in the home is a form of toxic stress that can derail the healthy development of children and the valuable bonds they have with caregivers. The video How Brains Are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development is a good starting point to help understand healthy brain development. 

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3. Access to positive parenting alternatives 

Parenting is a skill. We can all learn ways to improve the relationships in our lives, including with our children. We aim to better support parents by making sure that all Australians have fair and equal access to reliable parenting information. We can also better support parents by advocating for policies and programs that reduce toxic stress on families - for instance relating to financial, housing, work, health, domestic violence - so that they have space to nurture important relationships with their children.