Day for Daniel
Day for Daniel is a national day of action hosted by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF) to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. Held on the last Friday of October each year, it is about educating children and adults about keeping kids safe through child safety and protection initiatives. 'Wear Red and Educate' is the theme for the day.
The objectives of Day for Daniel are:
- To educate children regarding their personal safety and empower them to 'Recognise, React and Report' when they feel something is not right.
- To raise awareness about child safety and protection, and to promote a safer community for children.
- To educate and equip individuals and communities with knowledge and skills to understand child safety and protection requirements and empower them to take action.
- To honour the memory of Daniel Morcombe.
Day for Daniel is also an opportunity for Australians to make a statement that crimes against children are not acceptable in Australia. The DMF held the first Day for Daniel in November 2005 and 2024 marks the 20 year anniversary of the establishment of the DMF.
The AFP has worked with the DMF in support of Day for Daniel since 2006, in partnership with the DMF to reach as many students, teachers, and carers as possible.
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On 25th October 2024, National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) members attended the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s (DMF) annual Walk for Daniel.
Deputy Commissioner Lesa Gale, Commander Joanne Cameron and AFP members joined over 2000 community members, school children, emergency services and government officials on the 4km walk. The route through Woombye from the Suncoast Christian College to Briggs Park in Palmwoods, represents the journey home Daniel was unable to complete. The annual event inspires members of the community to walk together to raise awareness of child safety, fundraise and to walk Daniel home.
This year’s walk was held on the DMF annual Day for Daniel to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the DMF and launch the foundation’s latest initiative, a free digital children’s book, Wobbly Jelly. The book is designed to prevent abuse and promote lifelong health and wellbeing by encouraging important conversations about child safety and educate children about body clues and how to Recognise, React, and Report unsafe situations.
Through collaborative initiatives between the AFP, DMF and other not for profit organisations and community groups, together we are continuing to shine a light on the importance of child safety and supporting families affected by missing children.
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In partnership with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Tasmania Police, the AFP is proud to again support Day for Daniel (Morcombe) through an educational tour of Tasmania, 'Tour de Tassie'.
Building on the success of last year’s ‘Tweed to the Territory’ tour, and the AFP’s role in reducing the incidence and impact of Commonwealth crimes against the person, the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre and 'ThinkUKnow' Cyber & Child Safety team will extend the reach of our child protection messaging by jointly facilitating a two-week (4-15 September) tour of Tasmania.
The two-week tour will incorporate the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s ‘Recognise, React, and Report’ child safety program, in addition to the AFP’s ThinkUKnow cyber safety education program which will be delivered to parents, carers, and teachers in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, and regional surrounds.
Focusing on the importance of personal and online safety, the tour will take place during National Child Protection Week (3-9 September), and will mark the 12th year of the AFP's support of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
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The ‘Tweed to the Territory’ tour was a joint initiative between the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the AFP’s Missing Persons and Cyber and Child Safety teams. Taking place in the two weeks leading into Day for Daniel in October 2016, the tour focused on providing child and cyber safety awareness presentations to local communities.
The educational tour was targeted at primary school students in grades four to six and aimed to educate children on how to recognise, react and report potential dangers and threats. Schools participating in the tour also received a ThinkuKnow adult presentation in the evening giving parents the same safety awareness information as their children.
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation promotional truck, ‘Big Red’, stopped at various towns along the way to reach as many schools as possible and help educate kids on how to keep safe. People were encouraged to look out for ‘Big Red’ as it travelled from Tweed Heads to Canberra and throughout parts of regional NSW from Tuesday 18 October to Friday 28 October.
As always we strongly encourage all schools to get online and register their school for Day for Daniel and join us in educating everyone about ‘Keeping Kids Safe’.
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The ‘Capital to the Coast’ tour was a joint initiative between the AFP and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation which took place in the week leading into Day for Daniel in October 2015. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation promotional truck, ‘Big Red’, toured primary schools from Canberra to the NSW South Coast delivering child safety presentations.
The tour started in Canberra on Friday 23 October 2015 and concluded on the NSW South Coast on Thursday 29 October. ‘Big Red’ stopped at various towns along the way including Queanbeyan, Braidwood, Batemans Bay and Narooma, to reach as many schools as possible and help educate kids on how to keep safe. Schools in the ACT who registered for Day for Daniel also had the exciting opportunity to secure ‘Big Red’ on Friday 30 October – Day for Daniel.
The educational tour was targeted at primary school students in grades four to six and aimed to educate children on how to recognise, react and report potential dangers and threats.