about bravehearts day
Bravehearts Day is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the prevention of child sexual abuse in Australia. Established in 1997, the day was previously known as Bravehearts White Balloon Day, which is credited for breaking the silence around child sexual abuse and creating a cultural shift in how Australians understand and respond to child sexual abuse and survivors of this crime.
Bravehearts Day 2024 is on Friday 6 September, during National Child Protection Week. Take the #BraveChallenge and help prevent child sexual abuse.
Who Can Get Involved in Bravehearts Day?
For over two decades, individuals, schools, early learning centres, community groups, organisations, workplaces and more get involved in Bravehearts Day to help raise funds and awareness for the prevention of child sexual abuse. Bravehearts encourages ALL AUSTRALIANS to throw their support behind this important day on the child protection calendar.
The History of Bravehearts Day
Bravehearts Day (formerly White Balloon Day) was founded by Bravehearts in 1997 following a public demonstration in Belgium in 1996, when approximately 300,000 people gathered with white balloons in solidarity for the child victims of a previously convicted and released paedophile.
Bravehearts Day raises awareness of child sexual abuse and how the wider community can take an active role in protecting children. The day also encourages survivors of child sexual abuse to speak out and break their silence.
In 1999, Senior Police labelled White Balloon Day a ‘phenomenon’ when it was revealed that the campaign resulted in a staggering 514% increase in disclosures of child sexual abuse to the Queensland Police Service that year.
White Balloon Day was renamed Bravehearts Day in 2022. Though it now goes by a new name, the essence of the campaign remains the same - Bravehearts Day is and always will be about breaking the silence around child sexual abuse, supporting survivors of this crime and most importantly, preventing and treating this crime.
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