About Bravehearts

Bravehearts is an Australian child protection organisation founded in 1997, solely dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. Our vision is a world where people, communities, and systems all work together to protect children from sexual abuse.

Bravehearts’ work includes personal safety education for children and young people, counselling and support, child protection training, and research and reform.

Bravehearts Day

Friday, 6 September 2024, is Bravehearts Day. For over two decades, individuals, schools, early learning centres, community groups, organisations, workplaces and more have gotten 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.

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 with 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.

Bravehearts Day 2024 is during National Child Protection Week and this year we’re encouraging all Australians to #BeBrave and take the #BraveChallenge to help prevent child sexual abuse.

Get involved!

1. Choose your #BraveChallenge.
2. Fundraise for Bravehearts.
3. Share what you’re doing with friends, family, your workplace, school or childcare centre and encourage them to get involved too!

How your support helps

By taking the #BraveChallenge and fundraising for Bravehearts Day, you are actively helping to prevent child sexual abuse and support children and families affected by this crime.

Did you know that even though one in four Australian children have experienced child sexual abuse, one in three Australians don’t believe it is a problem to be concerned about? YOU can help change this misconception by taking the #BraveChallenge this Bravehearts Day, Friday, 6 September.

Child sexual abuse is enabled by secrecy and silence. As long as it remains ‘out of sight and out of mind,’ children are at risk.

Together, we must fight this crime by breaking the silence. We must face this immense child protection challenge head-on.

We must be brave!

Funds raised for Bravehearts Day directly help to prevent and treat child sexual abuse.

$24.00 covers the cost of educating two children about keeping safe through Bravehearts’ personal safety program, Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure.

$75.00 covers the cost of a support call for a parent, carer or survivor in crisis via Bravehearts’ national Information and Support Line at 1800 272 831.

$150.00 covers the cost of a specialist trauma-informed counselling session for a child or young person affected by sexual abuse.

Learn more about Bravehearts' work

To learn more about Bravehearts' vital work and how we spend our donated and fundraised dollars, please explore our Annual Impact Reports, which can be found on our website at www.bravehearts.org.au.

Here are some ways that you can #BeBrave on Bravehearts Day

Brave Dare: Do something that scares you a little in the name of a good cause! Ask your friends, family and co-workers to donate towards seeing you face a fear!

Brave Brekkie, Brunch or BBQ: A great one for workplaces or groups! Host a 'Brave' breakfast, brunch or BBQ, asking guests to donate $10.00 each to the cause.

Brave Dress-Up Day: Perfect for Early Learning Centres and lower primary – for a gold coin donation, the kids dress as their favourite superheroes for the day!

Brave Boss: Dare your CEO, boss, school principal, or centre director to #BeBrave and face a fear or do something silly in the name of raising funds for child abuse prevention!

Brave Waive: Ask friends or colleagues to waive one take-out coffee (or meal) for one day and donate the money they would have spent to the cause instead.

Brave Fitness: Take on an endurance or strength challenge and raise funds for the prevention of child abuse as you work toward your goal! A great one for fitness enthusiasts.

Brave Bake-Off: Another good one for workplaces – challenge your colleagues to a bake-off competition and sell the baked goods to raise funds for the cause.

Brave Hair: Colour, cut or shave your hair in support of child abuse prevention, or hold a crazy hair day with everyone sporting their ‘bravest’ hairstyles!

Brave Conversation: Are you a parent? #BeBrave and talk to your child about personal safety. Check out our Resources for Parents and Carers at www.braveheartsday.com.au.

Brave Lesson: Schools and Early Learning Centres – make a commitment to deliver a personal safety lesson to the children in your care on Bravehearts Day. Explore our Lessons and Activities at www.braveheartsday.com.au.

Brave Learning: Parents, carers, teachers, educators – use National Child Protection Week to learn how to better identify and respond to child protection concerns by taking a Bravehearts online course at www.braveheartslearning.org.au.

The Bravehearts Day website is filled with fun ideas, free resources including images to share across your social media, free Brave Lessons and activities, posters and fundraising toolkits!

Visit www.braveheartsday.com.au and #BeBrave this Bravehearts Day.