Adopt Change kicks off #Yesvember with a Dance Challenge and Home cap designed by Nicole Warne Shadbolt to raise awareness of the need for all children to be able to grow up in a safe home

To celebrate National Adoption Awareness and Permanency Month, Adopt Change asks all Australians to turn the month of November into Yesvember by saying ‘yes’ to #aHomeForEveryChild. The Yesvember campaign starts with an Insta Reel Dance Challenge on 1 November to raise awareness, and is supported by one of Australia’s leading fashion icons, Nicole Warne Shadbolt.

Stemming from ‘National Adoption Awareness Week’, which commenced in 2008 with Adopt Change Founder Deborra-lee Furness, the focus of the month of November is on ensuring permanent safe homes for all children, especially the 46,000 children and young people living in the out of home care system in Australia. When children are unable to live safely with family, adoption and guardianship are other options that should be available for children to provide them with stability.

With COVID-19 lockdowns around the country things have been particularly difficult for children in the child protection system.

Deborra-lee Furness spoke about the urgent need for support. “The pandemic has created an extremely challenging few years for all Australians, and children and young people in the child protection system are particularly at risk. Many kids are moved from place to place repeatedly, compounding their trauma. The long-term impact this trauma has on developing brains is well known. “

“We all need to step up and do everything we can ASAP to support these children, who are the future of our nation, so they can thrive. Every child needs a home that is safe, nurturing and stable. Through Yesvember, Adopt Change gives all Aussies an opportunity to join us in making a difference in these young peoples’ lives.”

Adopt Change Chief Executive Officer Renée Carter emphasised why we need to say “yes” to supporting #aHomeForEveryChild. “Every child needs an environment in which they can thrive. The government and child-welfare sector are listening, and our advocacy and research is currently helping shape the new 10-year national framework for protecting Australia’s children. But with numbers of children living in state care increasing, ongoing support is vital.

Community support through our Yesvember campaign will enable us to continue our work in areas such as trauma support and provide resources to families including specialised workshops and programs for children who have experienced trauma, and continue raising awareness for the necessity for children to have access to permanency and supports for positive life outcomes.”

So for 2021, in light of the year we’ve all had, Adopt Change is emphasising the importance of HOME and highlighting five things the community can do to support #aHomeForEveryChild.

• Wear & Share our message on social media. Purchase your ‘Home’ cap or hat, designed by Nicole Warne Shadbolt, and participate in our Instagram ‘Reel Dance Challenge’ or raise awareness by posting a pic with the message and hashtags #aHomeForEveryChild #Home #Yesvember #AdoptChange
• Open your home and your heart – find out more about becoming a carer. We need short-term, long-term, part-time and permanent family homes. Find out more at our website
• Donate to support our work. All donations are tax deductible and go towards underpinning our work towards more safe and nurturing homes for kids
• Knit a blanket for our MyPacks, for kids entering a new home via foster care for their first night
• Volunteer your time with our Changemaker team Email enquiries@adoptchange.org.au to find out more

Adopt Change is thrilled that one of Australia’s leading voices in fashion and Ambassador Nicole Warne Shadbolt (http://instagram.com/nicolewarne) designed the campaign ‘Home’ merchandise in her first ever solo design project.

Ms Warne said, “Yesvember is Adopt Change’s most important campaign in raising funding for the important legislative and advocacy work they do in ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for every child. As an adoptee, I am humbled and honoured to design the Yesvember collection for a cause I am deeply connected to, in hopes that we can create positive change for the tens of thousands of children in our foster care system.”

This year Adopt Change Ambassador Joel de Carteret will lead the community in an Instagram Reel Dance Challenge. Joel has created a fun, easy to learn, dance for everyone to join in and share across Instagram and Facebook.

Adopt Change aims to have as many of our Ambassadors and supporters as possible taking part and are using the challenge as a fun way to call to action and raise awareness towards children and young people living in out-of-home care across Australia and what we can all do about it.

See it here

This year, more than ever, home is so important. Right now, there are 46,000 Australian children and young people who need safety, nurture and permanency so they can thrive. To find out the five things you can do to help,

visit adoptchange.org.au.

Join us in supporting #aHomeForEveryChild.

#Home #Yesvember #AdoptChange #DanceforChange

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For all media enquiries and interviews, please contact:

Susie Riddell  0434 729 230  media@adoptchange.org.au 

Website: www.adoptchange.org.au
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/1852765
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AdoptChangeAU
Instagram: instagram.com/adoptchangeau/