The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is honoured that Australia’s Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, has become our new National Patron.
Prime Minister Albanese becomes the seventh sitting prime minister to collaborate with the Foundation to raise awareness of and support our goal to ensure all children and young people are safe and inspired with the freedom to flourish.
Strong bipartisan ties between the Foundation and consecutive Australian Governments have been helping children and young people to be safe for over 25 years now. This critical partnership has ensured the safety of children remains above politics.
It began in 1997 when our first Patron, then Prime Minister John Howard, launched the Foundation, founded by Walter Mikac AM after the loss of his daughters, their mother and 32 other Australians in the Port Arthur tragedy.
Now Prime Minister Albanese has confirmed he will continue to work with the Foundation to increase firearm safety through the National Firearms Agreement, first established by Mr Howard after Port Arthur.
“Over 25 years, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation has had an incredible impact, supporting more than three million Australian children and their families,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
“I am delighted to become the National Patron of the Foundation and proud to offer my ongoing support to its work and commitment to a safe and happy childhood for all Australians.”
Working closely with the Federal Government and our other partners, we are also determined to tackle fast-evolving threats to the online safety of children. That’s why the Foundation is pleased the Federal Government is contributing $6 million over three years to expand our learning tools to help schools keep children safe online.
Through our eSmart partnership with the Federal Government, it’s expected that by 2025, every primary and secondary school in Australia will have the opportunity to engage with our digital literacy products, including Digital Licence+, Media Literacy Lab and a new Junior Digital Licence+.
“Our budget delivered on our $6 million commitment to make digital and media literacy tools developed by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation freely available to all schools; not just those that can afford them,” Mr Albanese said.
Prime Minister Albanese also recently highlighted the Foundation’s care work delivering Buddy Bags filled with essentials and comfort items to thousands of vulnerable children around Australia. He shared how Buddy Bags are packed with essentials for children who have experienced family violence –
“a small source of comfort for kids at a really difficult time”.
“The Foundation does such important work providing care and support for children across Australia,” said Prime Minister Albanese.
Prime Minister Albanese joins our Founder Walter Mikac AM, International Patron HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and the Hon. Barbara Baker AC as Tasmanian Patron in supporting the Foundation in its work championing the right of children and young people to live happy, safe and strong.
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