WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE?
Bikers United Against Child Abuse (BUACA) is a child support oriented not for profit organization. It was founded in 2001 by Pete Geary in Brisbane.
Pete realized the need to assist Australia’s children and raise awareness of their plight.
BUACA is made up of every day ordinary people who do extraordinary things in their community and through out Australia. These people are mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, grandparents, daughters and sons and come from all walks of life. Members can be bankers, office workers, construction workers, teacher’s nurses the list goes on. As long as you have a passion for helping Australia’s children there will be a place for you in this club.
Awareness of child abuse and supporting child abuse organizations in your community are a great place to start. BUACA raises the awareness of child abuse by freely talking about it and promoting child abuse awareness through out remote Australia.
The more aware we are that child abuse continues in our community the less acceptable it becomes and will hopefully lead to more children having the courage to report abuse.
BUACA raises funds that enable us to support child abuse survivors and their family, as well as host events to support child abuse research not only in the city's but beyond in remote Australia.
BUACA is child support oriented. BUACA befriends victims and their families show’s them that there is no reason to live in fear and that they are supported through a sometimes traumatic process of disclosure.
BUACA believes that with dedication, passion and the attention a group of motorbikes with their engines blaring can get that we can be a voice for the children of Australia. One mans idea has already helped so many so together we can and will make a big difference because no child should live in fear.
WHAT DO BIKERS UNITED AGAINST CHILD ABUSE (BUACA) DO?
BUACA exists to help empower children to not be afraid of the world they live in. They do this by raising funds for victims who have limited resources to ensure they get the right level of counseling and medical assistance.
BUACA also support children who have been abused to face their perpetrators at court or other intimidating events that are associated with disclosure.
This is done by members accompanying the victim and family to such events where they must face their abusers. BUACA also host events in their local communities and Australia wide to raise the awareness of child abuse..
BUACA also does buddy runs with victims of child abuse and their family. Buddy runs are an opportunity for the kids and family to have a break. Usually the child or children are taken on the motorbikes to a destination then there is a BBQ or picnic for the kid/s where BUACA members and support members will play sports games and generally just hang out with the kids and give them some gifts.
This shows the child or children that there are people out there who are their friends and will look out for them it builds trust and valuable relationships.
HOW BAD IS CHILD ABUSE IN AUSTRALIA?
Sadly enough there is a massive lack in child abuse statistic’s Australia wide.
The only recorded information is on children who were substantiated as victims of abuse meaning children who were proven to have been abused and neglected and were taken into out of home care.
There are no statistics or information on unreported child abuse through out Australia. Data from administrative sources are extremely lower then data collected via survey’s as most people do not report these crimes.
In 2008 25000 children aged 0-14 were on care and protection orders which is an 88% increase since 2000. 11in 6 boys and 1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before age 18. 2In short child abuse is very bad through out Australia both reported and unreported and it is up to us to help prevent it from escalating.
1 (according to A Picture of Australia’s children 2009 publication by Australian institute of health and welfare)2 (Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse. (2005).
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE
The Term “Child Abuse” covers many areas these being Psychological Abuse is rejecting, ignoring and terrorizing children and not providing them with adequate emotional support or care.
Sexual Abuse: Any sexual activity between a child and an adult.
Physical Abuse is any non-accidental aggressive act towards a child including slapping, hitting, kicking etc.
Neglect is the failure to provide for a child’s basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing medical needs etc
Witnessing family violence: A child being present and able to hear or see a sibling or parent being subject to physical or sexual abuse or being exposed to the damage caused by the abuser.
How We Advocate for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse 2022
Promote the awareness of the existence of child abuse in communities to heighten awareness of the problem and serve as a clear ‘hard edge’ deterrent for perpetrators to see in their communities. ·
Support children who have been abused to face their perpetrators at court and other intimidating events associated with disclosure. This is done by one or more members of BUACA accompanying young victims to courts and other venues where they must face their abusers. ·
Provide a point of contact for abused children by visiting communities throughout the northern half of Australia. ·
Act as a lobby group for abused children to government and para governmental agencies. ·
Act as role models for breaking the cycle of violence characteristic of the so called ‘Child Abuse Cycle’. ·
Facilitate communities to identify their heroes who have served their communities above and beyond ‘the average’ with respect to stopping the cycle of child abuse and/or assisting child victims of abuse. ·
Actively promote a sense of belonging and normality for abused children and encourage adults to ‘step up to the plate’ and be a Hero by ending the cycle.