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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-04-12 Daily Xml
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Briggs, Prof. Freda

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (15:28): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Last week, leading child protection expert Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs AO passed away after suffering a stroke. She had just returned to Adelaide from running workshops and speaking on child protection and development in Zurich and Jakarta. I was privileged to have met with and consulted the remarkable Freda Briggs throughout the past year and valued her advice and admired her passion. I would like to express my condolences and those of the state government to Mrs Briggs' family, her son Alister, brother Gwyn and four grandchildren, at this sad time.

That Professor Briggs spent her last weeks working says so much about her: that she was internationally respected and sought after as an authority on child development and protection, and that age was no barrier to her being a steadfast advocate for children. At 85, Professor Briggs showed not the slightest inclination of giving up work, or even slowing down. Put simply, her work—standing up for the most vulnerable members of our community—was her life.

Professor Briggs was an indefatigable, undeterred champion for all children, especially those at risk of abuse. She was a voice for those who have no voice. In advising governments around the world (including this one) on child protection, she defined the phrase 'frank and fearless'. Professor Briggs was driven by an unwavering sense of justice, perhaps ignited while working in child protection as one of the first female police officers in London, before training as a teacher, and moving into social work and lecturing educators on recognising abuse and neglect in students.

Relocating to Australia in the 1970s, Professor Briggs took on the role of Director of Early Childhood Studies at the State College of Victoria in Melbourne, but ultimately made South Australia her home. In Adelaide, she began a long association with the University of South Australia, starting as Dean of the Institute of Early Childhood and Family Studies, where she established a pioneering child protection course, and rising to the position of Professor of Child Development.

Professor Briggs' tireless efforts attracted many awards, including the inaugural Australian Humanitarian Award in 1998. She was named Senior Australian of the Year in 2000—the first woman to achieve this honour—and in 2005 she became an Officer of the Order of Australia. Her passing leaves a void. Children around the world have lost a champion, but Professor Briggs' legacy, including our nationally regarded Keeping Safe child protection curriculum, as well as numerous books, research and policy advice, will continue to influence improvements to the way governments and communities care for and protect children.

This government is determined to keep her memory alive in other ways. My department and the University of South Australia are in discussions on how we can create a lasting tribute to Professor Briggs with the approval of her family. I also note that the government intends to move a condolence motion on indulgence at a later date.

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