Championing Child Safety Across Australia Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest national event dedicated to child safety education and awareness. It’s a day of action that promotes safer communities and empowers children to Recognise, React, and Report when they feel unsafe.
Established in 2005 by Denise and Bruce Morcombe after the tragic abduction of their 13-year-old son Daniel in December 2003, this national initiative is led by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
Wear Red, Educate, and Donate is the rallying call for Day for Daniel. Each year, schools, early learning centres, businesses, and communities across the country come together to take action, hosting child safety activities, fundraising, and spreading vital safety messages.
The 2025 event marks the 21st Day for Daniel, a milestone that highlights over two decades of impact. We encourage parents, carers, educators, and young people to explore our free resources, developed over the years to support critical child safety education.
Red is worn in remembrance of Daniel Morcombe, who was wearing a red t-shirt on 7 December 2003 when he was tragically abducted. The colour symbolises Daniel’s legacy and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of child safety education. It conveys strength, hope, and a shared commitment to protecting children.
The cornerstone of Day for Daniel’s safety message is helping children learn how to Recognise, React, and Report. Education should be empowering, not scary. It involves helping children understand:
To ensure these conversations are age-appropriate, explore the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Keeping Kids Safe Resources, a rich collection of videos, activities, and tools to support open and ongoing dialogue. Everyday moments, like scenes from a TV show, can spark great opportunities for these vital discussions.
For Children: Knowing What to Do
Our bodies often signal when we’re feeling unsafe. These signals, called body clues, include things like a sick tummy, sweaty palms, or a pounding heart. If you ever find yourself in an unsafe situation, it’s important to react, this could mean saying “NO!”, running away, or yelling for help. Sometimes, staying safe might even mean breaking a rule. Most importantly, always report the experience to a trusted adult in your safety network and keep telling someone until you’re helped.
During Day for Daniel, it’s natural for children and young people to be curious about who Daniel was, what happened to him, and why this day exists. It’s important that these conversations are handled gently, offering honest information without making children feel overwhelmed, scared, or sad. Day for Daniel is a positive occasion focused on empowering children with knowledge to help them stay safe.
For Children: Understanding Daniel’s Story
Daniel was a 13-year-old boy who, like you, felt safe every day. One Sunday, at the beginning of the school holidays, he went to catch a bus. Sadly, the bus broke down, and by the time the next one arrived, Daniel was gone. His situation changed from safe to unsafe very quickly. Fortunately, what happened to Daniel is very rare, and today, we talk about safety so that everyone learns how to stay safe in any situation.
Daniel’s family started Day for Daniel to help all children understand what to do if they ever feel unsafe, whether at home, at school, online, or out in the community.
Even though you probably feel safe most of the time, it’s important to:
Making a safety plan can help too:
This is why we have Day for Daniel, because every child has the right to feel safe, all the time.
Whether you’re a parent, carer, or professional, your first response should be simple and compassionate:
Your reaction matters. It can shape a child’s confidence to seek help again in the future and process their experiences safely.
Report all disclosures to your state or territory’s child protection agency. Educators should follow their school’s student protection policy to determine the appropriate next steps.
For more detailed guidance, download our factsheet: Responding to a Disclosure of Abuse
Donations can be made directly on our website via:
• Credit card
• Direct bank transfer or deposit
• Cheque
Visit the Donate page on the Daniel Morcombe Foundation website for instructions and further information.
Every dollar donated to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation directly contributes to child harm prevention and supports improved outcomes for young people affected by crime. Your generosity enables us to:
No matter the size of your contribution, your support helps us keep kids safe, and that’s a powerful impact.
Schools & Early Learning Centres
Parents & Carers
Businesses & Communities
To support your education or fundraising activities, you can:
Download additional posters and materials for free from the Foundation’s website.
There are many ways to help us keep more Australian children safe.
