Day for Daniel 2026

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 2026 event marks the 22nd 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:

• What body clues are (e.g. feeling sick in the tummy, sweating hands, racing heart)
• That they own their bodies and can say “no”
• The proper names for private body parts
• How to identify trusted adults they can turn to for help

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:

• Recognise when something doesn’t feel right
• React to find safety (say “no!”, run away, call for help)
• Report to someone you trust and keep telling until you’re helped

Making a safety plan can help too:

• Pick a meeting spot when shopping in case you get separated
• Create a family password to know which adults it’s safe to go with (You can watch the Create a Family Password video in the ‘Videos and Activities’ section on the Daniel Morcombe Foundation website.)

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:

• Listen and believe
• Stay calm and let the child speak at their own pace
• Avoid asking leading questions
• Never make promises you may not be able to keep

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:

• Deliver free child safety education resources to parents, carers, and educators across Australia
• Create tools and programs that teach young people how to stay safe in both physical and online environments
• Fund initiatives that promote safety awareness and empower children to Recognise, React, and Report when they feel unsafe

No matter the size of your contribution, your support helps us keep kids safe, and that’s a powerful impact.

Schools & Early Learning Centres

• Connect with your school leadership early in the year to register for Day for Daniel, held annually on the last Friday of October
• Plan child safety education activities using our Keeping Kids Safe Resources
• Share information with families via newsletters or social media
• Don’t forget to Wear Red, Educate, and Donate!
  

Parents & Carers

• Speak with your child’s school or learning centre to encourage their participation
• Use Day for Daniel as a conversation starter about personal safety
• Ask your child what they learned and reassure them that they can always speak to you if they feel unsafe
• Explore our resources to help friends and family have safety chats with the children in their lives
• Dress in red and donate or fundraise to show your support
  

Businesses & Communities

• Register to take part on the last Friday of October
• Host awareness events at your workplace or in your local community
• Decorate your space in red to encourage brave conversations
• Fundraise or donate to help further child safety education

To support your education or fundraising activities, you can:

• Visit the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s online shop to purchase promotional items
• Receive a complimentary starter pack when you register, which includes:
  
  
  • A Day for Daniel poster
  • Certificate of Appreciation
  • Information on how to participate

Download additional posters and materials for free from the Foundation’s website.