Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians meeting

Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser attended the Australian Children's Commissioners and Guardians (ACCG) meeting in Melbourne on 24-25 November 2010, which provided another opportunity to showcase our initiatives, and learn and network with colleagues across the nation.

The Children’s Commissioners and Guardians from each Australian jurisdiction meet bi-annually to discuss joint approaches to address issues impacting on children and young people and to advocate on their behalf, as well as to highlight activities within individual jurisdictions.

The November meeting provided an opportunity for our Commissioner to meet new Commissioners in New South Wales and Tasmania.

Highlights at the meeting included:

• a presentation by Howard Bath (NT Children’s Commissioner) on the Inquiry into the Northern Territory child protection system
• a presentation by the NSW Commissioner on its Parliamentary Inquiry into children and young people aged 9-14 years (the middle years)
• discussion regarding the role of a National Children's Commissioner
• a presentation by the WA Commissioner regarding the Australian Government's draft exposure bill that is designed to better protect children subject to Family Law Court activity and child protection
• an overview of a project in Victoria, which involved young people living in care being provided with a camera to take photos of the important things in their lives (the photos were then exhibited), and
• discussion by the CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) about the Change for Children campaign being facilitated by ARACY which includes:
  • the creation of a National Action Plan for Young Australians which is being progressed over the next 12-18 months, and
  • using social marketing techniques to engage the community to better meet children’s needs.

Since the meeting, the Commission has been busy actioning outcomes from the meeting including, for example, submitting an agreed position on the role of a National Children's Commissioner on behalf of ACCG members to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Inquiry into the Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill 2010. This submission is available at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/commissioner_for_childrenandyoungpeople/submissions.htm

Last Updated: December 23, 2010

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