Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek meets Australia’s Children’s Commissioners and Guardians

Former Minister for Human Services and Minister for Social Inclusion, the Honourable Tanya Plibersek met with Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, Elizabeth Fraser and the other members of the Australian Children's Commissioners and Guardians (ACCG) at the biennial ACCG meeting held in Sydney on 7-8 November 2011.

The Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians discussed a number of collaborative approaches to address issues impacting on children and young people, as well as good practice and highlights within individual jurisdictions. The outcomes of these discussions are detailed in a communiqué of the meeting which can be read here.

The meeting with Minister Plibersek allowed for a discussion of opportunities to deliver effective support to young people at greatest risk of long term disadvantage. A particular area of focus for the Children’s Commissioners and Guardians are young people transitioning from out-of-home care to independence.

Ms Fraser led the discussion on the over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the criminal justice system and the issues and recommendations as identified in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services’ (NATSILS) Shadow Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

 The ACCG agreed to maintain and develop its links with NATSILS and Ms Fraser will invite the Chair of NATSILS to the next ACCG meeting which will be held in Queensland in 2012.

L-R: Howard Bath (Commissioner NT), Aileen Ashford (Commissioner Tas.), Minister Tanya Plibersek, Kerryn Boland (Guardian NSW), Alasdair Roy (Commissioner ACT), Megan Mitchell (Commissioner NSW), Elizabeth Fraser (Commissioner Qld), Pam Simmons (Guardian SA).

Last Updated: December 13, 2011

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