A new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has highlighted how important it is for Governments to listen to children and families when making decisions about services and policies that impact them.
Releasing the Keeping kids safe and well – your voices report, National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said it followed a request from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to find out what children and their families thought would help keep children safe.
Commissioner Hollonds said the top three things children, young people and families said they needed to feel safe were help with housing; mental health services; and help with basic needs like food, clothing, transport and school supplies.
“Many children and families said it can be hard to find the help they need and sometimes the right help isn’t there for them,” Commissioner Hollonds said.
“They emphasised the value of more co-ordinated ‘wraparound’ services and service providers whom they can trust,” she said.
“Better coordination across service systems aiming to help children and their families should be a priority for all Governments.”
Commissioner Hollonds said the AHRC wanted to ensure all children in Australia reached their full potential by growing up safe and supported, and that those who needed extra help were able to access it.
“I commend the Government for taking this important step to listen to children and their families and urge them to take further action on the issues children and families raise in this report,” she said.
“Children and their families need to be at the centre of policy and services designed to assist them.”
Commissioner Hollonds said the findings of the Report would inform the first five-year Action Plans under the DSS’s Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031
The AHRC’s 198-page Report can be downloaded at this PS News link.
