26 September 2023

Young voices heard on keeping kids safe

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The National Children’s Commissioner, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, is consulting with children, young people and families on how to keep children safe and healthy in their homes and in their communities.

National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds said the Keeping kids safe and well – your voices national consultation project would inform the first five-year implementation plan to the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (2009-2020) successor plan, to be developed by all Australian Governments.

“The consultation has a focus on what helps to keep children safe and well in their homes and in their communities, and what policy and service systems need to change,” Commissioner Hollonds said.

“We really need to listen to children and young people about what helps them to be safe and well, as well as what makes it hard for kids and their families to get the help they need,” she said.

“Policy and service system design that is regularly informed by the people they are meant to help has a better chance of success.”

Commissioner Hollonds said it would be a missed opportunity not to include the lived expertise of children, young people and their families.

The Commissioner said the priority groups for consultation included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families; children, young people, and families with multiple and complex needs; children who were experiencing or had experienced abuse and/or neglect; and children and young people with disability and/or who had parents or carers with disability.

She said that following the consultation process, she would collate all the views and ideas into a report to be presented to the Department of Social Services.

“Children, young people and families who take part in the consultations will receive feedback on how their ideas and views have been incorporated into the first five-year implementation plan,” Commissioner Hollonds said.

She said the Department was also calling for written submissions, to help it to develop the implementation plan, from families, children and young people; foster and kinship carers; Government and non-Government organisations; and individuals with a particular interest in child protection, safety and wellbeing.

The 64-page National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (2009-2020) can be accessed at this PS News link.

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