Key Performance Indicators

Key Effectiveness Indicator 1.1

Extent to which children and young people in various regions of the State are consulted.

Description

It is a responsibility of the Commissioner to consult with a broad range of children and young people throughout WA each year. The scope and goals for this are set out in the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006 and the Strategic Plan. 

Consultation will comprise a number of discrete projects, involving the Commissioner (or the staff of the office, or a consultant/contractor employed to act on the Commissioner’s behalf) seeking the considered views of children and young people on a range of issues in both metropolitan and regional locations across Western Australia.

Target 2021–22

1,500 children and young people consulted

Notes:

Note 1 – The Attorney General approved revised Targets from the 2022/23 financial year. The Targets increase from 1,500 to 2,000 children and young people to be consulted and from 200 to 250 representations. Treasury confirmed on 11 November 2021 there is no need for approval by the Under Treasurer for the proposed target increases.

Note 2 – In 2019–20, the COVID-19-pandemic restrictions (March – June) impacted the traditional modes of consulting with young people face-toface. The Commissioner’s online platforms were enhanced as a means of engaging with children and young people and hearing about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This proved to be an effective way of consulting children and young people. The online number represents children and young people from metropolitan and regional areas, identification of regional participants was not possible across all the online platforms, therefore the volume of responses has been collated together.

Note 3 – The number of children and young people consulted in each financial year greatly exceeded the target due to the Speaking Out Surveys 2019 and 2021, which are large-scale research projects. It is not intended to repeat this project until 2024.

Note 4 – An additional 305 children and young people from outside of WA were involved in a national project by the Commissioner for the National Office of Child Safety (NOCS). The NOCS consultation included 305 young people from Queensland, Northern Territory and Victoria.

Key Effectiveness Indicator 1.2

Extent to which issues impacting upon children and young people are researched, advocated and promoted.

Description

The Commissioner’s role includes analysis and interpretation of information collected through consultation and research processes to identify issues and trends affecting children and young people. The Commissioner is responsible for making representations that explore the impact of these issues and advocate for and promote the views of children and young people and what is in the best interests of their wellbeing.

Target 2021-22

200 representations

Notes: 

Note 1 – Representations include submissions; publications; evidence to Parliamentary inquiries and committees; presentations and speeches; media articles; forums and seminars; strategic advocacy meetings, support for research proposals;and community consultations.

Note 2 – The Attorney General approved revised Targets from the 2022/23 financial year. The Targets increase from 200 to 250 representations. Treasury confirmed on 11 November 2021 there is no need for approval by the Under Treasurer for the proposed target increases.

Note 3 – There continues to be a notable increase in strategic advocacy meetings from 2019-20 due to more requests being received. These meetings could continue to occur in virtual/online meeting formats during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Note 4 – There has been an increase in community consultation meetings in regional areas following the appointment of the current Commissioner in December 2022.

Key Efficiency Indicators

Consultation, research and the promotion of the wellbeing of children and young people are services provided by the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the scope and goals for these are prescribed in the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006.

The key efficiency indicators measure the level of resources used to deliver the services.

Key Efficiency indicators in this reporting period

Notes:

Note 1 – The unit cost per child was less than the 2021–22 target reflecting the increased number of consultations held online and greater opportunities for larger-sized group consultations creating efficiencies and economies of scale.

Note 2 – The unit cost per representation was less than the 2021–22 target due to the increased number of strategic advocacy meetings held by the Commissioner (can now occur in a virtual meeting format) and the increase in community consultations (particularly regional areas).