Significant issues impacting the agency

Significant issues impacting the agency

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Monitoring and supporting agencies to embed the child safe principles within their organisations, including contracted services organisations and collaborating to ensure the implementation of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, particularly the establishment of an independent oversight mechanisms for child safe organisations and out of home care accreditation; remains a key focus of the office.

COVID-19 pandemic

To account for challenges associated with COVID 19, the office continues to engage and consult with children and young people through online platforms and where possible, in person visits across Western Australia.

This includes advisory committees, focus groups and research projects via Microsoft Teams and other programs.

Girls’ Wellbeing

The Girls’ Wellbeing project is based on the concerning result of the Speaking Out Survey 2019, confirmed by the Speaking Out Survey 2021, that female young people consistently rated their wellbeing below that of their male peers: reporting higher rates of stress, low life satisfaction and not feeling happy about themselves.

The project will further explore girls’ wellbeing by conducting additional analysis of the Speaking Out Survey 2021 data, consulting with children and young people, advisory committees, girls’ wellbeing online survey, focus groups and a young Aboriginal researcher in community program.

Speaking Out Survey

The Commissioner’s office will continue analysis of the Speaking Out Survey 2021 responses of more than 16,000 children and young people who provided their views about their health and wellbeing, families, and communities. Analysis will focus on mental health, safety at home and in the community, and responses from diverse groups including Aboriginal children and young people and children and young people who identify as gender-diverse.

Reports will also be published based on the results from the Speaking Out Survey 2021 extension fieldwork which was conducted with grant funding from Lotterywest. This will include reports on the views and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people in remote locations, students with special needs and home educated students.

The Commissioner will also begin planning for the next Speaking Out Survey to be conducted in 2024.