Agency Performance - Build relationships to drive change

Build relationships to drive change

These priorities are informed by the voices of children and young people and concerns they have raised with the Commissioner.

Policy Statements and Discussion Papers

The Commissioner monitors development in legislation, policies and practices in areas impacting children and young people across Western Australia.

The Commissioner has identified four priority areas to guide our advocacy work: youth justice, health and mental health, education and child protection. The priority areas for action are informed by the voices of the children and young people we have engaged with through school and community visits, the Speaking Our Survey, other targeted surveys and individual conversations. The Commissioner has developed four policy statements outlining our position on each of these priority areas.

In early 2024, a series of discussion papers were developed on each priority area to further explore and highlight the issues, challenges and opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia. The discussion papers support the view that our approach to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people needs to be holistic, not siloed, and individually focused. Young people’s versions were also published.

We welcomed feedback from children, young people, their families, government and non-government service providers and agencies. 

We received 43 submissions from a wide range of organisations and individuals across WA.

Themes from the submissions included:
• Prioritising and valuing the voices of children and young people, actively seeking their input in decision-making processes
• Trauma-informed therapeutic models with holistic wrap-around support for children and young people within the youth justice system
• Integrated and accessible health services for children and young people
• A holistic approach to mental health promotion and greater support for children and young people with mental health and neuro-developmental conditions
• Access for families to universal, equitable and inclusive early education and care 
• Safe, fair, respectful and supportive learning environments for all children and young people
• Partnering with local communities and families, to leverage local expertise, resources, and cultural knowledge to develop place-based responses that effectively support the wellbeing of children and young people
• A greater need for early intervention and prevention services, including addressing poverty, homelessness, family domestic violence, health and mental health concerns.

Focus groups with children and young people will be held in 2024-2025. Submissions received, information gathered during the focus groups and priorities identified by children and young people will be used to update the policy statements.

Key Meetings

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children

In October 2023, the Commissioner and other members of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians met with Mama Fatima Singhateh. Some of the issues she raised included the challenges for children and young people in reporting their concerns where reporting mechanisms require internet access and digital literacy and the need for holistic support mechanisms for children who have experienced abuse or exploitation and for those exhibiting harmful sexual behaviours.

United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

In October 2023, the Commissioner hosted members of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) including Chair and Head of Mission, Sheryl Lightfoot (Canada) and Dr Valmaine Toki (Aoteroa/New Zealand).

The Commissioner emphasised the importance of addressing the disproportionate removal of Aboriginal children from their families and the intergeneration harm causes by failure to uphold the rights of Aboriginal children, families and communities.

Inaugural Commissioner for Future Generations, Sophie Howe

In October 2023 the Commissioner met with Sophie Howe, the inaugural Commissioner for future Generations in Wales, during her visit to Perth. Sophie shared the work that Wales is doing in trying to hold the government to account for how their decisions affect the generations to come.

Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations women and children

In October 2023, the Commissioner appeared before the Senate Inquiry, where she raised concerns about the significant levels of racism and poverty contributing to poor outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people.

Nicole Breeze, UNICEF Chief Advocate for Children

In February 2024, the Commissioner met with Nicole Breeze to discuss mutual priorities in advocating for the wellbeing of children and young people. Initiatives discussed included the importance of investing in early years programs and services, addressing mental health challenges and health inequities, narrowing the digital divide and tackling vaping.

Upholding the rights of children and young people to participate in and be heard in decision making was a core issue, with both organisations sharing a vision of creating a better world for children and young people.

Improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people

A large amount of the work from the Commissioner and her office can align with more than one of the five strategic pillars, which is particularly noted in her work with and on behalf of Aboriginal children and young people.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006 requires the Commissioner to give priority to, and have a special regard for, the interests and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and children and young people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged for any reason.

Some key projects focused on improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people are detailed below.

Yule River

The 8th Annual On-Country Bush Meeting at Yule River is an initiative of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation’s (YMAC) Pilbara Regional Committee to support vital discussions between First Nations people from across the Pilbara with Government representatives.

The draft Call for Action statement endorsed by the Pilbara community members on day one of the meeting focused on systemic reform for education, health (including mental health), housing, wellbeing and community safety.

The Call to Action statement priorities align with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the WA State Government Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The Commissioner supported the key reform points identified by community members continues to monitor progress under Sections 19 and 20 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006. These sections and sub sections of the Act allow the Commissioner to monitor and review laws, policies and procedures relating to the wellbeing of children and young people with priority given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

As part of the discussions the Commissioner raised the importance of hearing the voices of children and young people and committed to undertake a Pilbara Listening Tour in advance of the Yule River On-Country Bush meeting in July 2024.

Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)

The Commissioner works closely with SNAICC under the Safe and Supported partnership and also supports the advocacy work they do by sharing with stakeholders and the public through her social media channels. 

In addition to the above priority projects, the Commissioner and her team continue to celebrate and acknowledge important events such as Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day by attending community events and schools, encouraging staff participation and education workshops and sharing knowledge and information about these important days and weeks of recognition with our stakeholders via social media and other digital channels.