A message from the Commissioner

Section 20 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act (2006) prioritises the interests and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. This toolkit was developed to assist organisations in response to a request from a young person in the Listen to Us report (2015) to effectively engage with Aboriginal children and young people.   For the purposes of this toolkit the term Aboriginal encompasses Western Australia’s diverse language groups and recognises Torres Strait Islanders who live in Western Australia.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People proudly acknowledges and pays respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Western Australia and acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, upon whose lands the Commissioner’s office is located. I recognise the continuing connection to culture, lands, skies and waters, families, and communities of all Aboriginal peoples.

The Commissioner and her team also pay their respects to all Elders, past and present and emerging young leaders. We recognise the knowledge, insights, and capabilities of Aboriginal people, and pay respect to Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.

This toolkit outlines a process for establishing a long-term, sustainable commitment to working with Aboriginal children and young people within their communities to establish effective initiatives that improve their current wellbeing and identify future opportunities.  It supports the development of Aboriginal-led solutions through engaging community Elders and senior leaders, in addition to children and young people from the beginning, to ensure programs are produced with the community and for the community.

Improving the lives of Aboriginal children and young people must be seen as core business for all organisations and agencies engaging with Aboriginal people and communities.

Aboriginal children and young people all over Western Australia must have opportunities to be heard and influence decision making, and by doing so provide opportunities to develop their leadership capacity to lead and sustain change into the future.  This toolkit will assist organisations to plan and execute consultations and forums to ensure Aboriginal children and young people have their voices heard.

Jacqueline McGowan-Jones

Commissioner for Children and Young People