Children's Commissioners: a national snapshot

Australia has developed a number of initiatives to safeguard the interests and well being of all children (for example, the implementation of working with children checks and mandatory reporting). A focus on the participatory rights of children has emerged alongside these developments. One way in which children's interests and participatory rights are protected is through the establishment of Commissions designed to represent and advocate for all children in society.

Each Australian state and territory has an Office for Youth Affairs or equivalent, responsible for developing and coordinating policies that relate to children and young people (Kenney and Tait, 2005). In addition to such departments, Australian jurisdictions have also taken steps to introduce independent statutory bodies (for example, Children's Commissions) to: review policy and legislation relevant to children and young people; provide a complaints mechanism in relation to the delivery of children's services; advocate for children's rights and interests; provide community education; and other related functions.

In 2005, the Clearinghouse's Child Abuse Prevention Newsletter published an article by Kenney and Tait that reviewed such developments in each Australian jurisdiction. The following table provides an update of the national picture in relation to the development and implementation of Children's Commissions in each state and territory. Kenney and Tait's (2005) original article can be viewed at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/newsletters/nl2005/summer.html#nk

Jurisdiction	Details
Australian Capital Territory	The Australian Capital Territory has a Disability Commissioner; the Disability Commission is to be expanded in the near future to encompass a Children's Commissioner.
New South Wales	New South Wales has a Commission for Children and Young People. It is is an independent organisation that reports directly to the NSW Parliament. http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/
Northern Territory	The Northern Territory does not currently have a Children's Commissioner, but a Commissioner is included in the new draft legislation (the Care and Protection of Children and Young People Act - still a draft Act at this stage).
Queensland	Queensland has a Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. The Commission is independent, and its decisions are not influenced by any Government department or other agency. http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/index.html
South Australia	South Australia has the Children's Interest Bureau, which is a statutory body concerned with children's rights. The South Australian Community Welfare Act, Section 26 established the Children's Interests Bureau in 1984. South Australia also has an Office of the Public Advocate.
Tasmania	Tasmania has a Commissioner for Children. It is an independent office responsible to the Parliament of Tasmania. http://www.childcomm.tas.gov.au/
Victoria	Victoria has a Child Safety Commissioner. Victoria also has an Advocate for Children in Care, which is a part of the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner. The Commissioner provides advice to the Minister for Children on issues impacting on the lives of children, in particular vulnerable children. http://www.ocsc.vic.gov.au/
Western Australia	WA has introduced a Children's Commissioner with the passage of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill 2005. As the independent Commissioner, accountable to the WA Parliament, the Commissioner acts as an advocate for children and young people, and safeguards and promotes the well being of all children and young people in WA, especially Aboriginal children and those who who are disadvantaged or at risk. A website is in the process of being established.

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