Child Safe Organisations
The National Principles aim to provide a nationally consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing across all sectors in Australia.
Children
Proposal to raise the age does not go far enough
All 16 of Australia’s children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates say a commitment by state attorneys-general to develop a proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 does not go far enough.
In a joint statement, Australian children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates said: “We are pleased that some jurisdictions have for the first time indicated they will look at raising the age, but this process is not going far enough or fast enough.
Child-friendly guide to help understand child sexual abuse
The Australian Human Rights Commission has worked with the National Office for Child Safety to develop a guide to help children and young people understand child sexual abuse, and how to seek help.
The guide was launched today to support Australia’s first ever National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.
Input to the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy
Summary
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input to the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy (the Strategy). We commend the National Indigenous Australians Agency and SNAICC–National Voice for our Children for the work already done to prepare the Framework to inform the Strategy.Thank you for the opportunity to provide input to the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy (the
Strategy). We commend the National Indigenous Australians Agency and SNAICC–National Voice for our Children for the work already done to prepare the
Framework to inform the Strategy.
National Child Protection Week 5-11 Sept, 2021
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Every Child, in Every Community, Needs a Fair Go. National Child Protection Week, 5-11 Sept, 2021
Statement on the National Summit on Women's Safety
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to participate in the National Summit for Women’s Safety and to contribute to the development of Australia’s second National Plan on the Prevention of Violence against Women and their Children. Violence is a human rights issue that needs urgent and coordinated action.
Competitions
Children’s commissioners and guardians unite in opposing NT legislation
All fourteen Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians (ANZCCG) have united in opposing new legislation introduced by the Northern Territory Government, which proposes to alter the NT’s Youth Justice Act and Bail Act.
The commissioners and guardians wrote to NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner at the end of March expressing their concerns about the legislation and asking him to reconsider his approach. They have not received a reply.
Governments must prioritise raising the age
National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO have urged all Australian governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility as a matter of priority.
A report commissioned by a meeting of Attorneys-General in July last year recommended that all jurisdictions raise the age and ensure younger teenagers are not held in detention.
Now is the moment to listen to young people
By National Children's Commissioner, Anne Hollonds.
For the last few weeks, Australia has been having a “moment” as our attention has been concentrated on an endless series of revelations of sexual assault and harassment in workplaces up and down the land, but also, very worryingly, in our schools.
