Children’s Rights Report 2019
The Children’s Rights Report 2019 — In Their Own Right tells the story of how well children’s rights are protected and promoted across Australia.
Children
Children's Rights Reports
The National Children's Commissioner produces a report every year on the state of children's rights in Australia.
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.
Joint Statement: Rights of Children in the NT
Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO have urged the Northern Territory government to reconsider its proposals for youth offending, announced yesterday.
The NT Government yesterday said it would put in "automatic revocation of bail" for young people who reoffend or breach their bail conditions.
The Commission supports the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law System (2019)
Summary
Submission to the Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law SystemSubmission to the Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law System
Anne Hollonds commences as National Children’s Commissioner
Anne Hollonds has commenced in her role as Australia’s new National Children’s Commissioner.
Commissioner Hollonds emphasised the need for greater recognition of the importance of childhood in Australia.
“Childhood is quite rightly described as critically important for people's social, health and economic outcomes, but the value of childhood is not only about the future adult that a child may become.
Gymnastics in Australia Review now open for participation
The Australian Human Rights Commission will today commence public consultation for its Independent Review of the sport of gymnastics in Australia.
The Commission is undertaking the Review of the sport at the request of Gymnastics Australia, with the support of the AIS and the National Institute Network, and will deliver its findings in early 2021.
The Review will build an understanding of the sport’s culture and identify systemic issues impacting upon athlete experience and barriers to reporting misconduct to inform future, better practice to ensure safety and inclusivity.
Greater focus needed on kids during pandemic
Since lockdown restrictions were introduced in March, the national 24/7 counselling and support service Kids Helpline has received a significant increase in the volume of children and young people seeking help, up 24% to the end of August compared to 2019.
The concerns they raised in counselling sessions provide important insights into how governments, parents and educators can better support children and young people through the pandemic.
