Children's Rights
Good morning everyone and thank you Katharine O’Donnell, ANZELA National President, for inviting me to be part of what I hear has been a stimulating event to date and to present the Dr Ann Shorten Memorial Lecture. I too would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we...
Children's Rights
Speech given at the CREATE Biannual Conference Date: 9.25am, 10 August 2017 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney Introduction Thank you to CREATE Foundation for the invitation to provide an opening address. I too would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet...
Children's Rights
National Suicide Prevention Conference 2017 Delivered on Friday 28 July 2017 Introduction It’s a pleasure to be invited here today to present at this year’s Suicide Prevention Conference. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we gather on today, and pay my...
Children's Rights
Speech given at the Australian Association for Adolescent Health 2017 Conference Date: 10am - 11am, Thursday 6 July 2017 Introduction Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here to speak about the work I have done as Australia’s first National Children’s Commissioner. Before I begin, I would like to...
Children's Rights
One unintended consequence of the explosion of digital technology is the proliferation of online child exploitation material – and increased opportunities for child sex offenders to connect with other offenders. This is the central finding of Anti-Slavery Australia’s Behind the Screen: Online Child...
Children's Rights
This year around 900 children and young people will spend Christmas in jail. More than 5 per cent of this population are between 10 and 12 years old and 74 per cent of this age group are Indigenous. Most have been charged or convicted with petty crimes, like graffiti, vandalism, shop lifting or fare...
Children's Rights
Introduction Good morning everyone. I want to begin by speaking about an artwork submitted by a young person detained in a youth justice centre. This was sent to me as an entry to an art competition I ran for children and young people in youth justice centres this year. I asked them to show me how...
Children's Rights
Author Megan Mitchell, National Children's Commissioner Earlier this year I visited the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in Darwin, along with a number of other centres where children are detained across the country. The purpose of the visits was to see how young people were being treated and how their...
Children's Rights
Introduction I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Arrernte people, and pay my respects to elders past, present and future. I would also like to thank Geraldine for the Welcome to Country, and to Tiara for her fabulous emceeing here tonight...
Children's Rights
2016 International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect Held by the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Calgary, Canada Introduction Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here in Calgary today to speak about the work I have done as Australia’s first National...
Children's Rights
Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies Conference 2016 Introduction Good afternoon everyone and thank you Wendy for the introduction. It’s fantastic to be here today amongst so many people committed to the wellbeing of children in Australia. I too would like to acknowledge the traditional...
Children's Rights
Thank you and good morning everyone. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I also want to thank Yfoundations for the invitation to speak to you all this...
Children's Rights
On Tuesday this week Attorney-General George Brandis foreshadowed extending laws concerning control orders to fourteen- and fifteen-year-old children. Brandis said the fact that a 15-year-old boy had been inspired to perform a terrorist act demonstrated that the reach of Islamic State and IS...
Children's Rights
By Professor Gillian Triggs and Commissioner Megan Mitchell. We can no longer tolerate the loss of innocent lives, or allow children to be exposed to such horrific crimes. This week we have seen at least four lives tragically cut short at the hands of a partner or family member. Two of these victims...
Children's Rights
Good morning and thank you for the introduction. I’d like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting, and pay my respects to their elders past and present. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be here today to launch the Statement of Intent on Supporting Young...
