Children's Rights
Help us make sure that children and young people have a genuine say on the issues that affect their lives.
Meet the Commissioner
Anne Hollonds
Anne Hollonds commenced as National Children’s Commissioner in November 2020.
The most important part of this job is listening to Australia’s children and young people about your needs and experiences so that I can inform the decision-makers and hold them accountable for policy and service system reforms based on evidence.
For the previous 23 years I was Chief Executive of government and non-government organisations focused on research, policy and practice in child and family wellbeing, including as Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Before that I worked extensively in frontline practice as a psychologist and social worker.
As National Children’s Commissioner I also contribute to numerous expert advisory groups for governments, research projects and non-government organisations.
Latest News
Children's Rights
NT youth crime laws fail children and the community
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said the passing of legislation in the Northern Territory that will see children as young as 10 years old jailed is a failure of all the support systems that should be helping these children.
Children's Rights
NT Government urged not to lower age of criminal responsibility
The National Children’s Commissioner and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Commissioner have urged the Northern Territory Government to reverse its plan next week to introduce a new law to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to ten years.
Children's Rights
We must ‘help way earlier’ – united call to address systemic failures of Australia’s youth justice systems
Joint media release: Justice Reform Initiative and Australian Human Rights Commission Law and justice leaders, parliamentarians, First Nations leaders, child safety advocates, community service providers, peak organisations, and people with lived experience of child imprisonment from around...
Top Projects
Children's Rights
‘Help way earlier!’ – transforming child justice
Read Help way earlier, a report by the National Children's Commissioner on how Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing.
Children's Rights
‘Help way earlier!’ – transforming child justice
Children's Rights
Supporting Quality Engagement with Children
Children's Rights