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16 August 2024Child Friendly Template
Our work on issues that affect you
Do you need to know about issues that affect your rights? Look through our easy to read reports below. -
Children's Rights
14 February 2017Webpage
The National Children's Commissioner's work on the OPCAT
In 2016 the National Children’s Commissioner conducted a national investigation into the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and how it relates to children and young people detained in youth justice centres or adult facilities. This page provides a brief overview of the findings and recommendations in relation to the OPCAT. More information can be found in the… -
Children's Rights
27 February 2025News story
Applications open: National Children's Commissioner
Applications are now open for the National Children's Commissioner role. The National Children’s Commissioner leads the Commission’s work about the rights of children. This work includes: promoting understanding and acceptance of, and compliance with, the Convention on the Rights of the Child promoting discussion and awareness of issues affecting children undertaking research and education -
Children's Rights
27 February 2025Submission
Submission: Inquiry into Australia's youth justice and incarceration system
The Australian Human Rights Commission has made a submission to the Parliamentary Committee that is looking at Australia's youth justice and incarceration system. -
Children's Rights
12 December 2024Video
National Children's Commissioner urges Australian governments to stand up for children's human rights
National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds has called on all Australians governments to protect the human rights of children. She released this video to coincide with UN Human Rights Day 2024, on the same week the Queensland Government planned to pass its controversial Making Queensland Safer Bill. Read the Commission's landmark report on child justice reform, titled 'Help Way Earlier!':… -
Children's Rights
21 November 2024News story
New animation – ‘Do things with the information we tell you’
In the Supporting Quality Engagement with Children 2023 Final Report, children and young people said they want to see action based on what they told us about their lived experience. -
Children's Rights
11 October 2024News story
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
12 September 2024News story
Children's Commissioner welcomes Senate Inquiry into child justice
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has welcomed the establishment of a Federal Senate Inquiry into Australia’s child justice system, saying it has come at a critical time to prevent further systemic failures harming children and young people. -
Children's Rights
21 November 2024News story
Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s in Australia
The Australian Government is proposing laws that will require technology companies to restrict individuals under the age of 16 years from accessing their social media platforms. -
Children's Rights
25 October 2023Media Release
National Children’s Commissioner urges governments to monitor child rights
Australia’s National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds is urging governments and service providers to implement a new national toolkit to help improve laws and policy decisions and monitor their impacts on children. -
Children's Rights
13 February 2024Media Release
AHRC welcomes announcement of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that a new position will be created for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner. Advocates and peak bodies representing Australia’s First Nations children have long sought a National Commissioner to promote the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children… -
Children's Rights
8 March 2022Issues
Updates from Australian and New Zealand Children's Commissioners and Guardians
The Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians (ANZCCG) meets regularly to promote and protect the safety, wellbeing and rights of children and young people in Australia and New Zealand. Updates: Australian and New Zealand Children's Commissioners and Guardians Communiqué: November 2019 Australian and New Zealand Children's Commissioners and Guardians Communiqué 12-14 … -
Children's Rights
1 November 2023Publication
Building belonging
A toolkit for early childhood educators on cultural diversity and responding to prejudice. See more. -
Children's Rights
27 October 2020Submission
Education in Remote and Complex Environments (2020)
The Commission has for many years highlighted concerns that geographical location can impact negatively on the ability of people to have their rights realised, including the right to education. -
Children's Rights
20 November 2023Publication
Scoping project for National Child and Family Investment Strategy
In this report, the National Children’s Commissioner makes 18 recommendations about how the National Child and Family Investment Strategy should work. -
Children's Rights
12 April 2023Event
Webinar: Reinventing schools to support learning & wellbeing for all
If we want children to flourish, we must ask ourselves if the school system is doing the right thing by them. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fault lines that emerge when health and learning aren’t considered holistically. Declining mental health, disengagement from learning, disruption among social connections and vastly reduced physical activity were some of the impacts on children… -
Children's Rights
12 July 2019Speech
Children’s right to safety and a holistic education
Good morning, everyone and thank you for inviting me to be here today to talk to you about the importance of children’s rights. I’d like to begin by also acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, and paying my respects to elders past, present and emerging. I’d also like to acknowledge any Indigenous guests who are present with us today. I’m going to start by telling you a little… -
Children's Rights
6 February 2020Media Release
Children’s Commissioner to Launch Final Report
Australia’s first Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell will on Monday launch her final report – one of the most comprehensive assessments of children’s rights ever produced in Australia. The report makes clear that the mental health of Australian children is not being cared for sufficiently and that Governments must do more to ensure children’s wellbeing. Commissioner Mitchell said: “Not… -
Children's Rights
24 August 2022Media Release
Survey shows children need better mental health support
A national survey examining the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic shows children and their families need better support from schools and mental health services. An initiative of the National Children's Commissioner, the survey found that children most commonly seek mental health support from their families, friends and schools. However,… -
Children's Rights
6 March 2022News story
Media statement: National survey on understanding and experiences of consent
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a national survey exploring consent education of secondary school students across Australia.