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Childrens Rights
7 July 2025Opinion pieceChild safety and wellbeing must be made a national priority
National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds had an op-ed published in the Canberra Times criticising the lack of government accountability for the protection of children. This comes in the wake of recent allegations of child abuse across several childcare centres in Melbourne. -
Childrens Rights
2 July 2025Media Release
National Children’s Commissioner calls for urgent action on ‘safer’ childcare
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has called for national leadership on systems reforms required to keep children safe following news of the distressing case of the childcare worker alleged to have sexually abused numerous children in Victoria. ‘This is not the first time and it won’t be the last, unless governments across the federation take urgent action to implement the… -
Childrens Rights
27 February 2018Publication
Children’s Rights Report 2017
Child-Friendly Report Every year, the National Children's Commissioner provides a child-friendly version of the Children’s Rights Report. The child-friendly report is a short, easy-to-read summary of the contents of the National Children's Commissioner's report to Parliament. What does the Children's Rights Report 2017 Say? (Child-Friendly Report) Submissions The National Children’s… -
Childrens Rights
24 July 2018Webpage
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and reporting on children's rights
What is the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child? The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is a United Nations (UN) body which monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocols by States parties to the Convention. The UN Committee is made up of 18 independent experts from a range of countries. The UN… -
Childrens Rights
26 March 2018Project
Reporting to the United Nations on Children's Rights
In September 2019, Australia appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This UN Committee monitors Australia’s progress in fulfilling its obligations under: • the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) • the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) • the Optional … -
Childrens Rights
10 October 2024Speech
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds Press Club address
Read the speech to the National Press Club about her major report 'Help Way Earlier!: How Australia can transform child justice and improve safety and wellbeing'. -
Childrens Rights
19 March 2014Submission
Enhancing Online Safety for Children
Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Outline of children’s rights in the context of bullying, including cyber-bullying 3 The Commission’s existing work on bullying and cyber-bullying 4 Other emerging issues 5 Education and increasing public awareness 1 Introduction The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Department of -
Childrens Rights
19 August 2024Publication
'Help Way Earlier!'- transforming child justice for safety & wellbeing
Report artwork copyright Bernard Singleton and Saltwater People 2024. 'Help way earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing investigates opportunities for reform of child justice and related systems across Australia based on children’s rights and sound evidence. The report includes the voices of children and their families, and stakeholder submissions … -
Childrens Rights
8 March 2022Issues
Updates from Australian and New Zealand Children's Commissioners and Guardians
Explore updates from the Australian and New Zealand Children's Commissioners. -
Childrens Rights
29 September 2021Webpage
About Children's Rights
What are children's rights? Just like adults, children have human rights across the full spectrum of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Children also have special rights because of their vulnerability, such as the right to protection from exploitation and abuse, the right to be cared for and have a home, and the right to have a say in decisions which affect them. The… -
Childrens Rights
3 July 2023Project
Youth Justice and Child Wellbeing Reform Across Australia
The National Children’s Commissioner is investigating youth justice reform in Australia, aiming to protect children’s rights and reduce crime involvement. -
Childrens Rights
9 September 2022Speech
Every child, in every community, needs a fair go. Shining a light on supporting children to grow up safe and supported
His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley. Thank you for launching National Child Protection Week 2022 and for hosting us today. I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respect to their elders, past, present and emerging, and to all Aboriginal and… -
Childrens Rights
25 February 2021Speech
Towards a National Child Wellbeing Strategy
Speech by National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds to the Parliamentary Friends of Early Childhood Thanks for this opportunity to share some reflections on my vision for early childhood policy. I would first like to acknowledge the traditional owners – Ngunnawal and Ngambri people – and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. My observations this morning will draw… -
Childrens Rights
24 August 2022Publication
'Mental health shapes my life': COVID-19 & kids' wellbeing (2022)
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, children and their families have experienced unparalleled disruptions to their daily lives. Although the pandemic is far from over, it is important that we understand how children have dealt with these changes and ensure that policy and decision making moving forward can minimise negative impacts. You can view a Child-friendly version of the report here. In… -
Childrens Rights
6 April 2022Publication
Keeping kids safe and well: your voices
Also available Keeping kids safe and well - Child-friendly version Children and young people are experts in their own lives, and their insights are critical for understanding how we can better support their safety and wellbeing. This report conveys the views of children, young people and families collected by the National Children’s Commissioner in face-to-face and online consultations and… -
Childrens Rights
11 December 2019Speech
2019 Human Rights Day Oration
The Hon Peter McClellan AM QC 10 December 2019 I recently visited the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. It is a confronting but moving experience. It is a memorial to the people the allies believed it necessary to kill to win the war. They were also intent on emphasising to the world that they had the most powerful weapon ever invented. They chose to detonate the bomb in an urban area rather than… -
Childrens Rights
14 December 2012Webpage
Cyberbullying, Human rights and bystanders
Download in PDF Download in Word Table Of Contents About bullying What are the impacts of cyberbullying? What is the Commission doing about cyberbullying and bystanders? Getting help Where can I get more help? Other useful resources What are the impacts of cyberbullying? Bullying, including cyberbullying, can have serious impacts on individuals, organisations and communities. [10]… -
Childrens Rights
14 December 2012Webpage
Cyberbullying, Human rights and bystanders
Download in PDF Download in Word Table Of Contents About bullying What are the impacts of cyberbullying? What is the Commission doing about cyberbullying and bystanders? Getting help Where can I get more help? Other useful resources What is the Commission doing about cyberbullying and bystanders? The Commission currently has ‘tackling violence, harassment and bullying’ as one of its priority… -
Childrens Rights
14 December 2012Webpage
Cyberbullying, Human rights and bystanders
Download in PDF Download in Word Table Of Contents About bullying What are the impacts of cyberbullying? What is the Commission doing about cyberbullying and bystanders? Getting help Where can I get more help? Other useful resources Getting help Practical bystander actions to take if you witness bullying [27] Make it clear to your friends that you won't be involved in bullying behaviour… -
Childrens Rights
27 October 2021Publication
A guide for children and young people to the National Strategy to prevent child sexual abuse (2021)
This guide is intended to help children and young people understand child sexual abuse, how and where to get help, and how the National Strategy is improving Australia’s response to child sexual abuse. It is recommended for children aged 9 years and up. The development of the National Strategy was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse…