Providing Advice

Section 6 of the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 allows the CYPC to make recommendations to government and non-government agencies about legislation, policy, practice and services affecting children and young people.

In doing so, the CYPC aims to:

• Improve service delivery for children and young people;
• Remind agencies about their legislative and policy obligations with respect to children and young people, including their obligation to consult with children and young people;
• Promote the rights of children and young people;
• Provide a voice for children and young people; and
• Ensure that the impact of all existing and new policies and programs are considered from the perspective of what do children and young people think?

During 2010-2011, the CYPC was involved in, or commented on, a number of local initiatives, including:

• Review of Police Criminal Investigative Powers;
• Draft Disability Education Strategic Plan;
• Whole of Government Statement on Family Violence;
• Improving ACT Public Schools & Colleges: A discussion paper to generate ideas;
• Policies and Procedures for the Therapeutic Protection Place;
• 2010 Canberra Social Plan and Community Inclusion Progress Report;
• CMD Community Engagement Manual;
• Draft Workplace Screening Risk Assessment Guidelines;
• Young People’s Plan 2009-2014 Implementation Plan 2011;
• Inquiry into the operation of the Prostitution Act 1992; and
• Implementation report on the ACT Multicultural Strategy 2010-2013.

Additionally, during the reporting period, the CYPC reviewed, or had the opportunity to review, many Cabinet Submissions which, for reasons of confidentiality, cannot be detailed here.

The CYPC also met regularly with executive staff from a number of government agencies, most notably CSD and ETD, to discuss a range of issues, and was also approached formally and informally by a number of government agencies to provide advice or assistance in relation to service provision for children and young people.

During 2010-2011, the CYPC also worked closely with the Australian Children Commissioners and Guardians (ACCG) group - the network of children and young people Commissioners and Guardians from each Australian State and Territory - to progress a range of national initiatives, including:

• Joint ACCG submission to the Senate Inquiry Regarding the Commonwealth Commissioner for Children & Young People Bill 2011;
• Joint ACCG submission to the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence) Bill 2010 - Exposure Draft
• Joint ACCG letter to the Commonwealth Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, regarding the National Standards for Children in Out-of-Home Care;
• Joint ACCG letter to the Commonwealth Minister for Health & Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, regarding Medicare benefits for children and young people in out-of-home care;
• Joint ACCG letter to the Commonwealth Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, regarding Newstart Allowance for grandparents and kinship carers; and
• Joint ACCG letter to the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, regarding protocols for response to allegations of child abuse and neglect in immigration centres.

During the reporting period, the CYPC met formally with the ACCG on two occasions, and also had regular informal and formal discussions and teleconferences with other members of ACCG on a range of local and national issues.

For more information about other Australian Children's Commissioners & Guardians follow the link.

For a copy of any of these submissions, just click on the title of the document - or, if the link does not work, just call the CYPC on 6205 2222, or email at ACTkids@act.gov.au.

Last updated 05 Apr 2012