About the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner

Jodie Griffiths-Cook is the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner (CYPC).

Her role is one of eight independent statutory roles that together make up the ACT Human Rights Commission. These roles promote the human rights and welfare of all people living in the ACT and have legislative responsibility for protecting some of Canberra’s most vulnerable citizens.

The role of the CYPC is to:

• Promote the rights of children and young people,
• Consult and talk with children and young people and promote their participation in decision-making,
• Encourage stakeholders to listen to and seriously consider the views of children and young people, and
• Provide advice to government and community agencies about how to improve services for children and young people.

Jodie is also the ACT Public Advocate.

Amendments to the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 (ACT) provide for the CYPC to support implementation of the ACT Child Safe Standards Scheme by working with organisations and sectors to enhance their capability. This will include providing information, resources, support, and training that builds on existing child safety measures and supports organisations to improve practices to better promote and protect the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people. As CYPC, Jodie will apply a continuous improvement approach across all relevant sectors, while leveraging existing regulatory powers and compliance measures to support long-term cultural change.

Learn more about the Human Rights Commission.

What we do?

We build the capability of services to be child safe, child friendly, and child aware.

We listen to children and young people.

We influence decisions and practices that affect children and young people.