CYPC Reports, Resources and Submissions
Children standing in a line reading books

CYPC Reports, Resources and Submissions

Reports

2026

“We have big dreams.” Report from the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner’s 2025 Listening Tour

In 2024 and 2025 the CYPC conducted Listening Tours of schools and services for children and young people. In face-to-face sessions or through written and artistic submissions she heard from children and young people about what would make the ACT a better place to grow up. This report amplifies their ideas and makes a series of recommendations for decisions makers to better support children and young people.

2025

Project Report - Navigating the lead up to 18 and beyond

This report highlights concerns brought to the attention of the Public Advocate that for some young people in care, transition planning can be a case of ‘too little, too late’. Through this consultation, we heard directly from young people and from individuals supporting them within services.

Summary – Navigating the lead up to 18 and beyond

This is a child friendly summary of the findings from the consultation engaged in through the ‘Navigating the lead up to 18 and beyond’ project.

2024

"Listen to me: A plea from children and young people with an Out-of-Home Care experience to the adults who work with them

This publication provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from children and young people through a resource that was designed, researched, and written by a young person with lived experience of the Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) system. Tayla Scarcella has first-hand experience of not being listened to and, through this publication, hopes to influence how children and young people experience the OOHC system. She consulted other young people and has used what they said to develop a call to action, especially for adults. These young people send a very strong message – we, as adults working with them, need to do better when it comes to listening.

Listen to me:  A call to action

The poster accompanying the Listen to me report summarises the call to action and can be displayed as a reminder of how adults can do better when listening to children and young people.

"They just don't get it." Autistic children and young people's perspectives on inclusion.

In May of 2024 CYPC consulted Autistic children and young people about the Draft National Autism Strategy. What we were told was used to inform our feedback on the strategy but the children and young people's perspectives also provide insight into how we can improve inclusion in our communities.

"Ensuring Children’s Rights Through Mental Health Oversight” (PDF 616KB)

This publication presents the findings from a two-year project from the ACT Public Advocate on mental health and human rights for children and young people.

"Mental Health and Human Rights – Infographic” (PDF 269KB)

This is a child friendly infographic from the mental health project. It presents some of the findings and recommendations.

2023

"More Big Kid Swings": Children and young people's views on their right to play and recreation in the ACT (PDF  4MB)

In 2023 Children's Week focused on Article 31, the right to play and relaxation. We spoke to over 755 children and young people in the ACT about accessible play and recreation spaces. Children and young people from 2 to 24-years-old. This report explains what they said.

"It really stabs me": From resignation to resilience – children and young people’s experiences of racism in the ACT (PDF 3.6MB)

CYPC partnered with Curijo and Multicultural Hub Canberra to conduct a year-long consultation with children and young people about their views on and experiences of racism in the ACT. We asked what can be done to stop it and how we can better support children and young people who experience it or witness it. This report presents the findings of the consultation.

Working together to stop racism in the ACT (PDF 4.8MB)

This is a child friendly report from the 2022 consultation on racism. It presents some of the findings and recommendations, as well as aiming to prompt conversation and reflection.

2022

Listening to children and accepting how they feel 2022 (PDF 29MB)

This publication presents the findings of a consultation with children about their wellbeing. A powerful and visual presentation of their needs and their resilience.

2021

Listening to young people's experiences of family violence

The Children and Young People Commissioner and the Family Safety Hub partnered to listen to young people’s experiences of domestic and family violence. 70 young people aged 13 to 24 shared their views or personal stories.

Resources

Consultation and Engagement with Children and Young People: Statement of Ethical Practice (PDF 6MB)

The Children and Young People Commissioner aims to work towards, and lead, best practices when it comes to working with children and young people. As such we work to a set of practice guidelines that are intended to guide our work and provide guidance to others wanting to consult with children and young people.

What we promise when you share your thoughts with us (PDF 10MB)

The child friendly version of the Statement is intended to support informed consent processes with primary-aged children.

Submissions

The Children and Young People Commissioner makes submissions to the Government on issues that are relevant to children and young people in the ACT. Some of the most recent submissions are listed below.