New body for child safety
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A new Commission is being created to protect Indigenous children's rights.
The Albanese Government has announced the establishment of a new National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, which will become operational from 13 January 2024.
The government says the independent Commission will work to improve outcomes for Indigenous children and young people, particularly in addressing their overrepresentation in out-of-home care and youth detention.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth has described the initiative as a “historic milestone”, part of the government’s commitment to shared decision-making with First Nations peoples.
The new Commission will operate under the Public Service Act 1999. The process to appoint a National Commissioner is scheduled to commence this month.
The government says the role of the National Commissioner will be to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, amplifying their voices and aspirations within broader policy discussions.
The Commissioner, who will be a First Nations person, is tasked with working directly with children and young people to drive systemic change.
They will also collaborate with a range of stakeholders including First Nations leaders, state and territory Children’s Commissioners, and the National Children’s Commissioner.
Indigenous children are currently placed in out-of-home care at nearly eleven times the rate of their non-Indigenous counterparts, and are 29 times more likely to be in youth detention.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, says these statistics are unacceptable and should be reversed.
“Their strengths, sense of hope, and new ideas will drive systemic change,” she said.
The Commission is part of the federal government’s broader effort to Close the Gap on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Minister McCarthy said that the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous children would be central to the Commission’s work, aiming for policies that reflect their lived realities.
Catherine Liddle, Chair of the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group (SNAICC), has expressed optimism about the Commission's potential.
“This position will be a game-changer in tackling the over-representation of our young people in out-of-home care and youth detention,” Liddle stated.
Applications for the role of the National Commissioner will open soon.
