Children’s Voices Reports Across Australia

“I feel like where we live we don’t have many opportunities so most of us end up leaving before Year 9 and it’s sad, we deserve to have better education and more things to do after school like what the big cities have.” (WA young person)

What can the work of Children’s Commissioners tell us about what children need?

Children and families do best when we listen to what they have to say, and take this into consideration when making decisions that affect them.

More and more adults across Australia are understanding how important (and effective!) it is to incorporate the voices of children into their work.

While we’re not all in a position to consult widely with children, we can all play a part in elevating children and their opinions.

One of the ways we can do this is by valuing the work of Children’s Commissioners and Advocates across Australia.

A lot is already known about what children in Australia need; let’s listen deeply to what they are saying and continue to build on this work…

“That yes we are young but it doesn’t mean we don’t get to have an opinion on things like politics, things happening in society and topics like the LGBTQ community with things like same sex marriage, the Black Lives Matter movement and other major things that are happening.” (WA young person)

Key reports based on the voices of children

See below for a list of recent reports – by topic – from Children’s Commissioners across Australia. Note that some of the reports may include information across multiple topics but for simplicity are listed under the main topic area (or under ‘General Issues’ for broad consultations).

This resource has been created for National Child Protection Week to:

Raise awareness of the work of Australia’s Children’s Commissioners and the importance of the voices of children and young people
Ensure that important consultation reports across Australia are accessible to decision-makers and anyone whose work affects children and young people. Most of the reports are state/territory-based and – until now – have not been easily accessible in one place.
Highlight quotes from children and young people on particular topics relevant to NAPCAN’s current work.

NOTE: Many other organisations (eg Mission Australia, CREATE Foundation) also create valuable consultation reports. At this stage, this page is dedicated to the work of Children’s Commissioners; however, it is intended that other reports may be added at a later stage as resources permit.

For more information about the work being done by Children’s Commissioners and Advocates, please refer to the below:

National – https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/childrens-rights

ACT – https://hrc.act.gov.au/childrenyoungpeople

NSW – https://www.acyp.nsw.gov.au/

WA – https://www.ccyp.wa.gov.au/

SA – https://www.ccyp.com.au/

VIC – https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/

QLD – https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/

NT – https://occ.nt.gov.au/

TAS – https://childcomm.tas.gov.au/everyone/

“Raise more awareness about how to stop child abuse and how to help a friend or young person who is going through abusive relationships or events.”

We have “equal thoughts”: don’t just think that adults have the big thoughts. Kids have big thoughts too – ACT

“Seriously consider children’s voices in law-making, because they have experiences that can help our community a lot.”

General Issues

The Things That Matter 3 Views of 8-12 year olds on life, school and community– SA 2022
What can adults learn from children? – WA, 2022
Keeping kids safe and well – your voices – National Children’s Commissioner, 2021
Rights, Voices, Stories project report: Identifying what matters to children and young people involved in the Queensland child protection system – QLD, 2021
Speaking Out Survey 2021: The views of WA children and young people on their wellbeing – a summary report – WA, 2021
“Listen to us… we are the next generation” Report on the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians ‘Tell Us What You Think’ Survey of Children and Young People – AU & NZ, 2020
“Kids have big thoughts too” Life transitions: what children say about change – ACT, 2018

Child and Youth Participation

Child and Youth Participation Framework – QLD, 2022

Racism

“It Really Stabs Me”: From resignation to resilience – Children and young people’s experience of racism in the ACT – ACT, 2023
Working together to stop racism in the ACT (child-friendly version) – ACT, 2023

COVID

Living through COVID: Growing Up in Queensland 2021 – QLD, 2021

Domestic and Family Violence

Women’s Safety & Justice Taskforce – QLD, 2022
Now you have heard us, what will you do? Young people’s experiences of domestic and family violence – ACT, 2020

Mental Health

‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing – National, 2022
Mental Health Select Committee – QLD, 2022

“Making sure that children are treated fairly, i.e. making sure that children are treated with just as much respect as adults.”

“Us kids deserve to talk. Adults need to listen to what us kids need to say.” (WA young person)

“I’m a girl, and I’m teenage, so I guess it’s kind of expected now for me to feel a little unsafe when I’m out. I guess people have the power to make me feel somewhat unsafe.” (WA young person)

“I feel unsafe as a part of the LGBQIA+ community in my conservative town. And feel unable to express myself for fear of getting verbally attacked.” (WA young person)

Youth Justice

Changing the Sentence Report: Overseeing Queensland’s youth justice reforms – QLD, 2021

Living Environments/Neighbourhoods

My Place in WA: WA children and young people speak out about their living environment – WA, 2021

“I feel safe in my community because I have people I trust around me. They help me to feel safe, protected, wanted and loved. I believe it is essential that all people are surrounded with people they trust.” (WA young person)

“Adults can learn from children to be open minded. Since we see the world differently, if adults listen to us and consider our thoughts and opinions, they can begin to expand their minds when they have a different perspective.” (WA young person)

What are children telling us about being safe and supported?

“I think our community needs more places for our disabled… Why should they have to miss out on all of the fun just because they are in a wheelchair? It would make Baldivis a much better place with a disabled skatepark.” (WA young person)

“[I want] families, schools and adults to know that keeping the community safe is to be kind and caring to others and keeping everywhere clean and tidy.” (WA young person)

“That the world is changing and so are we, and to keep up we and our government must as well. We need radical government action on urgent issues such as climate change. They could potentially also learn to be more empathetic and tolerant towards those who may not be as efficient or who are naturally disadvantaged, and strive towards not necessarily equality, but equity. Thank you for listening!” (WA young person)

Children's Commissioner and Advocate Youth Advisory Councils (YAC)

Many organisations – including the Commissioners and Advocates – have young people who they engage to help shape their work. If you are wanting to engage the voices of young people in your work, the existing youth advisory councils can be a great place to start.

Below is an overview of some of the existing groups: