Projects

Children's Rights

Youth Justice and Child Wellbeing Reform across Australia

Background The National Children’s Commissioner is conducting a project that investigates opportunities for reform of youth justice and related systems across Australia, based on evidence and the protection of human rights. The project will explore ways to reduce children’s involvement in crime...

Children's Rights

Children's Rights Reports

The National Children's Commissioner produces a report every year on the state of children's rights in Australia.

Children's Rights

Child-friendly versions of the Children's Rights Reports

What are the Children's Rights Reports? The National Children's Commissioner has to submit a report every year on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by children and young people in Australia. This page contains an overview of all of the child friendly versions of the Children's Rights...

Children's Rights

Reporting to the United Nations on Children's Rights

In September 2019, Australia appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This UN Committee monitors Australia’s progress in fulfilling its obligations under: • the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) • the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the...

Children's Rights

Child Safe Organisations

The National Principles aim to provide a nationally consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing across all sectors in Australia.

Children's Rights

National Children's Commissioner's work on OPCAT

The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) was ratified by Australia in December 2017. The OPCAT requires the government to put into place new and expanded oversight mechanisms in order to prevent torture, as well as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in places of detention...

Children's Rights

Building Belonging - a toolkit to tackle racial prejudice in early childhood settings

In 2016, the Australian Human Rights Commission developed its first series of early childhood education resources. ‘ Building Belonging ’ is a comprehensive toolkit of resources which includes an ebook, song with actions, educator guide, posters and lesson plans, focused on encouraging respect for...

Children's Rights

Effects of family and domestic violence on children and young people

About this project In 2015 the National Children’s Commissioner conducted research and consultations on the impact of family and domestic violence on children and young people. The Commissioner’s investigation involved a series of expert roundtables, individual consultations and a submissions...

Children's Rights

Intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour in children

In 2014 the National Children’s Commissioner examined how children and young people under 18 years can be better protected from intentional self-harm, with or without suicidal intent.

Children's Rights

Child-friendly version of the Children's Rights Report 2014

In December 2014, the National Children's Commissioner published a child-friendly version of her Children’s Rights Report 2014. The child-friendly report is a short, easy-to-read summary of the contents of the National Children's Commissioner's report to Parliament. The National Children's...

Children's Rights

Privacy resources

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (the CRC) gives children and young people special rights to privacy, and in some cases these rights should be protected by the law. Article 16 of the CRC states: 1. No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy...

Children's Rights

Statement of Intent on Children's Rights in Early Childhood Education and Care

In 2014, the National Children's Commissioner worked with Early Childhood Australia (ECA) to develop a Statement of Intent on Children’s Rights in Early Childhood Education and Care (Statement of Intent). The Statement of Intent identifies priority areas for action. It is a practical tool designed...

Children's Rights

A model charter of rights for children and young people detained in youth justice facilities

This Charter of Rights tells you what you can expect while you are detained. The rights apply to everyone so you have to respect other people’s rights.