Recommendation 166

The Australian Human Rights Commission and the National Children's Commissioner work to promote the human rights of all Australians, including children.

Australia has had a dedicated federal National Children's Commissioner since 2013. The Commissioner is established within the Australian Human Rights Commission by Part IIAA of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986(Cth). The Commissioner's functions include promoting discussion and awareness of human rights in relation to children. The Commissioner also undertakes programmes (including research and educational programmes) to promote respect for the human rights of children and to promote the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by children. Information about the work of the Commission on children's rights can be found on the Children's Rights page on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

In August 2017, the Australian Government committed to a new Commonwealth-wide framework to protect children and young people in its care – the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (CCSF). Under the CCSF, Commonwealth entities are required to:

• undertake a risk assessment to identify the level of responsibility they have for children, evaluate any risk of harm or abuse, and put in place appropriate mitigation strategies
• establish a training and compliance regime to ensure their staff are aware of, and comply with, the CCSF and relevant legislation including working with children checks and mandatory reporting requirements (including contractors working in Australian Government entities under employment contracts), and
• adopt and implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations within 12 months of their finalisation.

The Australian Government works with state and territory governments and the community sector on the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020. Australia is implementing the Third Action Plan under the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020, which has a cross-cutting focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children . A key priority under the Fourth Action Plan (2018-2020) of the National Framework will be to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at risk of entering, or in child protection systems

For information about state and territory policies and programmes related to children, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – Community Services Directorate
• New South Wales – Department of Health and Office of the Children's Guardian
• Northern Territory – Territory Families
• Queensland – Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
• South Australia – Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
• Tasmania – Department for Child Protection
• Victoria – Department of Human Services
• Western Australia – Department for Child Protection and Family Support

For information on state and territory policies and programmes related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• New South Wales – Office of Communities—Aboriginal Affairs
• Northern Territory – Office of Aboriginal Affairs
• Queensland – Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
• South Australia – Department of Premier and Cabinet, Aboriginal Community Advice and Support
• Tasmania – Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Aboriginal Affairs
• Victoria – Department of Premier and Cabinet, Aboriginal Victoria
• Western Australia – Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage