Recommendation 169
• Attorney-General's Department
• States and territories
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.
To effectively apply the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations across the Australian Government, 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). One of the key requirements of the Framework is for Australian Government entities to adopt and implement the National Principles.
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, released on 9 December 2015.
For information about state and territory policies and program s 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