Recommendation 170

The Australian Government will continue its commitment to providing universal access to healthcare, education and early childhood education to all children. The Australian Government's needs based schools funding model allocates funding to state and territory governments as well as non-government education systems. This approach recognises that schools and school systems are best placed to understand the individual needs of students including Indigenous students. It also allows schools and Indigenous communities the autonomy to pursue bilingual education, if they choose.

The Australian Government's Connected Beginnings program integrates early childhood, maternal and child health, and family support services with schools in a selected number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities experiencing disadvantage. It aims to better prepare Indigenous children for school. To date, around eight communities are delivering the program and we anticipate up to another seven sites (15 in total) will be operating across Australia by 2018.

Free access to public hospital services, and partially or completely subsidised access to medical services (through the Medical Benefits Schedule), and medications (through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), are available to all Australian residents and certain categories of visitors to Australia. Information on relevant policies and programmes can be found on the Children and Youth Health page on the Department of Health website.

The Australian Government also funds youth specific mental health services. The headspace program provides youth friendly community based services for young people aged 12-25 years who have, or who are at risk of, mild to moderate mental illness. Services are provided at no or low cost across four key areas – mental health, related physical health, alcohol and other drug use, and social and vocational support.

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.

Through the Council of Australian Governments, the Australian Government works with state and territory governments on the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020. The framework has a focus on supporting Indigenous children and keeping them safe in their families and communities. Australia will implement 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 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