Under the direction of the National Children’s Commissioner, the Children’s Rights Team at the Australian Human Rights Commission has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Education to conduct a study on 14-18-year-old's experiences of, and attitudes towards, consent, respectful...
Background In 2023-24, the National Children’s Commissioner conducted a project that investigated opportunities for reform of youth justice and related systems across Australia based on evidence and the protection of human rights. The project explored ways to reduce children’s involvement in crime...
Project overview The Supporting Quality Engagement with Children consultation project aims to include the voices of children, young people and their families in policies and services that directly affect them. The five Key National Strategies The National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds is...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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.
In 2012, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors how Australia meets its obligations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, issued its Concluding Observations on Australia’s progress. During 2014, the National Children's Commissioner worked with UNICEF...
Discrimination. Don't cop it! You don’t have to put up with being treated unfairly because you’re young. There are laws to protect you against discrimination, harassment and bullying. These laws apply right across Australia. If you have a complaint, the Australian Human Rights Commission can look...
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s (then known as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission) National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention was announced on 28 November 2001. The Inquiry was conducted throughout 2002. It received over 340 submissions and visited all...