MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 3 November 2002
Community support for Children's Commission gains momentum
Victoria's peak body and leading policy advocate on youth issues welcomes the support of the Law Institute in the call for a Children and Young People's Commission for Victoria as described in the discussion paper “Are you Listening to us?”
YACVic has developed the state's first ever concrete and tailor-made model for a Commission. This model has the support of Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, Alastair Nicholson; the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria; doctors organisations; welfare and children's peak bodies and other key community groups.
The Law Institute's support represents a growing community recognition of the urgent need for the establishment of a Children's commission as described by this paper.
A Children's Commission would provide Victoria with a body that is independent of government, enabling a coordinated and effective response to the rights, interests and well-being of young people.
Janet Jukes, Executive Officer of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) said "This Commission is about foresight. For a very small investment it will allow us to address the needs of children and young people proactively. We need to avoid the same old story of patching up problems when we hit crisis point".
The Commission will complement and add to the work of existing bodies in Victoria such as the Equal Opportunity Commission and the Ombudsman because it will have an exclusive focus on issues affecting children and young people and will not be limited in its ability to address issues specific to them.
"We can't rely on under-resourced community groups who are at the coal face of service delivery to do this. We need an independent champion of children's rights" Ms Jukes said.
Some examples of the work the Commission will do include:
- Monitor consumer protection mechanisms and practices including complaint processes which impact directly on young people.
- Work with local governments in developing mechanisms to respond to complaints about private security officers in shopping centres.
- Provide timely and expert advice and assistance to young people and their families seeking to make individual complaints by referring them to the appropriate complaint-handling body.
- Advise how proposed and existing laws impact on children and young people.
- Provide a store of information for the community about the rights, interests and well being of children and young people.
For more information contact For a copy of Are You Listening to Us? YACVic's
Janet Jukes proposal for a Children's Commission see
Executive Officer http://www.yacvic.org.au or call (03) 9612 8999
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
Ph (03) 9612 8999 or 0411 484 428
