MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 4 June 2003

Child Advocate Falls Short of the Mark

‘The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria welcomes the Government’s commitment to address the needs of children and young people in state care in Victoria.’ said Paula Grogan, Acting Executive Officer, in response to Minister Garbutt’s statement Putting Victoria’s Children First. ‘We recognise the Government’s attempt to create a voice for marginalised children and young people. However we believe that an ‘Advocate for Children in Care’ falls short of the mark.’

‘An Advocate based in the Department of Human Services lacks the necessary independence to be a strong voice for children and young people. What Victoria really needs is a Children's Commission which would provide the state with a body that is independent of government, enabling a coordinated and effective response to the rights, interests and well-being of all children and young people ‘ said Ms Grogan.

‘If the Government’s objective is to treat the causes of child abuse and neglect before families get into trouble then we need to look beyond the out of home care system and instead address wider social concerns.’

YACVic has developed the state's first ever concrete and tailor-made model for a Commission as outlined in Are You Listening to Us? This model has received overwhelming support from the wider community.

The Commission would 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.

‘A Children’s Commission will have more impact than the new Advocate proposed by Minister Garbutt because it will have a mandate which reaches beyond care and protection issues’ said Ms Grogan.

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.

The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria is the peak body and leading policy advocate for youth issues in Victoria. We have a membership of around 500 organisations and individuals.

For more information contact
Paula Grogan
Acting Executive Officer
(03) 9612 8999