Publications A-Z
2022 Advocacy Agenda for South Australia’s Children and Young People
This document provides an overview of the actions I will take over the next three years in relation to the health, safety, wellbeing, education and citizenship of South Australia’s children and young people. I urge all people with an interest in children’s rights,...
2030 SDG Action Plan by South Australian Young People
Children and young people believe ‘if you help people contribute positively – no one loses and everyone wins’. They believe that South Australians care deeply about people who are doing it tough, but they also don’t know what to do to help. This report by the...
A Quick Guide to Instagram for Parents
We want children and young people to embrace the internet to learn, share, collaborate and participate in civic life with free expression. We also need to ensure that when they do so they are kept safe. When it comes to dealing with young people’s personal...
A Quick Guide to TikTok for Parents
We want children and young people to embrace the internet to learn, share, collaborate and participate in civic life with free expression. We also need to ensure that when they do so they are kept safe. When it comes to dealing with young people’s personal...
Aboriginal Youth Engagement Project
In October 2018, South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and YoungPeople Helen Connolly, in collaboration with Reconciliation SA and TauondiAboriginal College, initiated an Aboriginal Youth Engagement project to explore thefeasibility of establishing an...
Annual Report 2016-2017
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2016-2017 Annual Report.
Annual Report 2017-2018
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2017-2018 Annual Report.
Annual Report 2018-2019
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2018-2019 Annual Report.
Annual Report 2019-2020
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2019-2020 Annual Report.
Annual Report 2020-2021
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2020-21 Annual Report.
Annual Report 2021-2022
The Commissioner works to give South Australian children and young people a voice and to ensure their views are given due weight according to their age and maturity. This Annual Report was prepared for presentation to Parliament as per the requirements of the...
Annual Report 2022-2023
The Commissioner works to give South Australian children and young people a voice and to ensure their views are given due weight according to their age and maturity. This Annual Report was prepared for presentation to Parliament as per the requirements of the...
Annual Report To Children and Young People 2017-2018
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2017-2018 Annual Report Top 10 Things.
Annual Report To Children and Young People 2018-2019
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2018-2019 Annual Report Top 10 Things.
Annual Report To Children and Young People 2019-2020
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2019-20 Annual Report to children and young people.
Annual Report To Children and Young People 2020-2021
The Commissioner for Children and Young People 2020-21 Annual Report to children and young people.
Annual Report To Children and Young People 2021-2022
The Annual Report to Children and Young People highlights key statistics that are relevant to how the Commissioner has heard from and represented South Australian children and young people, and is intended to keep them informed about their Commissioner's work.
Annual Report To Children and Young People 2022-2023
The 2022-2023 Annual Report to Children and Young People highlights key statistics that are relevant to how the Commissioner has heard from and represented South Australian children and young people, and is intended to keep them informed about their Commissioner's...
Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians | Joint Participation Paper
Members of the ACCG regularly consult with a diverse array of children and young people within their jurisdictions on a wide range of topics This report from 2018 reflects some of the consistent themes from a sampling of these consultations. The consultations...
Bail Conditions for Children
In this Position Brief, The Commissioner is calling for continued and focused effort on reducing the number of children being incarcerated in South Australia’s youth detention centres in line with the fundamental principles of child justice. For this to become a...
Barriers to Civic Participation for Children and Young People
Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says children and young people have a right to have a say on all issues that affect them and for their views to be taken seriously. To ascertain the extent to which current state...
Becoming a Child Friendly Sports Club
Social and competitive sports are how a large portion of South Australian children and young people choose to spend their free time. It is vital that sporting clubs and organisations provide inclusive and child-friendly environments to ensure fair and equitable...
Being Child and Youth Focused in an Emergency
Planning for emergencies, disasters and recovery, must address the unique needs of children and young people across our metropolitan and regional communities. It must also include an understanding of the specific community infrastructure they require to build their...
Being Healthy Guide
More than perhaps any other generation, today’s young people are acutely aware of the diversity of their peers, both in South Australia and around the world. The first truly global generation, young people value diversity and place a huge importance on personal...
Benefits of Recreational Gaming and e-Sports for Young People
According to research, about two third of the Australian population play video or digital games. Among children and young people (5-24 years old) this percentage rises to more than 80 percent. Young people (between 15 and 24 years old) spend more than two hours per...
Best Interests
This report from 2022 explores what children and young people experience within the child protection system. The systemic safety and wellbeing of children depends on them having opportunities to be included in the processes that affect their lives. When children...
Building Period Positive Sports Clubs
It is essential that young players are treated with dignity and respect, especially when it comes to matters of reproductive health and menstruation. This is essential to ensuring that young people who are menstruating feel supported so they can continue to...
Building Youth-Friendly Local Communities
To build a strong state where young people can be confident, connected, and creative, the adults in their lives need to find ways to involve them more in their local communities. This includes engaging young people as capable citizens, facilitating their...
CCYP Advocacy Priorities for South Australia’s Children and Young People
This summary report from 2019 outlines the Advocacy Priorities for South Australia’s Children & Young People.
Child Rights Progress Reports 2020
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Additionally, South Australia's Children and Young People (Oversight...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2021
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Additionally, South Australia’s Children and Young People (Oversight...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2021 – Environment
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Each year, the Commissioner releases a suite of reports assessing the...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2022
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Additionally, South Australia’s Children and Young People (Oversight...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2022 – Environment
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Each year, the Commissioner releases a suite of reports assessing the...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2023
The Commissioner's Child Rights Progress Reports assess South Australia's progress on recommendations made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child across seven key areas of concern: child health, child justice, child protection, education,...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2023 – Child Health
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Each year, the Commissioner releases a suite of reports assessing the...
Child Rights Progress Reports 2023 – Environment
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Australia is obligated to achieve minimum standards across justice, education, healthcare and social services. Each year, the Commissioner releases a suite of reports assessing the...
Children and the Family Law System | What children think should happen when families separate
The Australian Law Reform Commission’s ‘ALRC’ Review of the Family Law System provided the SA Commissioner for Children and Young People ‘Commissioner’ an opportunity to carry out focused consultations with children and young people about the Family Law system. The...
Community Building in the 21st Century: How to use collaborative gaming to build connection, confidence and creativity
In the Commissioner's extensive conversations with young people, we have heard that gaming and esports is an area in which they would like to see more resourcesprovided at the local community level. Young people often speak to me about the value gaming offers them...
Conscious Cities: Wellbeing Infrastructure
Young people have given us clear direction around what they need to relax, play and engage in leisure activities. They have told us they want wellbeing infrastructure that supports them to be connected, confident and creative. When their passions are showcased and...
Conversations with children and young people living with a disability
It’s clear that given the opportunity, children and young people living with a disability are keen to express their views about what matters to them most. They also wish to express their hopes for the future and where they think change could happen. This collection...
Cover the Books In Nutella – and other ideas to encourage children to read
To enable children to be included in conversations about literacy, the Commissioner invited 100 students from Years 3 and 4 from around Adelaide to attend a specially designed children’s literature event. Literacy is fundamental to supporting effective life-long...
COVID-19 Survey: Key Findings
This survey captures South Australian young people’s thoughts, experiences and concerns during COVID-19. The survey asked their views on COVID-19 vaccines and proposed restrictions, as well as where they currently get their information from. The Commissioner also...
Democracy in Action: What happened when 16 & 17 year olds voted?
Democracy in Action is an innovative civics engagement project from 2019 giving young people practical skills in enrolling and completing a ballot paper. DiA was designed by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in partnership with the Centre of Democracy...
Developing a ‘Fit for Purpose’ mental health crisis care system for a 21st century children and young people
Despite increased awareness-raising around mental health, and improving access to quality mental health information, children and young people continue to face significant challenges in maintaining their wellbeing and mental health. When children and young people...
Drug Education in Schools – What Works, What Doesn’t
This Position Brief outlines why the Commissioner of Children and Young People (2019) that ‘any anti-drug program introduced into an SA school should first be able to demonstrate evidence that it is safe and effective'. Schools should be part of an approach to drug...
Early Years Postcards
Being able to speak up and express their opinions is a core right of children, as stated in Article 12 in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 2023, the Commissioner extended her postcards initiative to be inclusive of preschool aged children so that...
Facilitators of, and Barriers to, Positive eSports Behaviours
In partnership with and funded by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, South Australia, and the Department for Education, South Australia, a small pilot project was conducted to explore facilitators of, and barriers to, positive esports behaviours. The...
First Port of Call: Supporting South Australia’s health care system to better meet the needs of trans and gender diverse children and young people
The discussions had in the course of preparing this report have shown that trans and gender diverse health care is a rapidly evolving area of practice. This report by the Commissioner in 2019 provides recommendations on supporting the South Australian health care...
From Checkbox to Commitment
This report from 2022 t seeks to address some of the current knowledge gapsby reporting on what children and young people with disability have said about their lives. It has been written against the backdrop of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and...
Front & Centre – CCYP Strategic Agenda 2018-2022
This document outlines the broad focus areas of the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia for 2018 to 2022. It has been prepared to inform and engage the community about the work of the Commissioner. The document outlines: Platforms that will...
Growing Confident, Connected, Creative Regional Kids
As part of a global youth generation, regional young people in South Australiaknow more than prior generations about what they can achieve and about what they can expect from leaders in their community, including how they want to betreated. This summary document...
Health Hub – ideas for creating more child and youth friendly health services
This report from 2021 outlines ideas for creating more child and youth friendly health services as recommended by children and young people. Together with practical tips on how this knowledge can be applied, Health Hub has been produced to support you in the...
Health, Wellbeing and Physical Activity: The Perspectives of Children and Young People
Australian children are among the least active in the world. A recent study found that only 18% of Australian children aged 5–17 years are getting the 60 minutes of daily physical activity they need to lead a healthy lifestyle. Throughout 2021 and 2022 the...
High Stakes High School: The experiences of South Australian Year 12 students
This report from 2022 recognises the range of attributes young people needto thrive in a changing world, including those gained from experiences outside the classroom. Beyond job prospects and security, educational attainment also influences behaviours and...
Hopes and Dreams
The Hopes and Dreams regional engagement project commenced in February 2018. Its aim was to find out what children and young people living in South Australia hope for, and what support they need to help realise their dreams. The Commissioner wanted to know what...
Impact of Periods on School Students in South Australia
An issue highlighted in the Commissioner for Children & Young People’s report Leave No One Behind was period poverty. The report on young people’s perceptions andexperiences of poverty in South Australia identified that some young people are missing school...
Infrastructure Priorities to Improve Outcomes for South Australia’s Children and Young People 2022-2026
As future participants in Australia’s democracy, children and young people rely upon political parties to be focused on future-proofing their lives through development and implementation of policies and practices that will enable them to not merely survive, but to...
Join the Dots | The impact of parental incarceration on children and young people
This report from 2022 provides a summary of what the Commissioner heardduring consultations with children, young people, and parents. Viewing adult systems through children’s eyes requires a shift in thinking that is future-focused and grounded in child rights. It...
Keeping Kids Connected to Learning and Schooling Summit | Feedback Report
This report from 2021 summarises what participants thought were key issues for the Department to consider in its response to the findings and recommendations of the Graham Inquiry and the Blame Game reports. The Summit offered the South Australian community a...
Keeping Our Promises 2023
In the language of children and young people, the commitments that governments make to them through laws, policies, strategies and plans are treated as promises. They are promises made to ensure resources of government are channelled into meaningful improvement to...
Knowing Your Rights to Education
You have the right to EDUCATION! To learn in a place that’s free from violence.To be treated in a way that’s fair.To be encouraged to attend school regularly.To get extra help if you need it to do your best.
Knowing Your Rights to Freedom of Expression
You have the right to FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION! You have the right to express your views, freely.You have the right to have your views heard.You have the right to have your views taken seriously.Your views are important!
Knowing Your Rights to Good Health
You have the right to GOOD HEALTH! To have safe water to drink and nutritious food to eat.To live in a clean and safe environment.To get medical care if you are sick or injured.To be given information about health and nutrition.
Knowing Your Rights to Play
You have the right to PLAY! To play and to rest.To participate freely in cultural life.To engage in artistic expression and creativity.To do recreational activities like sport or dance.
Knowing Your Rights to Protection at Work
You have the right to PROTECTION AT WORK! To be paid the right amount of money.To not be asked to do work that might be harmful to you in some way.For work not to get in the way of school.To make sure you are not doing too many hours.
Leading for our Future: Youth Symposium Report
This report from 2018 outlines key issues and barriers to accessing employment, and the opportunities and suggestions identified by young people. The key objective of the symposium was to engage young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to learn directly...
Leave No One Behind: What children and young people have said about living in poverty
This report aims to provide deep insight into how children and young people understand poverty. It captures responses made by children and young people to questions they were asked about what they think poverty means, what it’s like (for some of them) to live in...
Legislation Priorities to Improve Outcomes for South Australia’s Children and Young People 2022-2026
As future participants in Australia’s democracy, children and young people rely upon political parties to be focused on future-proofing their lives through development and implementation of policies and practices that will enable them to not merely survive, but to...
LGBTQIA+ Inclusive School Environments
The time spent at school and in school-based activities means it is one of the most critical environments in young people’s lives. When we make a commitment to providing child-friendly and child safe environments for children and young people we must follow through...
Listening Tour: Reflections | Hearing the Voices of South Australia’s Children and Young People
The Listening Tour was launched on 15 June 2017. Its aim was to provide the Commissioner the opportunity to meet with as many children and young people across the state as possible. The purpose was to find out what matters to them and how they think their lives can...
Making Change in Youth Justice: A User’s Guide
A User's Guide developed by the Commissioner in 2020 to building a better South Australian youth justice system.
Manage Your Sharenting
A new baby. A toddler taking their first steps. A child’s first day at school. A teenager getting their driver’s licence or securing their first job. All amazing milestones in a young person’s life worthy of much celebration! Often, proud parents will try to...
Mandatory Drug Treatment Orders for Children and Young People
This Issue Brief by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (2019) outlines how the Commissioner believes that mandatory treatment orders for children and young people violate their fundamental rights. It also risks causing lifelong harm without actually...
Menstruation Matters
Through publication of this report, the Commissioner hopes to raise the issue of menstrual wellbeing as a significant area of gender equity policy; one that must be addressed to improve the participation, education and wellbeing outcomes of all young South...
Missing Voices: Cost of living pressures as described by primary school children
As part of ongoing work ensuring that all South Australian children and young people have a voice, the Commissioner released a series of booklets highlighting key issues as raised by children through the Commissioner's Student Voice Postcards initiative. This is a...
Missing Voices: Mental health challenges as described by primary school children
As part of ongoing work ensuring that all South Australian children and young people have a voice, the Commissioner released a series of booklets highlighting key issues as raised by children through the Commissioner's Student Voice Postcards initiative. This is a...
Missing Voices: Physical punishment experiences as described by primary school children
As part of ongoing work ensuring that all South Australian children and young people have a voice, the Commissioner released a series of booklets highlighting key issues as raised by children through the Commissioner's Student Voice Postcards initiative. This is a...
More Than a Game: What do children and young people think about sport?
This report from 2022 focuses on children and young people’s perceptions and experiences of organised sport in South Australia. Based on over 1,500 responses to an online survey in 2021, it complements my wider engagement with South Australian children and young...
My Digital Life
The shift to a predominantly online existence in 2020, as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighted the issue of digital inequality across our communities, it also exposed the multiple impact a lack of digital access has on children and young...
No Exceptions | Creating safer schools for LGBTQIA+ Students
This report from 2021 captures the views of young people about their perceptions and experiences of discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students in religious schools. Obviously the negative experiences in this report do not reflect the environments in every religious...
Off To Work We Go
Much of our society and schooling system focuses on preparing children and young people for their futures. From a young age, children are asked ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ As they get older this question changes to ‘what are you going to do when you...
Open Letter to COP27 from South Australia’s Children and Young People
In the lead up to COP27, the UN's annual climate conference, the Commissioner hosted the inaugural Youth Climate Forum, where South Australian young people were asked to contribute to an open letter to the Australian delegates attending COP27. In the letter, young...
Open Letter to COP28
In the lead up to COP28, the UN's annual climate conference, the Commissioner hosted a Youth Climate Forum, where South Australian young people were asked to contribute to an open letter to the delegates attending COP28. The letter largely focussed on food...
Our Approach to Advocacy
This Position Brief sets out the Commissioner’s role including her responsibilityto promote and advocate for the rights and interests of all children and young people in SA, and to promote the participation of children and young people in the making of decisions...
Our Approach to Engaging with Community Organisations
This document outlines the Commissioner’s key objectives when collaborating with organisations and systems to include children and young people as stakeholders and to incorporate their perspectives and views in policy and system reforms The Commissioner believes...
Our Approach to Engaging with SA Business
This document outlines why the Commissioner is interested in working with the SA business community to engage children and young people as capable citizens, who are able to meaningfully contribute and shape services and influence business decision making. Young...
Our Approach to Gaming
Children and young people have been telling the Commissioner how important gaming is to them, not only as a recreation activity but as a connector to a social community. The Commissioner has had many conversations with children and young people on the meaning of...
Our Approach to Participation and Engagement
This Position Brief sets out the Commissioner’s Commissioner’s approach to participation and engagement in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says...
Parliamentary Inquiry into Law Enforcement re Child Exploitation, 2021
Submission to Parliamentary Inquiry into Law Enforcement Capabilities re Child Exploitation 2021, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Press Play – Activating Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Through Play
Play for young people is so much more than just a way to occupy their time. It is one of the few ways in which they know they can experience the world beyond and independent of the direction and moderation of adults. The material contained in this report has been...
Public Libraries
This Position Brief outlines how the Commissioner urges the Commonwealth, State and Local authorities to invest in public libraries. Public libraries have unique value to children and young people, both to inspire them to read and to provide them with a safe and...
Public Transport: It’s Not Fine
In 2019, the Commissioner for Children and Young People talked to South Australian children and young people about their experiences on public transport. This report explores the systemic issues identified by South Australian children and young people in relation...
Raising the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility
This Position Brief outlines why the Commissioner of Children and Young People (2019) believes that the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be increased. The minimum age of criminal responsibility in South Australia is currently set at 10 years. This is...
Reducing the Voting Age
There are people of all ages who openly dislike politics and political campaigns. They begrudgingly line up at the ballot box to cast their vote in what can feel like an endless cycle of federal and state elections, because they are required to do so by law. But...
Reflections on COVID-19
This report by the Commissioner in 2020 depicts South Australian young people, in their own words, reflecting on the impact of the coronavirus on their world and their futures.
Regenerating Our Regions: increasing participation of young people in rural South Australia
The Regional Youth Voices Forum reflected a significant collaboration between theCommissioner for Children and Young People and the Youth Advisory Committees of the Barossa Valley, Clare and Gilbert and Goyder Councils. This report from 2020 outlines what...
Respecting the Online Rights of Children and Young People: Tips for Organisations and Parents
We want children and young people to embrace the internet to learn, share, collaborate and participate in civic life with free expression. We also need to ensure that when they do so they are kept safe. When it comes to dealing with young people’s personal...
SA Young People’s Current Experiences of Relationship and Sexual Health Education
In a recent survey of 1,225 young South Australians between the ages of 12 and 22, the vast majority want sex education in schools to move beyond puberty, anatomy and the prevention of pregnancy and diseases, and instead focus on teaching them about the current...
Safe and Sound: views and experiences of SA young people on public transport
This report from 2023 have been gathered directly from young people across the state. It includes both positive and negative experiences of public transport, along with suggestions about what needs improving. Although many of the issues are shared by adults, young...
Sanitary Product Supply to School Students in South Australia
This Position Brief explores ‘period poverty' and access to sanitary products across 48 public high schools in metro and regional SA. An issue highlighted in the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s recent report Leave No One Behind, was ‘period poverty’....
Sanitary Products in Schools
An issue highlighted in the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s recentreport Leave No One Behind, was ‘period poverty’. The report on young people’s perceptions and experiences of poverty in South Australia identified that some girls are missing school...
School Uniforms
School uniforms. Some people love them; some people hate them. Their desirability has been discussed at length, with cost; practicality; and their ability to influence academic performance traditionally at the centre of the debate. While these issues still feature...
Seen But Not Heard
The Commissioner spoke to young people in Years 8, 9 & 10 to find out about their education and learning experience. This report summarises what they told her including recommendations for ways to improve their experience of high school during their teenage...
Sex Education in South Australia
This report from 2021 examines young people’s views on the adequacy of their relationship and sexual health education based on the responses they gave to the survey questions centred around the key themes of quality, appropriateness, accessibility and timeliness....
Smacking and Physical Punishment
People often have strong opinions about whether smacking is right or wrong, helpful or harmful, or whether parents should even have the right to smack their children. It can be overwhelming for parents when outsiders – including other parents, onlookers,...
South Australian Children’s Experience of Living with Chronic Illness
It is estimated that between 16 and 20 percent of children and young people in South Australia will suffer with a chronic illness at some point in their childhood. Currently there is no way of assessing or addressing the severity of this impact. Without knowing the...
Spotlight on Parent/Carer Careers Advice
This spotlight report from 2020 aims to bring the insights of parents and carers in relation to the transition their children make from education to work to the attention of other parents and carers, as well as to those in leadership positions within South...
Spotlight on Work Experience
This spotlight report from 2020 aims to bring the voices of young South Australians to the fore, combining their ideas and insights with those of their parents, educators and business leaders across South Australia. The aim of the report is to encourage...
Spotlight: The True Cost of Going to School
Through this sample of 108 government schools from across metropolitan and regional South Australia, we have started the process to identify the significant and ongoing costs, including, but not limited to, those considered ‘essential’, whichare, in reality, the...
Stereotypes and Sexism in Schools
The purpose of this report from 2022 is to bring children and young people’s perspectives and experiences of sexism and gender stereotypes to the fore. Through face-to-face conversations and by exploring how children and young peopleperceive the differences between...
Submission about the Adelaide City Plan 2036
Where young people live, the facilities available to them locally, and their ease of access to school, activities and employment have an enormous impact on their lives and can mean the difference between getting on well in life and being impoverished. However,...
Submission for the National Centre for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, 2020
Submission re the National Centre for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (HSB), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on a new cultural policy for South Australia
We know that enabling children and young people to learn about, experiment in, and engage in arts, culture and creative activities can have a big impact. It boosts civic engagement, provides a platform to explore important ideas and ways to express them, can have a...
Submission on Australia’s Vision for Science and Research, 2023
Submission on Revitalising Australia's Vision for Science and Research published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on Changes to Religious Exemptions under the Equal Opportunity Act, 2020
Submission on Changes to Religious Exemptions under the Equal Opportunity Act, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Changes to Tobacco and e-Cigarette Legislation, 2023
Submission on Proposed Changes to Tobacco and e-Cigarette Legislation published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on Commonwealth Capabilities for Crisis Response, 2023
Submission to the Inquiry into the Recognition of Unpaid Carers published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on Controlled Substances Amendment Bill, 2018
Submission on Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on Creating a More Child Focused Budget 2024/25
Submission to the South Australian Government on Creating a More Child Focused Budget 2024/25 published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence, 2022
Submission on Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence and Other Measures Bill published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on Criminal Law Consolidation Amendment Bill, 2018
Submission on Criminal Law Consolidation (Throwing Objects at Vehicles) Amendment Bill, 2018 by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia.
Submission on Draft Education & Child Services Regulations, 2020
Submission on Draft Education & Child Services Regulations, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Online Safety Legislative Reform, 2020
Submission on Online Safety Legislative Reform, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Public Health Approach in Child Protection, 2019
Submission on Public Health Approach to Children in Child Protection by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility, 2020
Submission on Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Review of Australia’s Family Law System, 2020
Submission on Review of Australia's Family Law System, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on SA’s Youth Justice Plan, 2020
Submission on SA's Youth Justice Plan, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on School Exclusions and Children with Disability, 2019
Submission on School Exclusions and Children with Disability by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on School Exclusions Experience | State Education & Children’s Services Act 2019, 2020
Submission on School Exclusions Experience - State Education & Children's Services Act 2019, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on South Australia’s Autism Strategy, 2023
Submission on South Australia's Autism Strategy published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on Springbank Secondary College Educational Review, 2020
Submission on Springbank Secondary College Educational Review, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Strong Future – Draft Youth Action Plan 2020-2022
Submission on Strong Future - Draft Youth Action Plan 2020-2022, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the 20 Year State Infrastructure Strategy, 2023
Submission on the 20 Year State Infrastructure Strategy published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Adequacy of Newstart, 2019
Submission on the Adequacy of Newstart by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the ALRC Review, 2018
Submission on the ALRC Review of the Family Law System Discussion Paper by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign, 2018
Submission on the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign In-School Education Workshop by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, 2021
Submission on the Draft National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Communication Partner Scheme, 2021
Submission on the Communication Partner Scheme 2021, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Departmen for Health and Wellbeing draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), 2020
Submission on the DHW draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Department for Child Protection Child and Youth Engagement Strategy 2021-2023
Submission on the Department for Child Protection Child and Youth Engagement Strategy 2021-2023, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Department for Child Protection draft DAIP, 2020
Submission on the Department for Child Protection draft Disability and Access Inclusion Plan (DAIP), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Department for Education draft DAIP, 2020
Submission on the Department for Education draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Department for Education’s Leading the Way: Year 7 to High School Pilot Project Report, 2020
Submission on the Department for Education's Leading the Way: Year 7 to High School Pilot Project Report, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Department of Education Digital Strategy, 2021
Submission on the Department of Education Digital Strategy 2021, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Disability Inclusion Amendment Bill 2020
Submission to the Disability Royal Commission on Children and Young People with Disability - rights, Engagement and Empowerment, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Draft Community Feedback and Complaints Strategic Framework, 2020
Submission on the Draft Community Feedback and Complaints Strategic Framework, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy 2022-2032
Submission on the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy 2022-2032 published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the draft Online Safety (Basic Online Safety Expectations) Determination 2021
Submission on the draft Online Safety (Basic Online Safety Expectations) Determination, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Draft SA Road Safety Strategy to 2031, 2021
Submission on the Draft SA Road Safety Strategy to 2031, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Draft Suicide Prevention Bill, 2020
Submission on the Draft Suicide Prevention Bill 2020, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the draft Youth MHS Model of Care (SA), 2023
Submission on the draft Youth Mental Health Services Model of Care (SA) published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Duty of Care and Climate Equity Bill, 2023
Submission on the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Early Learning Strategy, 2021
Submission on the Department of Education's Early Learning Strategy published by the Commissioner on Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Early Years Strategy 2023
Submission on the Early Years Strategy published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Education and Children’s Services Bill | Part 1, 2018
Submission on the Education and Children's Services Bill (Part 1) by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the Education and Children’s Services Bill | Part 2, 2018
Submission on the Education and Children's Services Bill (Part 2) by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the Electoral Amendment Bill, 2021
Submission on the Electoral (Electronic Documents and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2021, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Electoral Commission SA Draft DAIP, 2020
Submission on the Electoral Commission SA draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan, 2023
Submission on the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Human Services Draft DAIP, 2020
Submission on the Department of Human Services draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Independent National Security Monitor Review, 2018
Submission on the Independent National Security Monitor Review (INSLM) by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the Local Government Participation and Elections Review
Local councils play a critical role in realising children and young people's rights. Councils plan and provide for many services, facilities and spaces that shape community wellbeing and participation, including libraries, parks, and play and recreation facilities....
Submission on the Multicultural Framework Review, 2023
Submission on the Multicultural Framework Review, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People, 2019
Submission on the National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the National Injury Prevention Strategy 2020-2030
Submission on the National Injury Prevention Strategy 2020-2030, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the National Public Sex Register for Child Sex Offenders, 2019
Submission on the National Public Sex Register for Child Sex Offenders by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia
The Commissioner fully supports the introduction of a Human Rights Act for South Australia. From the Commissioner's regular conversations with South Australian children and young people, it's evident that current legal protections are inadequate. While many...
Submission on the Privacy Legislation Amendment Bill, 2021
Submission on the Privacy Legislation Amendment Bill, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the proposed alternative diversion model for children under the raised age of criminal responsibility
The Commissioner is a strong advocate for raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years, as recommended by the UN. However, the Commissioner notes some concerns about the lack of detail in the alternative model proposed by the Attorney-General....
Submission on the Proposed Code of Conduct for Teachers, 2022
Submission on the Proposed Code of Conduct for Teachers published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Purpose of Public Education, 2023
Submission on the Purpose of Public Education published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Re-framing of Education, 2019
Submission on the Re-framing of Education for the Melbourne Declaration by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the Report on Review of Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 SA, 2021
Submission on the Report on Review of Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 SA, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the Review of Senior Secondary Pathways, 2019
Submission on the Review of Senior Secondary Pathways by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the Review of Sexual Consent Laws in South Australia
Sexual consent laws should reflect contemporary understandings of healthy sexuality and consent. And while the Commissioner is hopeful that legislative changes will drive progress towards meeting the outcomes of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and...
Submission on the Review of the (Safety) Act 2017 – Child Voice & Participation, 2022
Submission on the Review of the Chidlren and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 - Child Voice & Participation, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Review of the (Safety) Act 2017, 2022
Submission to the Review of the Chidlren and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Review of the EPBC Act 1994
Submission on the Review of the EPBC Act 1994, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the Review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), 2022
Submission on the Review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Related Bills published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Review of VET for SA School Students, 2019
Submission on the Review of VET for SA School Students by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the SA Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2022-2026 Discussion Paper
Submission on the SA Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2022-2026 Discussion Paper published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Submission on the SA Housing and Homelessness Strategy, 2019
Submission on the SA Housing and Homelessness Strategy by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the SA Skills Plan Concept, 2022
Submission on the South Australian Skills Plan Concept published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the Safeguard Taskforce Report, 2020
Submission on the Safeguard Taskforce Report, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the SAPOL Disability Access & Inclusion Plan 2020-2024
The Commissioner wrote to SA Police regarding their Disability Access and Inclusion plan, raising concerns about the treatment of children and young people with disabilities in interactions with police.
Submission on the Sentencing Discount Scheme Review, 2018
Submission on the Sentencing Discount Scheme Review by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health, 2020
Submission on the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on the South Australia’s Suicide Prevention Plan 2022-2025
Submission on the South Australia's Suicide Prevention Plan 2022-2025 (A7288697), published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission on the State Public Health Plan 2019-2024
Submission on the State Public Health Plan 2019-2024 by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in relation to the Digital Environment, 2019
Submission on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in relation to the Digital Environment by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the Women Offender Framework and Action Plan 2019-2024
Submission on the Women Offender Framework and Action Plan 2019-2024 by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission on the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Draft DAIP, 2020
Submission on the Department for Education draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Volunteering Strategy for SA Beyond 2020
Submission on Volunteering Strategy for SA Beyond 2020, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Wellbeing SA draft Disability and Inclusion Plan, 2020
Submission on Wellbeing SA draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission on Youth Sentenced as Adults Bill, 2017
This document is the Submission on Youth Sentenced as Adults Bill by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2017.
Submission re SA Road Safety Strategy | What Children & Young People Say, 2020
Submission re SA Road Safety Strategy | What Children & Young People Say, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission to eSafety re AV Roadmap, 2022
Submission to eSafety: Age Verification Roadmap to Mitigate Harms Associated with Young People's Access to Online Pornography, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the CIO on Digital Connectivity, 2023
Submission to the Chief Information Officer on Digital Connectivity, Digital Connectivity is Integral to the Human Rights of Young People, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Disability Royal Commission on Children and Young People with Disability – rights, Engagement and Empowerment, 2020
Submission to the Disability Royal Commission on Children and Young People with Disability - rights, Engagement and Empowerment, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework 2023
Submission to the Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Inquiry into School Disruption 2023
Submission to the Inquiry into School Disruption, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Inquiry into School Refusal, 2022
Submission to the Inquiry into School Refusal, published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Inquiry into the Extent and Nature of Poverty, 2023
Submission to the Inquiry into the Extent and Nature of Poverty published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Inquiry into the Recognition of Unpaid Carers, 2023
Submission to the Inquiry into the Recognition of Unpaid Carers published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Northern Adelaide Transport Study
The most significant challenge young people identify as a barrier to using public and active transport is safety. Transport is central to how young people experience their community and means that any barriers impact their capacity to participate fully in almost...
Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights: Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (Cth) and Related Bills
Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights: Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (Cth) and Related Bills published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Review of the Disability Standards for Education, 2020
Submission to the Review of the Disability Standards for Education, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission to the Review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA) 2023
Submission to the Review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA) published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, 2023
Submission to the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Royal Commission into OSHC, 2023
Submission to the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care (OSHC) published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People,...
Submission to the Select Committee on Health Services SA, 2019
Submission to the Select Committee on Health Services SA by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2019.
Submission to the Select Committee on Poverty, 2018
Submission to the Select Committee on Poverty by the Commissioner of Children and Young People South Australia, 2018.
Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Autism, 2020
Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Autism, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Children’s Right to Privacy, 2020
Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Children's Right to Privacy, by the Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 2020.
Submission: Proposed Amendments to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 1988, 2021
Submission re Proposed Amendments to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 1988 (A7497298), published by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, 2021.
Supporting Students’ Voice, Agency and Wellbeing in Schools
A good education and relevant qualifications are critical to the future of every young person and are vital ingredients to success. Students are passionate about their education and what choices completing it will offer them beyond school. They’re also aware they...
Teenagers and Work
Young people’s experiences of work impact their lives in many ways – not only in terms of their present and future workforce participation, but also in relation to their health, safety, wellbeing and education outcomes. For teenagers, having a paid job during high...
The Blame Game | The causes and impacts of education exclusion
This report from 2020 focuses on children and young peoples’ lived experience of school exclusion. It examines the devastating effects exclusion can have for those children and young people still in the process of developing. It looks at the major causes and...
The Bullying Project: Ideas to Help Prevent Bullying
Children know that quality friendships are a key to preventing bullying at school and that forming friendships can help to build resilience and confidence, particularly among younger school children. They want schools to play more of a role in guiding them on how...
The Bullying Project: What children and young people want sporting organisations to know about bullying
Bullying in sporting environments is not uncommon: It may occur between players, parents, coaches and others. But there are ways to fix it. We are all much more aware of how bullying poses a significant risk to the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of...
The Impact of the Religious Discrimination Bill 2019
The Commissioner for Children and Young People believes that the draft Religious Discrimination Bill 2019 goes against what children and young people have told the Commissioner they want from today’s society and institutions. They have said that what they want most...
The Things That Matter | Views of 8-12 year olds on life, school and community
As a community, we know that engaging with children is pivotal to being an active democracy. We must ensure that children feel valued and respected as citizens by asking them about their lives and by acting upon their contributions. This report from 2020 are the...
The Things That Matter 2 | Views of 8-12 year olds on life, school and community
This report from 2021 captures what South Australian ‘tweens’ have to say about what they think is the best thing about being a kid, the worst thing about being a kid, what they would change to make things better for kids in South Australia, and what their...
The Things That Matter 3 | Views of 8-12 year olds on life, school and community
This report from 2022 captures what more than 13,800 children in this age group have to say about what they’re good at, what they care about, what they want grownups to know, and what they think would make the world a better placefor everyone. Climate change,...
The Things That Matter 4 | Views of 8-12 year olds on life, school and community
This fourth report from the Commissioner's Student Voice Postcards initiative reflects responses from 16,007 South Australian children who completed postcards in 2022. Children told the Commissioner about how much value they place on taking care of the environment...
The Things That Matter to Children
Through the Commissioner’s Student Voice Postcard initiative South Australian primary school aged children have consistently said that there are four things that matter to them more than most. Not surprisingly one of these is the environment. Another is school and...
Trust is a Must Poster – What Does it Take to Be Child Friendly and Child Safe?
This poster contains a visual summary of key messages from South Australian children and young people that will make a difference to their lives. A key focus of being more child safe is to ensure that the interests of children and young people are placed front and...
Trust is a Must: What Does it Take to Be Child Friendly and Child Safe?
This report from 2020 contains recommendations on how to be a child friendly and child safe organisation made by children and young people themselves, based on their own life experiences. Safe environments are found in those organisations that demonstrate values...
Vaping Survey: Key Findings | What do young people think about current responses to vaping and how to better respond?
The voices, thoughts and experiences of teenagers have been largely missing in adultconversations and media reports about vaping. As a result, many young people are feeling misunderstood, judged, shamed, blamed,and punished for vaping. They say they lack...
What do SA Kids Have to Say?
In 2019, Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly polled South Australian kids about the things that are important to them. The children and young people aged 4-18 were asked about their heroes, their hopes for the future, how they spend their...
What Young People Have Told Us About…
Since 2017, SA Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly has spoken with thousands of South Australian kids to find out what they think are the most important issues of our time. The following fact sheets present their views and ideas in relation...
What Young People Have Told Us About…Periods, Relationships, and their Sexual Health Education
Since 2017, SA Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly has spoken with thousands of South Australian kids to find out what they think are the most important issues of our time. The following fact sheets present their views and ideas in relation...
What young people need to know about relationships and positive mental and sexual health
This Position Brief outlines what young South Australians want when it comes to relationships and sexual and mental health education. In 2023, the Commissioner asked South Australian students in Years 10, 11 & 12 what they needed to feel supported in their...
Why investing in school camps, field trips and excursions is good for students — Anti-Poverty Week
The benefits of active and immersive experiences are well understood, which is why many schools offer them. They provide students with a rich variety of activities outside the school setting, placing them in different environments that promote their participation...
Why we need an overarching vision for children and young people’s health in South Australia
Although there are significant strategies and service providers in place throughout SA, including the state’s ten local health networks, the siloed and fragmented nature of these services means we have a system that is inefficient, with competing agendas and...
Youthful Adelaide
Between August and November 2018, South Australia’s Commissioner for Childrenand Young People, Helen Connolly met with 130 young people between the ages of12 and 22 to ask them what they thought would make the City of Adelaide a moreyouthful place. To explore this...