Advocacy Approach

My Approach

My work and the work of my team is driven by a practical commitment to achieving outcomes which improve the lives of South Australia’s children and young people.  It is grounded in child rights protection and systemic advocacy.

How my team and I work is equally important. 

We have documented a number of our approaches to provide an overview of why we work in certain ways, and how this informs our work.

Our approaches are underpinned by the following principles:

• Independence

We are an independent statutory authority guided by principles of fairness, impartiality, children’s best interests and freedom from external influence

• Applying our values

We are guided by our values of independence, child rights centric, accountability, and meaningful impact.

• Strengthening protections of children’s rights

We aim at influencing a range of decision makers across politics, government, service providers and the broader community on a diversity of issues related to the wellbeing of South Australian children and young people. Fundamental to our advocacy is strengthening protections for children and upholding the primacy of ‘best interests’.

• Engaging children and young people

We engage directly with children and young people and seek their views on a range of issues relevant to them. We respect their interests in the public arena, collaborate with and amplify their voices, and support and promote their contribution and participation.

• Inclusivity

We seek the views, opinions, experiences, needs and issues of a diversity of children and young people. We pay particular attention to those who, for a variety of social, economic, cultural and ability reasons, struggle to have their voices heard.