CCYP Projects
Commissioner Helen Connolly, devised her Front and Centre advocacy agenda (2018-2022) to bring together issues of importance to South Australia’s children and young people based on direct consultation undertaken with them. The main aim of the CCYP is to provide opportunities for SA children and young people to have a ‘voice’ and to create the conditions in which they feel happy, safe, listened to, respected, valued, active, and informed.
Below are the four key areas on which the Commissioner’s Advocacy Agenda is focused along with the various projects that have been undertaken in relation to them. Some projects are complete and some are still being undertaken. Click on the buttons to the right to find out more about each project including outcomes and reports.
Key Focus Areas:
Place the interests of children and young people front and centre in everyday life
Children and young people are directly affected by the decisions that are made today by adults. Their everyday lives as well as their future are impacted by policies, systems and services. Children and young people are best placed in many cases to identify what they need, what will improve their lives and how best to engage them.
By including children and young people in decisions making processes, their views and ideas will enable the development of more effective, efficient, timely and impactful policies, systems and services.
Outcome 1:
“Decision makers are actively engaging children and young people as stakeholders and considering their rights and interests in a systemic way.”
CCYP Projects:
Key Focus Areas:
Prioritise the development and wellbeing of those doing it tough
There are children and young people in SA not doing as well as we want, or receiving the support they need to succeed. This includes children in care and protection, those involved in youth justice, children with a disability, children falling through the gaps in systems, such as education and health, and those who have experienced trauma and discrimination.
There are many children who are in homeless families, have caring responsibilities or who are in families struggling to make ends meet. These kids are doing it tough. This is not an inevitability.
We can work together to break the cycles of disadvantage and bring about change for all children and young people who need extra support to develop and flourish.
Outcome 2:
“Children and young people whose views are seldom heard, have more
opportunities to inform key decision makers on the effectiveness of the
“system” in protecting and promoting their rights, interests and needs.”
CCYP Projects:
Key Focus Area 3:
Strengthen children and young people’s participation in society
Children and young people want to contribute to the vision, strategy, culture and operations of public institutions, laws and governance. They want to matter, be connected to a purpose and have their individual and collective strengths and contribution recognised. We must engage children and young people, and provide opportunities to build a society based on increased honesty, integrity, transparency and equality.
This will strengthen our democratic institutions and structures and protections that underpin the fabric of civil society, and promote economic and social justice.
Outcome 3:
“Children and young people have meaningful ways to participate and make a contribution across public, civic and community life.”
CCYP Projects:
Key Focus Area 4:
Engage and empower young digital citizens
Children born this century are growing up in a completely digital world. This impacts on the way children and young people view their world, access information and services, gain knowledge, form opinions and participate in things that matter to them. Digital access doesn’t automatically translate to digital literacy and digital empowerment. All children and young people in SA should be able to engage with the digital world, access its benefits equally, be digitally included and have their rights protected.
Outcome 4:
“Children, young people and their families are better equipped to understand the digital world, and feel empowered to access its benefits and manage its risks.”