Synopsis:It is now almost a year since Megan Mitchell commenced as Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner. With a broad mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all children in Australia, one of the initial priorities has been to listen and learn about the key human rights issues facing children today.
Megan has conducted a national listening tour, the Big Banter, to hear from children and young people, and child rights advocates, about what is important to them, and what we can do to improve their lives. Many of the issues raised reflect the concerns of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, when it assessed Australia’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In this talk, Megan will discuss some of the issues raised during the Big Banter as outlined in her statutory report to parliament – the Child Rights Report 2013. These themes include: a child’s right to be heard; freedom from violence, abuse and neglect; the opportunity to thrive; engaged citizenship and action and accountability. She will highlight some of the emerging priorities on the office of the National Children’s Commissioner, relevant to these themes.
Speaker:Megan Mitchell was made Australia’s first National Children’s Commissioner in Canberra on February 25 2013. This marks a significant step in the protection of children in Australia. Her focus is solely on the rights and interests of children, and the laws, policies and programs that impact on them. She has had extensive experience in issues facing children and young people, having worked with children from all types of backgrounds, including undertaking significant work with vulnerable children. She has practical expertise in child protection, foster and kinship care, juvenile justice, children’s services, child care, disabilities, and early intervention and prevention services.
Megan’s previous roles include NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People, Executive Director of the ACT Office for Children, Youth and Family Support, Executive Director for Out-of-Home Care in the NSW Department of Community Services and CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service.