ACYP News


This is how we really want to be portrayed: Children and young people take photos of Real NSW

Posted by ACYP on Oct 27, 2016 10:00:00 AM

Today, the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Andrew Johnson, announced the winners of the REAL NSW Photo Competition at Parliament House. Hundreds of children and young people in NSW submitted photos to REAL NSW to show how they really want to be portrayed on websites, in magazines and in general.

The Advocate has spoken directly to thousands of children and young people across the state and they told him they did not always identify with the images used to portray them on websites, in the media and in general use.

“What young people told us was that the images that are used are not representative of their REAL lives and they could not identify with images they see of themselves in the materials in advertising, brochures or online,” Mr Johnson said.

In a direct response to these concerns, the Advocate co-designed the Real NSW photo competition with children and young people themselves.

The photo competition was judged by the Advocate, Australian Photography Magazine Editor, Mr Mike O’Connor, and members of the NSW Youth Advisory Council.

The winners are:

  • Kiara McShane from the Taree area won the 0–10 year old category for a photo showing her helping her father after pouring concrete for a new shed.
  • Oliver Risi from Wollongong won the 11–17 year old category for a photo of him sitting at Towradgi ocean pool.
  • Simone Isaacs from Frenchs Forest won the 18–24 year old category for a self-portrait. The budding photographer said taking photos helps her to express her emotions.

At today’s Children’s Week event, the Advocate for Children and Young People will also launch two new initiatives under the Strategic Plan for Children and Young People’s theme of Voice.

The Advocate will introduce a short video which is a series of vignettes that highlight when a child or young person’s voice was not heard at an important time in their life and demonstrates how listening to children and young people can make a real difference in their lives.

The Advocate will also launch an innovative new App that utilises augmented reality technology to bring the voices of children and young people into the room, no matter where you are.

Topics: Media Statement