In a post Royal Commission world, ACYP held a conference on 28 February at NSW Parliament House that focused on the importance of listening to the voices of children and young people. The event looked at meaningful engagement with children and young people as well as examples of practice when NGOs, government and other bodies involve children and young people in their organisations.
Children and young people told ACYP they would like safe spaces where they feel comfortable to come together and collectively share their ideas and thoughts on topics important to them and so, this feedback informed the planning of the conference. On the day, a children and young people’s conference took place 'Count Me In to Have my Voice Heard' which involved 96 children and young people who came together from seven schools in NSW. At the same location, a second conference, 'Count on Us to Have your Voice Heard' brought together Commissioners from around the country, academics, NGOs, government and children and young people themselves.
Watch the highlights reel below.
The young people’s conference began with a Welcome to Country, an introduction by members of the NSW Youth Advisory Council and the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Andrew Johnson. The children and young people were then presented with Advocacy training which outlined helpful information for preparing for interviews, applications, meetings and presentations.
The day then moved into consultation sessions where the young people were given questions and worked together to respond. Questions included: What is meaningful participation? How does your school facilitate participation? What training and supports do you need to help you participate? How do you want to be shown that your participation has value? The children and young people collectively worked together to discuss their own experiences as they decided on answers.
The responses were collated and representatives presented this feedback to the attendees at the ‘Count On Us to Have Your Voice Heard’ in the Theatrette. Representatives included one young person from each of the schools that attended as well as two members from the Youth Advisory Council.
The 'Count on Us to Have Your Voice Heard' conference commenced introductions and welcomes from young people. The NSW Advocate for Children and Young People Andrew Johnson welcomed guests and discussed the history and importance of child rights, examples of meaningful participation with children and young people and ACYP’s detailed findings from over 20,000 children and young people. The first panel of the day involved children and young people who each discussed their experiences of when they felt they were listened to or had a good participation experience. They also shared examples of when participation did not work well. The panel suggested their top tips for adults and engaged in questions from the audience.
The second panel involved Commissioners from around the country: Colleen Gwynne – Children’s Commissioner Northern Territory, Colin Pettit, Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia and Helen Connolly, Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia. The panel shared information on what is happening in their state around children and young people’s participation, the essential elements to meaningful participation and how their office involves children and young people.
The third panel involved academic experts who presented their key research and findings into children and young people’s participation as well as where their research is currently heading. Panel members included: Professor Anne Graham AO, Director, Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University; A/Professor Philippa Collin, Western Sydney University and Stream Leader, Wellbeing, Health & Youth Centre of Research Excellence and A/Professor Tim Moore, Deputy Director (Practice Solutions), Australian Centre for Child Protection, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia.
Attendees were then invited to attend the launch of a new website portal Our Local. Our Local was called for and co-designed by children and young people to provide information on opportunities, activities, services and events around NSW. Our Local was officially launched by Glenn King, Secretary, Department of Customer Service for unveiling Our Local at the conference.
If you are part of an organisation that provides opportunities, activities, services or events for under 24 year olds in NSW, click here for more information on the benefits of Our Local and how your organisation can get involved. If you work with, by, or on behalf of children and young people, assist them to find local opportunities, activities, services and events, by visiting Our Local today.
The afternoon involved three steams where panel members addressed their experiences, work and key projects.
Stream 1 was held in the Theatrette and a panel discussion took place around involving children and young people in the design, implementation and monitoring of programs. The Panel Chair was Julie Hourigan Ruse, CEO FAMS. Panel members included: Susannah Le Bron, CEO, YMCA NSW; Helen Lunn, National Child Safe Lead, Mission Australia; Justine Perkins, Founder, Touched by Olivia and Fraser Corfield, Artistic Director, Australian Theatre for Young People.
Stream 2 in the Strangers’ Function Room involved a panel discussion on involving children and young people in policy-making processes. The Panel Chair was Zoe Robinson, CEO, Yfoundations and panel members included: Andrew Johnson, NSW Advocate for Children and Young People; Katie Acheson, CEO, Youth Action and Judith Murray, Engagement Manager, AbSec.
Stream 3 in the Jubilee room brought together panel members who spoke about involving children and young people in all aspects of schools and the education system. The Panel Chair was: Joanna Quilty, CEO, NCOSS. Panel members included: Paul Owens, Principal, Kirawee High School; Margaret Mulcahy, Principal, Eagle Vale High School; Darcy Moore, Deputy Principal, Dapto High School and Robyn Bale, Director Student Engagement and Interagency Partnerships, Department of Education.
Representatives from the children and young people’s conference provided feedback on the questions they had been working on together during the day. They spoke about a variety of answers and some of these included wanting to be actively involved, the need for respect and the importance of inclusion.
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