What We Do…
The Commissioner’s Role
The South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People is an independent role established under the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016.
This was legislation introduced into the South Australian Parliament in response to the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission 2014. The purpose of the legislation was to create a statutory officer who has the powers and functions to promote and advocate for the rights, interests and wellbeing of all children and young people living in South Australia, and to help bring about improvements to the systems that impact them most.
The work of the Commissioner is guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; the core international treaty established in 1989 to which Australia is a signatory. This important agreement sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of all children around the world. The Commissioner works with government and the community to ensure South Australia enacts its international obligations under this Convention.
CCYP’s Advocacy Agenda 2022+
Commissioner Connolly completed her first term as South Australia’s inaugural Commissioner for Children and Young People in 2022. After being re-appointed for a further three years the Commissioner developed her
Advocacy Agenda 2022+
The Commissioner has applied the Outcomes Framework for Children and Young People* focusing her advocacy work on five key areas of health, safety, education, wellbeing and citizenship, and adding ‘environment’ as a sixth key focus area.
*This framework was developed by South Australia’s Child Development Council (CDC) to progress the vision of South Australia as a state where the conditions exist for all children and young people to thrive.
Download the Commissioner’s Advocacy Agenda 2022+ here.
For more on each focus area see below.
Young South Australians
are physically,
mentally, and
emotionally healthy
Child Focused Health:
- Embedding menstrual health in schools, clubs, and workplaces
- Ensuring access to a continuum of peer supports and clinical mental health services
- Improving sexual health and safety in schools and community
Young South Australians
are safe and
nurtured
Child Focused Safety:
- Increasing focus on children and young people in areas of crime reduction and prevention
- Spotlight on the climate safety needs of children and young people
Young South Australians
are successful learners
Child Focused Education:
- Advocating for more inclusive education policies and practice
- Supporting schools as healthy settings for learning and living
- Promoting equal access to work pathways and career transition supports
Young South Australians
are happy, inspired
and engaged
Child Focused Wellbeing:
- Addressing impacts of poverty on child rights
- Increasing community wellbeing infrastructure
- Facilitating more opportunities for play and physical activity
Young South Australians
participate actively
in society
Child Focused Citizenship:
- Creating more child safe environments
- Facilitating digital empowerment
- Championing youth friendly workplaces
- Fostering opportunities for youth led community action
Young South Australians enjoy a sustainable environment
Child Focused Environmental Sustainability:
- Collaborating on environmental protection
- Safeguarding against environmental vandalism
- Championing environmentally sustainable practices
- Fostering opportunities for youth led community action on climate change