Thursday 28 September

Issue 6

Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to my third newsletter for 2023. It's been a productive term that started in the July school holidays with the youth led Period Summit, attended by 100 young people passionate about period justice and tackling period poverty. In late July I released my inaugural Keeping Our Promises report, which aims to hold government accountable for the promises we make children and young people on ways to improve their lives. I look forward to seeing young people who are passionate about climate change and sustainble food production at the CCYP COP28 workshop coming up on Wednesday 18 October. Their input will lead to a 'youth submission' from young South Australians expressing their ideas for ways to address the impact of climate change.

The Things That Matter Region Postcard Summaries have been released this week. They tell an interesting story about what young South Australians value most across SA metro, regional, rural and outback communities. The SA SRC launched its 'Fitness for free' campaign earlier this month, taking a proactive approach to mental wellbeing in the lead up to Mental Health Awareness Month in October. There has been much discussion around the Referendum coming up in a few weeks time and to ensure young people were engaged, we have been running a social media campaign encouraging their enrolment before the cut off date and reminding them of the importance of making an informed vote. 

Featured News

SA SRC launches 'Fitness for free'

Members of the 2023 SA SRC have launched their 'Fitness For Free' campaign which calls on the State government to address rising youth mental ill health by providing senior schools students with free access to recreation and leisure facilities for those who need them. Numerous studies show a positive relationship between regular physical activity and mental wellbeing. 
Read more 

Young People re-educating their local community to tackle period poverty

The City of Charles Sturt wanted young people to help co-design a program for the re-education of members of their community in relation to periods and menstruation, including actions that can help address period poverty.
Read more

Mount Gambier re-launches YAG

The City of Mount Gambier has re-engaged young people in the region by reforming it's Youth Activation Group to help co-design the City's new Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Youth Space. Young People will be contributing their ideas for how the space will be activated, as well as what can be done to help bring more young people into the space to help connect and support eachother more.
Read more

Community Outreach |  Connections | Events

Young People and the Referendum

To ensure young South Australians turning 18 before 14 October were enrolled to vote in the upcoming Referendum on the Voice to Parliament, the Commissioner has been running a social media campaign aimed at encouraging enrolment and providing links to resources that help young people to be fully informed about what it is we're being asked to vote on. 
View video

Youth Led Period Summit

In the July School holidays the Commissioner hosted a Youth Led Period Summit to build on work being done in relation to periods and menstruation to remove stigma and taboo and help eliminate period poverty. The Summit was attended by 100 young people and adult stakeholders passionate about advocating for period justice across their communities.
View video

Commissioner's Runabout

Read this snapshot summary of what the Commissioner has been busy with over the last three months, connecting and engaging with SA children, young people, and adult stakeholders on issues relating to her advocacy work.
Read more

Submissions | Briefs | Reports

First Keeping Our Promises report launched

In the language of children and young people, the commitments that governments make to them through laws, policies,strategies and plans are treated as 'promises' made to ensure meaningful improvement to their lives. This inaugural report to be produced on an annual basis, monitors, maps and grades promises made by government to ensure SA children are healthy, safe and thriving.
By reporting regularly in this way, the Commissioner aims to ensure there is accountability for the achievements and failures being made in relation to children's and young people’s rights, lives and futures.

Read the report

16 X Postcard Region Summaries released

The Commissioner's Student Voice Postcards initiative enables civc, political and community leaders across South Australia to hear directly from primary school students in Government, Catholic and Independent schools. To provide a clearer idea of what matters most to children living in metropolitan, regional, rural and outback communities the Commissioner has produced a suite of 16 Region Summaries, highlighting the views of children aged 8-12 years on their local community, the environment, rights and ideas, money and fairness, what they enjoy about who they are, and school.
Read the region summaries here

Submission to the Inquiry into the recognition of young carers

Legislation should reflect a whole of government approach to upholding the rights of children and young people with caring responsibilities. The Commissioner submitted her Take Care report to the Inquiry, which makes recommendations to improve school-based supports for young carers.   
Read the submission

Submission on Alternative Commonwealth Capabilities for Crisis Response

Strengthening Australia’s capabilities for crisis response should meaningfully involve children and young people in decision-making and action related to disaster preparedness, resilience and recovery. Consideration should be given to supporting young people to fulfil emergency response activities and expanding South Australia’s Youth in Emergency Development Program (YEDP).
Read the submission 

Submission to CIO on digital connectivity

Digital access is increasingly seen as an ‘essential’ utility that we rely upon with the same predictability as electricity, clean water, and effective sewage systems. Public health policy in many jurisdictions nationally and globally, including in SA, is increasingly recognising digital inclusion as a social determinant of health. As such, digital access is a means of realising fundamental rights set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Read the submission

Ending Physical Punishment Campaign for NCPW
Throughout National Child Protection Week (September 3-9), the Commissioner highlighted the negative impacts use of physical/corporal punishment has on children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. The Commissioner often receives postcards through her Postcards initiative containing children’s comments relating to their experience of physical punishment. These quotes were compiled into a short video, which was shared with National Child Protection Week organisers to use as part of the advocacy and awareness raising of issues relating to protecting children from harm. View video 

CCYP Youth Period Summit - Summary Video

During the July School Holidays the Commissioner hosted a Youth Led Period Summit to discuss all things periods and menstruation. With guest panellists and more than 100 attendees the Summit covered many issues. View a short video summary here.

Grants | Projects | Initiatives | Surveys

Last Day for CDC Completion Forms

If you are one of the South Australian schools who registered your students to complete the 2023 Commissioner's Digital Challenge, then tomorrow (Friday 28 September) is the last day to submit your completion form and ensure your school is in the running for the great digital prizes on offer from the Commissioner's Digital Challenge partners Prodigy Learning, Makers Empire, EduWeb Solutions, Vex Robotics and Grok Academy.
Complete and submit here

2023 Student Postcards returned yet?

It's not too late to complete and return your school's Student Voice Postcards for 2023. We've received more than 12,000 postcards from over230 schools throughout South Australia so far. We're hoping to receive a few more over the next few days and through the holidays. If you need more time to complete and send them back to us, we're more than happy to receive them in the first few weeks of Term 4. So if you're still to post them, no worries - the Commissioner and her team are standing by to receive them!  
Read more

What's On

Young People and Gambling Survey

The Commissioner's survey on Young People and Gambling is underway and there is still plenty of time to have your perspective recorded. If you are a young person aged 13- 22 then the Commissioner would like to hear from you, and the survey takes less than 10 minutes! You don't need to have gambling knowledge or experience to participate.  

Go to survey

CCYP COP28 Focus on Food Workshop

Young people 20 years and under are invited to attend a climate change workshop presented by CCYP on Wed 18 October from 4.30pm to 6.30pm at U City, Franklin St. The focus will be on food sustainability with the outcomes from the workshop communicated back to the United Nations COP28 organisers via a ‘youth submission’ from young South Australians. Register to attend

Voice to Parliament Referendum

The 2023 Referendum is coming up on Saturday 14 October. That's just two weeks away! As this will be the first time many young people will vote it makes sense to find out more about the voting process so you know what to do on the day. To find answers to questions, concerns, or to find your nearest polling booth check the AEC website

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