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Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians this week launched a book to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The book features the artworks of children and young people across Australia which are used to illustrate a summary of the themes and principles of Part 1 of the Convention.

The Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, provides the introductory message, in which she urges all Australians to “never forget what we owe to children: the best that we have to give.”

Enquires about the book can be referred to the NSW Office for Children – the Children’s Guardian.

The ACCG meets twice a year and provides a valuable forum for commissioners and child guardians to compare approaches, promote collaboration and share information from their respective jurisdictions.

Also attending the ACCG meeting in Perth was the President Australian Human Rights Commission Hon Catherine Branson, Children’s Commissioner New Zealand Dr John Angus, and Director Influencing for the Commissioner for Children and Young People NSW Stephen Robertson.

Discussions held at the meeting included foetal alcohol syndrome, framework for early childhood, the National Child Protection Framework and methodologies for working with children and young people.

The meeting followed the Asia-Pacific Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (APCCAN) held in Perth between 15 and 18 November.

Most ACCG members participated in the conference including the young participants’ program, with WA Commissioner Michelle Scott presenting on her views and experiences regarding the participation of children and young people in organisations’ decision making.

The Commissioner has announced her support of two events at the 2010 Perth International Arts Festival – Haircuts by Children and Children’s Choice Awards – both created by the Canadian company Mammalian Diving Reflex.

The Commissioner said she decided to support the free performances as they will showcase the abilities of local children and give them a voice in the large and popular Perth Festival. 

‘Haircuts’ promotes children as competent and creative members of society and challenges adults to put their trust in them by having their hair cut by kids.

The Children’s Choice Awards establishes a children’s jury whose members are given the opportunity to express their opinions about the best aspects of the Festival from their perspective.  Members of the jury will receive backstage passes, access to performers and entry to a selection of Festival events.  Presenting their awards on the last Saturday of the Festival, the views and opinion of the children forms the key part of the performance.

At the official launch at Perth Concert Hall yesterday, Perth Festival Artistic Director Shelagh Magadza challenged Festival-goers to reconsider the role that children play in society.

“Children, their voice and their rights are something every healthy society should take time to consider,” she said.

Youth Minister Donna Faragher today announced that organisations can apply for grants of up to $1,000 to hold an event during National Youth Week 2010.

National Youth Week, which runs from April 10 to 18 in 2010, highlights the positive contributions young people make to the community.  The 2010 theme is ‘Live it now’.

• provide opportunities for young people aged 12-25 to express their ideas and views, raise issues of concern to them, and act on issues that affect their lives
• provide opportunities to the wider community to listen to young people and acknowledge and celebrate the positive contribution that young people make to their local communities
• highlight issues of concern to young people.

For more information, telephone the Department for Communities’ Office for Youth on 6217 8400, Freecall 1800 281 116, or go to the Office for Youth website. The application period closes on 30 November.

An online discussion is now open to further the issues raised at today’s Children’s Week Forum - ‘Turning Children’s Rights into Reality’.

Available on the Commissioner’s website, the online discussion allows members of the public to talk about their views and ideas concerning child rights and wellbeing.

People have two weeks to join the discussion by posting comments and uploading documents and hyperlinks.

This is an opportunity to share information about the many positive examples of individuals, organisations and government agencies that are already turning children’s rights into reality and to discuss practical ways for continuing to improve the wellbeing of our youngest citizens.

Resources developed from the Children’s Week Forum presentations by keynote speakers Chris Sidoti, Professor Mick Dodson, James McDougall, Beth Shaw and Krista Moir, are also available on the website.

An online discussion about the practical ways that children’s rights can be turned into reality will be launched after the 2009 Children’s Week Forum tomorrow.

The Commissioner’s website will host the online discussion page which will also contain photos, documents and relevant links from the Forum.

Members of the public will be able to upload comments, documents and links, meaning everyone can share resources that may help the consideration of children’s rights when planning or evaluating programs, services and policies.

It will also allow people who were not able to attend the Forum to access resources such as speech notes and overviews of discussions.

The online discussion will run for at least 2 weeks, and all resources on the page will be available permanently on the website.

The Commissioner today launched ‘Involving Children and Young People Participation Guidelines’ at Wirrabirra Primary School.

The Participation Guidelines are a simple, introductory guide to involving children and young people in the work of an organisation, and the Wirrabirra School Manifesto is one of the examples listed in the document.

The guidelines aim to encourage non-government and government organisations to involve the State’s youngest citizens in key decisions that affect them.