Australia’s most vulnerable children need urgent help

Meeting today in Canberra, Australian Children’s Commissioners, Guardians and Advocates (ACCGA) welcomed the release of UNICEF’s ‘State of Australia’s Children Report 2025’ – a vital yet concerning snapshot of how our children and young people are faring.

However, the group expressed fear for the future of Australia’s most vulnerable children and young people and concern for a lack of action to respond to the disproportionate disadvantage they experience.

The figures are particularly grim for those in out-of-home care, children with disability, and children involved in the youth justice or child protection systems.

While there are some encouraging signs, the findings also sound a clear alarm: many of Australia’s children remain deeply vulnerable, and urgent action is required.

Collectively we are calling on governments, both State and Federal, to take urgent action by:

• Addressing the root causes of inequality: poverty, housing stress and systemic racism.
• Providing wraparound supports for families at risk including parenting support, income support, housing support and access to early childhood support.
• Investing in mental health and wellbeing programs for children and young people.
• Embedding children’s participation in policy-making through co-designed programs with young people from diverse backgrounds.

The report, released today, was developed by UNICEF Australia, in partnership with the Australian Research Alliance for Youth (ARACY) and the Minderoo Foundation.

Speaking on behalf of ACCGA members, WA Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, said the group urged every level of government, society, and the community to treat this report as a turning point.

“This report demands more than acknowledgment – it demands action. Children are not statistics, and their wellbeing should not be a secondary consideration.

“Australia has the means, the knowledge, and the moral responsibility to be among the best places in the world for our children to grow up.

“But this report shows that we are far from fulfilling that promise for all children, especially our most marginalised.

“We call on leaders to respond with bold, coordinated, and sustained investment – not
tomorrow, but today.”