About us

Vision

We strive for a better world for all children and young people where their voices and rights are valued and respected.

Values

In all we do, we will ensure that:
• children and young people are central to everything that we do
• we show care and support for everyone we work with
• we value everyone’s life experiences
• we will have honest conversations and encourage diverse views
• we are individually and jointly responsible for our actions.

Commissioner's role

The Commissioner’s work is underpinned by the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006 (the Act).

The Act outlines the guiding principles, powers and functions of the office. In accordance with statutory obligations, the Commissioner:
• advocates for children and young people
• promotes the participation of children and young people in decision making that affects their lives
• promotes and monitors the wellbeing of children and young people in the community
• monitors the way in which government agencies investigate or otherwise deal with complaints from children and young people
• monitors trends in complaints made by children and young people to government agencies
• initiates and conducts inquiries into any matter affecting the wellbeing of children and young people
• monitors, reviews and makes recommendations on laws, policies, programs and services affecting the wellbeing of children and young people
• promotes public awareness and understanding of matters relating to the wellbeing of children and young people
• conducts, coordinates and sponsors research into matters relating to the wellbeing of children and young people
• consults with children and young people from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds and age groups throughout Western Australia each year.

The Act requires the Commissioner to give priority to, and have a special regard for, the interests and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and children and young people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged for any reason.

Under the Act, the role of the Commissioner is not to deal with complaints made by, or on behalf of, individuals; however, she may respond to issues that identify possible systemic matters that affect the wellbeing of children and young people more broadly.

The Commissioner can provide a young person or their advocate(s) with information about services and avenues for support.

Approach

The Commissioner’s work has regard to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and is informed by the views and opinions of children and young people and the best available knowledge and evidence of what works well.

Guiding principles

As outlined in the Act:
• children and young people are entitled to live in a caring and nurturing environment, protected from harm and exploitation
• the contributions made by children and young people to the community should be recognised for their value and merit
• the views of children and young people on all matters affecting them should be given serious consideration and taken into account
• parents, guardians, families and communities have the primary role in safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of their children and young people and should be supported in carrying out this role.

Independence

The Commissioner, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, is an independent statutory officer. The Commissioner can table reports in the Parliament of Western Australia, conduct inquiries and require agencies to provide information on matters relating to the wellbeing of children and young people.

The Parliament has a Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People which regularly consults with the Commissioner, and reviews and reports to Parliament on the Commissioner’s exercise of her functions under the Act. 

The Commissioner formally met once with the Committee during the year, and also engaged with members of the Committee individually at other events.

More information about the Joint Standing Committee is available on the Parliament of Western Australia website.

The Office

The office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People provides support for the Commissioner to advocate for all Western Australian children and young people though five Strategic Pillars:

• Engage with children and young people
• Enhance the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s reach and influence
• Share the voice of children and young people 
• Deliver organisational best practice
• Build relationships to drive change.

In providing these functions and services the organisation is divided into four main functions: Policy; Research and Evaluation; Media, Engagement and Communication; and Executive Support.

Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, Commissioner for Children and Young People

Jacqueline McGowan-Jones has an extensive background in education, Indigenous law and justice, disability, child protection, Indigenous affairs, and suicide postvention. Her experience includes senior executive roles across state and federal governments, and the non-government sector.

As Commissioner, Jacqueline has a statutory responsibility to monitor, protect and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of all Western Australian children and young people.

She firmly believes that all young people have a right to be heard, and actively works to foster a heightened level of understanding and engagement in matters that affect our children and young people.

Policy

The Policy team provides high level policy analysis and advice on strategic policy issues and trends impacting on children and young people and informs, monitors and reviews legislation, policies, programs and services to support the advocacy activities of the Commissioner. 

The team prepares of discussion, advocacy and policy position papers and leads the preparation of submissions.

The Policy team also reviews outcomes of the work undertaken by the Research and Evaluation team to inform discussion papers, advocacy platforms and priorities for action by the Commissioner.

Research and Evaluation

The Research and Evaluation team undertake research and consultation as well as developing evidence-based resources to inform the continual development and evolution of legislation, policy and services.

They are responsible for leading surveys and undertaking comprehensive analysis of the data to prepare quality reports which highlight the voices of children and young people.

Media, Communications and Engagement

The Media, Engagement and Communication team supports children and young people’s participation in the work of the Commissioner by promoting the ways in which children and young people positively contribute to their communities. 

Working across the agency they also assist in the development of information and resources to promote community awareness and understanding about the wellbeing of children and young people.

They manage the engagement of media including working with the Commissioner to develop opinion pieces and respond to media requests. A key component is managing the events and sponsorships that seek the views of children and young people in WA and highlight their achievements.

Performance Management Framework

The Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Performance Management Framework is consistent with the State Government goal of Safe, Strong and Fair Communities: Supporting our local and regional communities to thrive.

Desired outcome for the Commissioner for Children and Young People

The views and issues of children and young people are heard and acted upon.

Key effectiveness indicators:
• extent to which children and young people in various regions of the state are consulted
• extent to which issues affecting children and young people are researched, advocated for and promoted.

Service undertaken by the Commissioner for Children and Young People

Consultation, research and advocacy of the wellbeing of children and young people.

Key efficiency indicators:
• unit cost per child
• unit cost per representation.

Planning

The Commissioner’s ‘Strategic Plan 2024-27’ outlines the broad focus areas of the Commissioner for Children and Young People and aims to inform and engage the community in the work of the Commissioner.

The Commissioner’s annual work plan supports the strategic directions.

The work of the office for this reporting period is outlined under the strategic plan’s five strategic pillars:
• Engage with children and young people
• Enhance the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s reach and influence
• Share the voice of children and young people
• Deliver organisational best practice
• Build relationships to drive change.

Five Strategic Pillars

Focus areas
• Quality engagement with children and young people
• Listen to children and young people from across all Western Australia
• Children and young people defining their requirements for engagement into the future
• Providing opportunities for children and young people to share their experiences to inform policy and resource development

Focus areas
• Best practice data to inform the sector
• Commissioners’ presence across the sector to influence change
• Collaboration and engagement with key research partners
• Seen as an employer of choice

Focus areas
• Stakeholder influence on critical organisations that affect children and young people
• Sharing the voices of children and young people
• Media focus on key issues impacting children and young people
• Maintain a focus on Aboriginal, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people

Focus areas
• Best practice corporate governance
• Organisational culture that builds engagement
• Excellence in fiscal management
• Organisational accountability and professional business leadership

Focus areas
• Strategic national and state portfolio engagement on issues impacting children and young people
• Leadership in Safe and Supported: National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
• ANZCCGA membership
• Influencing positive change in policies programs and services impacting children and young people.