Middle Swan Aboriginal students have a say

I had an enjoyable morning meeting students and staff of Middle Swan Primary School to thank them for taking part in my office’s recent consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

The students from Middle Swan were some of the 160 Aboriginal children and young people from the Swan region who had a say in consultations run by Swan Alliance Communities for Children, one of 16 organisations that undertook consultations around the State on our behalf.

At a special assembly I presented the students with certificates and personal copies of the publication "This is Me", which tells the stories of young Aboriginal role models in our community.

It was also my pleasure to present to the school a copy of the report “Listen to Us”, which was tabled in the WA Parliament in August and which contains details of what children and young people had to say in the consultations.

The visit also provided an excellent opportunity to learn about a number of initiatives that are helping to engage and inspire local children. I was particularly impressed with the onsite Breakfast Club and the Child and Family Centre, which is offering crucial health, education and parenting services for babies, young children and their parents.

I look forward to also visiting Beechboro Primary School on Monday to similarly recognise the contributions of that school’s Aboriginal students to this consultation.

I thank the Mundaring Shire and Swan Alliance Communities for Children for their support of children and young people in the Eastern suburbs and their support of the consultation with Aboriginal children and young people.

Colin Pettit
Commissioner for Children and Young People