Wheatbelt children and youth services in focus

Services and supports for Wheatbelt children and young people were the focus of a visit this week by WA’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Commissioner Colin Pettit met children and young people and heard their views on life in the region and gave them an opportunity to raise issues directly with him.

Commissioner Pettit thanked the students at Northam Senior High School, St Joseph’s Northam, Merredin College and Southern Cross District High School for meeting with him and sharing their views.

“The young people I met were very positive about their local communities,” Mr Pettit said.

“Many raised the need to protect their local environment and that they wanted more local opportunities to support them in seeking future employment.”

Mr Pettit met with local Shires and organisations working with children and young people in the area to discuss access to services and local youth issues.

He also provided an update on the state’s first Speaking Out Survey which included thousands of students in Years 4-12 across WA sharing their views on their health, safety, health and community. The findings from this survey will be released in early 2020.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People has a legislated role to undertake research and consultation and use this information to advocate for changes to policies and services that strengthen children and young people’s wellbeing. He is independent and reports directly to the WA Parliament.

The Commissioner undertakes several regional visits each year to ensure the views of children, young people families and service providers in these areas are taken into account.