Keeping kids safe and well: your voices

The National Children’s Commissioner, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, has been consulting with children, young people, and families on how to keep children safe and healthy in their homes and in their communities.

This report presents key issues, identifies priorities, and makes recommendations for action, to inform the government’s five-year actions plans under the Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 (the National Framework). It synthesises the views of children, young people and families collected in face-to-face and online consultations and surveys. It presents key issues, identifies priorities, and recommends actions about how these can be incorporated into the action plans to be developed by the Australian, State and Territory Governments.

Housing

A statistical overview of key issues was undertaken.

Safe, comfortable, and affordable housing is central to meeting the needs of children and their families. Parents and young people told the Commissioner that they valued services that provide housing or facilitated access to it.

Access to housing was raised in most consultations (n=34, 76%) across all jurisdictions and amongst diverse cohorts of people. Similarly, most survey respondents (n=256, 60%) across all cohorts identified housing, including a safe place to live and a safe place to go when needed, as one of the three most important services and supports that can help keep children and young people safe.

Further Details

Download the full report here.