The Albanese Government has appointed a new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, as national targets to reduce child removal and youth detention continue to slide backwards. Source: ABC News.
Sue-Anne Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, will start in the role later this year. She replaces Lil Gordon, who has served in an acting capacity since January.
The appointment follows recent data from the Productivity Commission that shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain more than ten times more likely to be in out-of-home care and 27 times more likely to be in youth detention than non-Indigenous children.
Target 12 of the national Closing the Gap agreement, which aims to reduce over-representation in out-of-home care, is also not on track and is worsening.
Nationally, just four out of the 19 targets are on track to be met by the deadline of 2031.
Adjunct Professor Hunter brings more than two decades of experience in child and family services, including frontline work and senior roles at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children.
She also served as deputy chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
After a career working in criminal justice and with young people, she described the new role as a lifetime’s work, rather than a job.
“I am honoured to accept this appointment as Australia’s Inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People’s Commissioner with the responsibility to ensure our systems are working to protect the wellbeing, rights and interests of children and young people,” she said.
“I recognise that we are at risk of losing another generation to systems that fail them, to removal, out-of-home care detention and a bleak future.”
The new role will involve the commissioner hearing directly from Indigenous young people and advocating for their rights.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the appointment reflects the Government’s recognition that more needs to be done in ensuring Indigenous children have the same opportunities as every other child.
FULL STORY
New national commissioner appointed amid worsening outcomes for Indigenous children (By Olivia Caisley, ABC News)
