Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd has welcomed the appointment of Deb Tsorbaris as the new National Children’s Commissioner and acknowledged the federal Government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding children and young people.
ACSL chief executive Ursula Stephens said Attorney-General Michelle Rowland’s appointment of Ms Tsorbaris for a five-year term would be well received by the Catholic sector and other organisations working on child safety across Australia.
For the past 12 years, Ms Tsorbaris has led the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, a peak body that represents more than 200 service providers in Victoria and Tasmania.
“The Government has chosen a respected leader in child safety and rights for this vital role. Ms Tsorbaris has shown dedication to advancing the rights of vulnerable and marginalised children, and leadership through her advisory roles,” Dr Stephens said.
“Ms Tsorbaris’s deep experience also extends to working on the issues of housing, homelessness, social policy and disability.
“I also want to thank the contribution of the outgoing commissioner, Ms Anne Hollonds, for her leadership and dedication to the cause of child safety.”
The National Children’s Commissioner is a position established by the Gillard Government in 2013 with a mission to advocate for the rights of children and young people in Australia.
The commissioner is a statutory position within the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The commissioner monitors policy and legislation to ensure that the human rights of children are protected and promoted and provides advice to government. This is a pivotal role given the legislative reforms in the early learning sector and changes to the NDIS.
The commissioner also contributes to numerous expert advisory groups for governments, research projects and non-government organisations.
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