Page 1107 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 28 March 2017
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whole-of-community approach to promoting the rights of children and young people aged 0-25 years in the ACT. It was developed through extensive consultation with children, young people, community agencies and the ACT government and has been informed by a strong evidence base.
In December 2015, the former Minister for Children and Young People, Minister Gentleman, launched the commitment at Namadgi School in Tuggeranong. The commitment identifies six priority areas and these are to: implement policy that enables the conditions for children and young people to thrive; provide access to quality health care, learning and employment opportunities; advocate the importance of the rights of children and young people; keep children and young people safe and protect them from harm; build strong families and communities that are inclusive and support and nurture children and young people; and include children and young people in decision-making, especially in areas that affect them, ensuring they are informed and have a voice.
We measure the progress of the key priority areas of the commitment through the publication A Picture of ACT’s Children and Young People. This annual publication provides an overview of how children, young people and communities are faring against a set of indicators that relate to health, wellbeing, learning and development outcomes. This information allows us to identify what is working well and what areas need further development to ensure a positive start for our children and young people.
The priority areas identified in the commitment are being pursued across government through a range of specific initiatives and improvements to existing services. Youth InterACT, for example, is a strategy funded by the ACT government that supports a number of grants, scholarships and programs for young people aged between 12 and 25 years. The Youth Advisory Council, a project funded under this strategy, provides young people with a voice in the ACT government by giving them the opportunity to take a leading role in participation and consultation activities on issues that affect their lives. In addition, the Youth Advisory Council hosts an annual conference to engage young people on a variety of topical issues, expanding the opportunity for young Canberrans to engage in discussions that are relevant and meaningful to them.
In thinking about how the children and young people in our community are faring, it is important that we reflect on areas where they are doing well alongside areas where we can improve. A Picture of ACT’s Children and Young People shows us that most children and young people in the ACT continue to do well.
As members would be aware, early childhood education is one of the most important protective factors for children. Over recent years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of ACT children enrolled in preschool, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. In 2012, 5,060 children aged four or five years were enrolled in a preschool program in the ACT. By 2015 this number had increased to 6,839. This improved engagement in quality early childhood education will support our children in reaching their full potential.
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