The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said today the 2022 CCYP Ambassador Program is currently open to applications from a diverse cross-section of Tasmania’s children and young people.
“An important part of my role as the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Tasmania is to have as thorough an understanding as possible of what Tasmania’s children and young people lives are like,” Ms McLean said.
“This includes understanding the issues that are important to them, the different obstacles they face and how they think things can be improved for children and young people in this State.
“Having this information means I can better advocate for Tasmania’s children and young people. The CCYP Ambassador Program is one way I get these insights.”
Ms McLean said the CCYP Ambassadors are a group of young Tasmanians aged 10 to 17 from all around the State.
“They meet with me in person around four times a year to talk about their life experiences and discuss various topical issues.
“They also get to meet with politicians and other decision makers at an annual statewide event to present their views on the big topics of the day and participate in fun creative activities.
“It’s really important for the members of the CCYP Ambassador Program to be as diverse and representative of Tasmania’s young population as possible.
“That’s why I’m really encouraging children and young people from all backgrounds to apply for the program – you don’t have to be the most academically gifted or the best public speaker to apply.
“Ideally, we’d have CCYP Ambassadors from all corners of the state, from diverse ethnic, cultural, social and religious backgrounds, diverse genders, different capabilities and different life experiences, and so forth.
“Support for anyone with particular needs can also be put in place to ensure everyone can participate fully.”
“The only eligibility requirements to become a CCYP Ambassador,” Ms McLean noted, “is that you must be aged from 10 to 17 years of age when you apply, be a resident of Tasmania and be able to attend at least two CCYP Ambassador meetings in 2022.”
Applications are open now and close on 18 February 2022.
Application forms and more information about the program can be found here.
“I totally understand that not everyone is comfortable completing written applications,” Ms McLean said. “We’ve therefore got an option to submit a video application. We can also make other suitable arrangements if potential applicants email us at childcomm@childcomm.tas.gov.au or phone Cathy Williams from our CCYP Ambassador team on (03) 6166 1362.