The Commissioner of Children and Young People, Leanne McLean today welcomed Premier Peter Gutwein’s launch of community-wide consultations – including children and young people – to inform the State’s first, long-term, whole-of-government Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy for 0 to 25-year olds.
“Investing in the wellbeing of children and young people not only upholds their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child but also provides the foundation for prosperity for all Tasmanians, irrespective of age,” Ms McLean said.
“I welcome the genuine desire to consult with children and young people around Tasmania to inform the development of the strategy.
“Children and young people are experts in their own lives and provide a unique perspective on their needs and the ways to overcome barriers to achieving the very best wellbeing outcomes for them, now and into the future.
“I strongly encourage all children and young people in Tasmania up to the age of 25, as well as their parents, carers, service providers and other members of the community, to have their say.”
Anyone wishing to participate in the consultations can do so in several ways:
• Visiting www.wellbeing.tas.gov.au to share their contributions through drawings, paintings, or creative writing
• Completing a survey; or by making a formal written submission to a discussion paper (also available at www.wellbeing.tas.gov.au)
• Sending a postcard to the Premier. Postcards are being distributed across the state and are also available on the website.
Ms McLean said face-to-face consultations are also being run statewide by the Youth Network of Tasmania, the Mental Health Council of Tasmania and Playgroup Tasmania.
“I have also had the great pleasure and privilege of conducting consultations with children, young people and their families and will be reporting on the outcomes of those consultations to assist and inform the development of the Government’s strategy.”
The wellbeing consultation process will run from 19 January to 19 March 2021.
In March 2020, the Government committed to delivering Tasmania’s first Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy following the release of the Commissioner’s report, Investing in the Wellbeing of Tasmania’s Children and Young People, in which Ms McLean recommended the development of a long-term whole-of-government strategy for improving the wellbeing of Tasmania’s children and young people.
