The Commissioner for Children and Young People is an independent and impartial statutory officer. The role is established by the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2016 (Tas).
The functions of the Commissioner are to:
- advocate for all Tasmanian children and young people
- act as an advocate for youth detainees under the Youth Justice Act 1997
- research, investigate and influence policy development in areas relating to children and young people
- promote, monitor, and review the wellbeing of children and young people
- promote and empower children and young people to participate in the making of decisions, and to express opinions about matters, that affect their lives
- help ensure Tasmania meets its national and international obligations in respect of children and young people
- encourage organisations to establish child friendly mechanisms to assist children and young people to participate in matters that affect them.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People promotes good practice, policy, and legislation. The Commissioner influences decision–making, undertakes research, monitors, publishes reports, provides advice to ministers and government agencies, undertakes investigations, and makes submissions to inquiries and reviews. The Commissioner also makes comments on draft legislation and on proposed policies, including on national issues that are relevant to children and young people in Tasmania.
The Commissioner regularly speaks with, and hears from, members of the Tasmanian community, including children and young people, about a range of issues concerning young Tasmanians. The Commissioner uses this information to inform systemic advocacy work on behalf of children and young people.
The Commissioner’s role is systemic in nature. This means they advocate systematically for all Tasmanian children and young people, but can’t investigate or review specific decisions about individual cases or specific circumstances unless formally requested to do so by the Minister for Education, Children and Youth.
The Commissioner doesn’t investigate complaints and doesn’t advocate for individuals except in the case of young people detained under the Youth Justice Act 1997 (Tas).
Although the Commissioner does not look into specific decisions or specific circumstances, the Commissioner can provide information about programs and services to children and families and can refer people to others who may be able to assist.
The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings recommended a new Commission for Children and Young People be established for Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government has accepted this and related recommendations. Until this change occurs, and while the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2016 remains in force, the Commissioner’s existing functions under the CCYP continue.
The Commissioner’s priority remains ensuring the voices of Tasmania’s Children and Young People are heard.
The Office of the Commissioner has long championed the establishment of the Commission for Children and Young People model. The Commissioner, and CCYP staff, are working collaboratively with all stakeholders to transition to this model.
Patmalar Ambikapathy
Commissioner for Children, October 2000 – April 2004
David Fanning
Commissioner for Children, April 2004 – October 2006
Dr Susan Jenkins
Interim Commissioner for Children, December 2006 – April 2007
Paul Mason
Commissioner for Children, April 2007 – October 2010
Aileen Ashford
Commissioner for Children, October 2010 – June 2013
Elizabeth Daly
Acting Commissioner for Children, June 2013 – December 2013
Mark Morrissey
Commissioner for Children, October 2014 – June 2016
Mark Morrissey
Commissioner for Children and Young People*, July 2016 – September 2017
David Clements
Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, September 2017 – November 2018
Leanne McLean
Commissioner for Children and Young People, November 2018 – October 2024
Isabelle Crompton
Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, October 2024 – current
* On 1 July 2016, the Commissioner for Children became the Commissioner for Children and Young People with the commencement of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2016.