News

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the B4 Early Years Coalition Big Screen Little Screen Project Pilot. “This is part of the B4 Coalition’s efforts to raise awareness of the importance of the earliest days of a child’s life to their lifelong wellbeing. This contributes to the aims of the It…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People today welcomed the long-awaited introduction of a legal framework to strengthen protections for children from abuse in organisations and to respond appropriately if abuse is suspected. “The passing of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Bill 2022 constitutes a significant reform to strengthen the protection and promotion of…

Punitive, populist tough on crime approaches to the harmful behaviour of children might make for good media, but they do not make Tasmanian communities safer.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, appeared on Seven News Tasmania to discuss her suggestions to the government to invest in prevention programs for young people.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, and CCYP YEP! member, Mila, talked about the launch of the YEP! program on ABC Radio.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, talked about the launch of the YEP! program on ultra106fiveFM.

The Commissioner for children and Young People, Leanne McLean, and YEP! members, Kaiki and Mila, talked to The Mercury about the launch of CCYP’s new Your Engagement Place (YEP!) program.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today launched a new program to help young Tasmanians get more involved in decisions that affect them and their communities. YEP! (Your Engagement Place) is an online hub for young Tasmanians aged under 18 to get more involved in decision making activities that affect their lives.…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) study findings released today are a wakeup call for all of Australia including Tasmania and urgent action is required. The ACMS study provides the first nationally representative findings of all five types of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse,…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People has called for greater transparency on the release of her latest out-of-home care report, Monitoring Report No. 2: Key Data on Tasmania’s Out-Of-Home Care System, 2020-2021. “Despite significant public interest in the Tasmanian out-of-home care system, there is a concerning lack of transparency regarding its operation,” Ms McLean…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the launch of the Commission of Inquiry’s report about children’s views on safety in organisational settings. The report, “Take notice, believe us and act!” presents the research by Professor Tim Moore and Emeritus Professor Morag McArthur with almost 60 children and young people in…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today extended the closing date for submissions to her investigation into changes to the allocation of Child Safety Officers for children and young people in Tasmania’s Out-of-Home Care system. “This is due to the strong interest being expressed into this investigation,” Ms McLean said. “The new…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean has called on the Tasmanian Government to urgently establish a rapid response crisis team on the ground at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, inclusive of specialist leadership skills and child safe practitioner expertise. “This team should be focused on both the wellbeing of detainees and the wellbeing…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Government’s commitment to amend the Climate Change (State Action) Amendment Bill 2021 to require consultation with Tasmanian children and young people on the development of climate change action plans. “This significant shift in Government policy is a direct result of advocacy by Tasmanian…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s release of the Tasmanian Out of Home Care Standards. “This is a welcome step in the right direction that has taken many years to achieve,” Ms McLean said. “These standards make clear the expectation that all out of home care providers…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today launched a new book, ‘OK, so a nest is a home – Views and experiences of Tasmanian children and young people in out-of-home care’. Ms McLean said an important part of her role as Commissioner is to promote and empower the participation of children and…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s announcement to raise the minimum age of youth detention to 14 years. “This is a positive step in the right direction but more reforms are still needed,” Ms McLean said. “This shift in the age at which children may be held…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Parliament’s decision to pass a law preventing routine practice of strip-searching children and young people in custody. “The passing today of the Youth Justice Amendment (Searches in Custody) Bill 2022 is a very important step towards creating a safer environment for our…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to introduce new safeguarding and independent oversight measures to keep children safe in organisations, including government institutions. Across the State. “Victim survivors are courageously sharing their experiences through the Commission of Inquiry process and it is abundantly clear that we…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today launched ‘I think adults play a big role in this’, a consultation report on children and young people’s views of the importance of respectful relationships and consent education. Ms McLean said the report, which emerged from her discussions with more than 40 CCYP Ambassadors from…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said today the Tasmanian Government has accepted her eight recommendations with regard to the strip searching of children and young people in Tasmania. “I welcome the introduction by the Attorney-General Elise Archer of legislation to end the routine practice of strip-searching children and young people in…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s announcement to combine Tasmania’s government services supporting children and families into a single department. “This is a unique opportunity to create a more child-centred service system, and, if properly implemented and funded, will lead to improved and enduring wellbeing outcomes for…

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…

It’s easy to think that because many children and young people escape the most severe symptoms of COVID-19, that pandemic-related decisions should be focussed on adults because they are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 related burden. But this is not true. Public health measures taken to protect families, teachers and community members, and more…

The 2020–2021 Annual Report of the Commissioner for Children and Young People was tabled today in the Tasmanian Parliament. The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, said the report includes details of her wellbeing consultations with Tasmanian children and young people, which contributed to the development of the Government’s first whole-of-government child and…

All 15 of Australia’s children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates say a commitment by state attorneys-general to develop a proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 does not go far enough. In a joint statement, Australian children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates said: “We are pleased that some jurisdictions have for the first time…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said the announcement by State Attorneys-General to work towards a national approach to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to just 12 years is a huge, missed opportunity. “Based on Tasmania Police data from 2019-2020, raising the age to 14 would have kept around 187…

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today called on the State Government to design child safe systems in Tasmanian schools to protect students from sexual abuse. “I welcome the findings of the Independent Inquiry into the Tasmanian Department of Education’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse,” Ms McLean said. “I also welcome the Department’s…

We, the undersigned, call upon the Tasmanian Government and the Parliament of Tasmania to take urgent action to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Tasmania to at least 14 years of age. Major Australian organisations representing the medical, mental health, child welfare and legal professions, as well as human rights bodies and organisations…

Commissioner Children and Young People Leanne McLean has called for the State Government to build two smaller, purpose-built facilities in the North and the South of the State to replace the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Ms McLean said she has been deeply worried by the historical and contemporary concerns that continue to be raised about…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed additional funding in the 2021-2022 State Budget to support initiatives to implement the Tasmanian Government’s new Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. “The 2021-2022 Budget includes substantial additional funding to support children’s wellbeing in the first 1000 days of their lives, which is where we…

The Commissioner of Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the launch of Tasmania’s first Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy for 0 to 25-year olds: ‘It takes a Tasmanian village’. “I am greatly encouraged by the scope of the strategy, which focuses on children and young people aged 0 to 25 years, and its…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the call by Colony 47 to make homeless young people a priority for housing in the 2021-2022 Tasmanian State Budget. “All children and young people have the right to a safe place to live,” Ms McLean said. “Stable housing is essential to children and…

Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed a new report into children in the child safety and youth justice systems, released by Tasmania Legal Aid. “Tasmania Legal Aid’s Children First: Children in the Child Safety and Youth Justice System report is a powerful and important piece of work. I thank Vincenzo…

There is so much we can learn from children and young people. And at a time when we are re-imagining life in Tasmania due to the ongoing impacts of Covid19, there is much to be gained from giving our children, the custodians of our future, more say in policy and decision-making processes. Recently, I had…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean invites the Tasmanian media to the launch of “We call it happy”, a report on the wellbeing of young Tasmanians, at 12.30pm, Tuesday, June 1, at the Launceston City Park Rotunda. Ms McLean said the report, the culmination of her consultations with more than 400 young…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean invites the Tasmanian media to the launch of “When I wake up I smile” – a children’s book of wellbeing – at 9.30am, at New Town Primary School on Monday, May 24. Ms McLean said “When I wake up I smile” was devised with the input…

All fourteen Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians (ANZCCG) have united in opposing new legislation introduced by the Northern Territory Government, which proposes to alter the NT’s Youth Justice Act and Bail Act. The commissioners and guardians wrote to NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner at the end of March expressing their concerns about…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean will present at an online forum about the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Hobart on February 25. Ms McLean said the forum – The Age of Innocence: Children and Criminal Responsibility – will be hosted by the University of Tasmania as part of its Island…

Like previous Tasmanian Commissioners for Children, and the Tasmania Law Reform Institute, I am one of many who have advocated for changing or abolishing section 50 of Tasmania’s Criminal Code Act 1924. Section 50 has not substantially changed since first passed in 1924, other than by the removal of specific reference to school masters. The…

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…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the release of draft Terms of Reference for the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. “I’m thankful to have been able to provide my views last week on what I would broadly like the Terms of Reference…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the launchof the Children and Young People’s Voices Survey as part of the University of Tasmania’sTasmania Project. “As we start to imagine a future living with COVID-19 – and hopefully post-COVID-19 – we mustensure children and young people have a voice in this process,”…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Premier’s announcement of a Commission of Inquiry to examine responses to child sexual abuse allegations by State institutions. “A Commission of Inquiry is, in my view, the most transparent and appropriately robust way to investigate the systems and practices within our Government departments…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said today she was aware of serious and concerning historical allegations made about the safety of children and young people who have been detained at Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Ms McLean said public discussion and debate about Ashley was important. “There is a real risk, however,…

The 2019-20 Annual Report of the Commissioner for Children and Young People was tabled today in the Tasmanian Parliament. The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said the Report includes her work during the period when Tasmania’s children and young people were first confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As Tasmanian’s Commissioner for Children…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s announcement to commit $4 million to initiate the first phase of the large-scale transformation of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. “The COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional stresses on many children and young people,” Ms McLean said. “At the same time,…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said the Department of Education 2020 Student Wellbeing Survey is a welcome insight into how Tasmania’s children and young people are travelling. “I commend the Department for actually asking students how they are travelling – this is one of the best ways to judge their views…

As Commissioner for Children and Young People in Tasmania, I feel obliged to remind all media outlets of the strong view I expressed in my September 2020 media statement on Many Colours 1 Direction about the need to ensure our public debate on this matter does no harm to children: While public discussion and debate…

The strange upside of the COVID-19 pandemic has been that Federal Government support measures introduced to combat its economic effect have lifted a substantial number of Tasmanian children out of poverty. The question we should now ask ourselves as a community, especially during Anti-Poverty week, is whether we are willing to see these children slip…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the release of the State Government’s Youth Justice Amendment (Searches in Custody) Bill 2020 for consultation. “The draft Bill aims to implement recommendations I made in May 2019 to Government on the searches of children and young people in custody,” Ms McLean said. “Specifically,…

While public discussion and debate about the placement of Tasmanian children at Many Colours 1 Direction (MC1D) in the Northern Territory is important, we must acknowledge there is a real risk this may be done in a way which causes harm to the individual children involved. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean launched Future Tasmania, a new digital magazine or “zine”, at the Launceston Conference Centre on Friday, September 25. Future Tasmania, produced by the Commissioner’s CCYP Ambassadors, features young Tasmanians’ views on policy issues important to the – and is available online here. “Despite the disruption of…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today launched Future Tasmania, a new digital magazine or “zine”. Future Tasmania, produced by the Commissioner’s CCYP Ambassadors, features young Tasmanians’ views on policy issues important to them – and is available online. “Despite the disruption of 2020, Tasmania’s children and young people are still concerned…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the review into Tasmania’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services by Professor Brett McDermott. “I participated in the review’s consultation process and received a copy of the draft report when it was distributed to key stakeholders last week, to which I provided feedback,” Ms…

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said today that Minister for Education Jeremy Rockliff’s establishment of an independent inquiry into the Department of Education’s responses to child sexual abuse is a welcome step towards minimising the risk of child sexual abuse. “It is essential that we make sure that we have the best…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s acceptance of her recommendations regarding the searches of children and young people in custody in Tasmania. “In May 2019, I provided advice to the Tasmanian Government that the then practice of routine strip searching of children and young people in custodial…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s additional $7 million package for Child and Family Learning Centres as part of its COVID-19 rebuilding program. “This is a very welcome step toward improving the wellbeing of Tasmanian children, young people and their families,” Ms McLean said. “In my report,…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today released the Listening to Children and Young People in Tasmania Report 2019. Ms McLean said the Report will help to inform advocacy for Tasmanian children and young people now and into the future. “The Report captures the voices of almost 200 children and young people…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s $4.3 million package for additional housing and homelessness support. “This is a welcome step forward for Tasmanian children, young people and families who are at risk of becoming homeless or who are homeless already,” Ms McLean said. “The causes of homelessness…

The COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic has caused many significant changes to the lives of our children and young people – and will continue to do so for some time. Emergency responses to the pandemic have been swift, well-executed and adopted by most Tasmanians. Our leaders, health officials and essential workers are doing a terrific job. Some children…

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today released a framework outlining the focus of her work to monitor, advocate for and protect the rights and wellbeing of Tasmanian children and young people throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic has caused significant change to the lives of our children and young people –…

Many Tasmanians are feeling anxious and uncertain. This is understandable. None of us are really sure how the next few months or maybe more will play out. This uncertainty is very real, perhaps more so than at any other time I can recall, and it’s real for our children and young people as well. Now,…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s response to her October 2019 report of the CCYP’s independent monitoring of Tasmania’s Out-of-Home-Care system [HYPERLINK] and is seeking further information from the Government. In the Tasmanian Government Out of Home Care Response – Report and Action Plan 2020 [HYPERLINK], the…

The Commissioner of Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed Premier Peter Gutwein’s announcement to fund Tasmania’s first-ever, comprehensive, long-term Wholeof-Government Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. “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…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today called for the wellbeing of children and young people to be the cornerstone of Tasmanian government policy and decision-making. At the launch of the Investing in the Wellbeing of Tasmania’s Children and Young People report, Ms McLean said investing in the wellbeing of children and…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said the release today of the annual Report on Government Services focusing on Community Services highlights the need for a greater emphasis on early intervention and family support to keep children out of the child safety system. “While I acknowledge the good work undertaken by the…

Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians reaffirm their support for raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. We strongly recommend governments develop and expand early intervention programs that prevent youth offending. There is a need to shift the conversation and the focus to what we can do to keep our children safe, and…

Australian and New Zealand Children’s Commissioners and Guardians (ANZCCG) call on the Council of Attorneys-General to consider the views of children when considering whether to raise the age of criminal responsibility across Australia at their meeting on 29 November 2019. The ANZCCG continues to recommend governments in Australia and New Zealand raise the minimum age…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today stated her support for restrictions on mobile phones in classrooms, urging further consultation with students to implement the new policy. “Research around the risks and benefits of students’ use of mobile phones and other digital devices in schools is mixed,” Ms McLean said. “What is…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) Leanne McLean invites the Tasmanian media to celebrate World Children’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the Executive Building TOMORROW at 1pm, Wednesday, November 20. “We are installing a special exhibition in the foyer of the…

This week, decision makers, policy makers, service providers, young people and advocates will come together at a forum in Hobart to discuss how we might do things differently to better support the mental health of young Tasmanians aged 12-25 years. I’ve been asked to come along to share what I’ve learnt about how children and…

The 2018-19 Annual Report of the Commissioner for Children and Young People was today tabled in Parliament. The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said the Annual Report reflects a year of change including the transition to a new Commissioner, following Interim Commissioner David Clements. “During his time as Interim Commissioner, David Clements…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today released the first report of the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s independent monitoring of Tasmania’s Out- of-Home Care system. Ms McLean said independent, systemic monitoring of Tasmania’s out-of-home care system is important because it contributes to oversight of the out-of-home care system. “This in…

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said today’s release of data from the Department of Education 2019 Student Wellbeing Survey provides a new and important insight into how Tasmanian children and young people in Government schools are feeling. “The data has been gathered across a range of indicators associated with the general wellbeing…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the establishment of the Premier’s Youth Advisory Council. Ms McLean said the Council will comprise young people aged 12-25 and will advise the Premier and Government on matters important to them and on how to best work together to deliver positive outcomes for young…

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said today children and young people around Tasmania will again strike from school to have their concerns heard about climate change. “The passion and concern being demonstrated by children and young people around Tasmania today, is consistent with the clear message young people have highlighted to me…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) Leanne McLean today announced the recipient of the inaugural Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Award for Student Voice is Cosgrove High School. “The Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Award for Student Voice is awarded to a school, team, or individual who demonstrates excellence and innovation…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the State Government’s release of Safe Homes, Families Communities: Tasmania’s Action Plan for Family and Sexual Violence 2019-2022. “I welcome a focus on actions to support children and young people who are affected by family and sexual violence,” Ms McLean said. “This includes an…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, today welcomed the Tasmanian Government allocation of extra funding to support her work communicating with and promoting the views of children and young people. “The extra funding we have received will have a major impact on the way we communicate with our stakeholders,” Ms McLean said.…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the State Government’s additional $34 million to support a new disability needs-based funding model in Tasmania. “It’s excellent to see the government recognising the additional needs of children and young people with disability,” Ms McLean said. “All children and young people have a right…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People today released her Advice to Government on searches of children and young people held in custody in Tasmania. Commissioner Leanne McLean said her Advice, if followed, would better promote and protect the rights and wellbeing of children and young people in custody. Further, it would help ensure relevant…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to providing more supported accommodation for homeless children and young people. “The Government has listened to service providers and advocates for children and committed to more supported accommodation options for homeless children and young people,” Ms McLean said. “This commitment…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today released the Listening to Children and Young People in Tasmania 2018 Report. The Report was compiled from the views and input of the 46 Statewide members of the Commissioner’s Consultative Committee. “My thanks and appreciation to former Interim Commissioner David Clements who facilitated much of…

The Commissioner for Children and Young People invites the Tasmanian media to the launch of a new short film that has been co-designed, filmed and produced by members of the Commissioner’s 2018 Children and Young People Consultative Council in collaboration with Big hART and young women from Project O. The short film highlights how children…

When 15-year-old Greta Thunberg stood in front of the United Nations’ climate change convention in 2018, her frustration was evident. She said: “For 25 years countless of people have stood in front of the United Nations climate conferences, asking our nations’ leaders to stop the emissions. But, clearly, this has not worked since the emissions…

I was saddened to read the Coroner’s Findings into the death of baby Rhiannon in 2014. Every baby has the right to the best possible start in life, to grow up in a safe and healthy environment and to receive the help and protection they need to thrive. Coroner McTaggart has noted the systemic changes…