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.
“YEP! members are kept up to date through the YEP! webpage and a regular YEP! newsletter about engagement opportunities being offered by government and non-government agencies as well as my office,” Ms McLean said.
“These child-friendly opportunities could include things like surveys, consultations on proposed legislative reform, helping to design services for children and young people, or writing competitions on topical issues.
“Participation opportunities will also be included in regular newsletters sent to YEP!members and adult subscribers. Opportunities may be run by CCYP or by other organisations or agencies.”
“Children and young people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives under Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“However, one of the barriers for young Tasmanians getting involved in decision making can be knowing about the existence of opportunities where their voices can be heard.”
Ms McLean said this barrier was a major catalyst for the creation of YEP!
“I decided to develop a simpler way for young Tasmanians to find out about meaningful opportunities to influence decisions that affect them.
“By creating a ‘one stop shop’ of curated engagement opportunities we can remove some of the barriers to young people’s participation in decision making processes.
“Young Tasmanians and the adults who support them can be confident that opportunities promoted on YEP! have been assessed by my office to ensure they are designed to be safe, ethical and in the best interests of children and young people.
“By listening to children and young people and involving in them in our decision-making processes we are demonstrating to them that we care about what they have to say, and that they are safe to raise issues and concerns.”
“Another advantage is that the Tasmanian community benefits from greater involvement by young Tasmanians in decision making processes; where they can bring new and different perspectives and life experiences.”
Ms McLean explained that any organisation or government agency can promote an opportunity or a mechanism for Tasmanian children and young people to have a say on YEP! as long as it meets the following criteria:
- open to participants aged less than 18 years (or a subset within that cohort) and living in Tasmania; and
- ethical in its approach (e.g., the opportunity must be in the best interests of children, provide a meaningful opportunity to influence, and be child-safe)
- provide opportunities for young Tasmanians to meaningfully engage in decision making and/or influence change in matters that affect their lives.
Tasmanians under the age of 18 can register for YEP! by completing the registration form at https://childcomm.tas.gov.au/ccyp-yep-application-form/. Young Tasmanians who register to join YEP! by 9 June 2023 will go into a draw for an iPad.
Adults can keep up-to-date with engagement opportunities available to young Tasmanians by subscribing to the YEP! mailing list at YEP! Subscription form for adults – CCYP (childcomm.tas.gov.au)