The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the launch
of the Children and Young People’s Voices Survey as part of the University of Tasmania’s
Tasmania Project.
“As we start to imagine a future living with COVID-19 – and hopefully post-COVID-19 – we must
ensure children and young people have a voice in this process,” Ms McLean said.
“This survey allows Tasmanian children and young people to have their say on what a good life
in Tasmania looks like after COVID-19.
“The University of Tasmania’s research will assist in informing the State Government’s
pandemic recovery response.
“One of the four guiding principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is
that children have the right to express their views and to be heard in all matters affecting them –
and for adults to give their views due weight in accordance with the child’s age and maturity.”
Ms McLean said the survey will target children and young people, aged 9 to17.
“With the consent of a parent or guardian, they can say what they think should happen
differently as the State emerges from the pandemic.
Questions will include:
• current circumstances with respect to school and home activities
• sense of hope and optimism about the future
• the positive things that have come out of the COVID-19 experience
• the issues that should be the focus of broad consultation with young people in
Tasmania.
The Children and Young People’s Voices Survey is approved by the Human Research Ethics
Committee of Tasmania and is completely voluntary. Those participating will be not identified in
any reports of the studies.
The findings will be published on The Tasmania Project website.
