We have made progress on some issues, with national frameworks agreed to by all Australian Governments that focus on children’s needs. However, generally progress on children’s rights occurs on discrete issues and policy areas and fails to take into account the broader inter-connections between issues that reflect the reality of children’s lived experience. Further, while most Australian children live in safe and healthy environments and do well, there are some groups of children whose rights are not adequately protected, which impacts negatively on their wellbeing and ability to thrive. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disability, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) children. The lack of action to address children’s rights in a holistic way means that critical issues fall through the gaps and have received little policy attention in the seven years since Australia’s last appearance before the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2012. Without comprehensive legal protection, education and other measures to promote an understanding of human rights and monitor compliance with human rights, our government is not fully meeting its obligations to make sure that the human rights of all Australian children are respected, protected and fulfilled. 5