• • • • There is no national level coordination of the many policy initiatives that exist across all governments relating to children. Australia does not have budgeting processes that specifically track the allocation of resources to all children. Across Australia, state and territory Children’s Commissioners/Guardians and Ombudsmen have independent monitoring powers within their own jurisdictions. These powers vary and can include oversight of child protection, out-of-home care, juvenile justice systems, and complaint handling. The National Children’s Commissioner does not have a mandate to monitor or deal with complaints about individual children. There are significant and serious gaps in the data that is collected and is publicly available on children. Children’s voices Children are strong people and they deserve to be heard (child, 10) Article 12 of the CRC requires governments to ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them. This is one of the guiding principles of the CRC because having a genuine voice and being heard is the gateway to claiming all other rights. This right is both safeguarding and empowering for children. The participation of children is not a routine part of the development of laws or policy in Australia. However, there has been a noticeable trend over recent years towards creating mechanisms for the participation of children in a variety of contexts. In 2018, the National Children’s Commissioner heard from 22,700 children through an online national Children’s Rights Poll and consulted in person with approximately 450 children. Through talking to children about human rights, and their rights in particular, it is clear that rights knowledge strengthens children’s agency and capabilities, and also engenders respect for the rights of others. 7