Appendix 3 | Applying the CRIA tool to COVID-19 pandemic policy and legislation relating to the closure of schools and early childhood education and care in Australia Question 7: Who are the stakeholders that need to be engaged with? Consider stakeholders that represent or engage with children. This may include family and community members, Children��s Commissioners, paediatricians, teachers, learning support staff, child psychologists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, CALD communities, and/or social workers. • statutory Children’s Commissioners/Guardians/Advocates • principals, teachers, and school support staff • paediatricians and child psychologists • families and communities that are more likely to be impacted – including families living in low socio-economic households, communities in rural and remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and CALD communities • social workers supporting children who are homeless, in out-of-home care and in detention • academic and policy experts in children’s issues • community specific research and advocacy organisations – including SNAICC, Minus 18, Headspace and CYDA. Question 8: How have children been engaged in the process of policy/legislation design to ensure their views and experiences inform decision-making? Does this include groups of children who are more likely impacted? Explain processes of engagement and how these processes enabled children to share their voices and experiences, how they were listened to, how that information was used, and how the processes acted in the best interests of children. The federal Department of Health established several National Advisory Bodies on COVID-19 to inform national decision-making. Some of these advisory bodies did include members who work with children and young people. For example, the CALD Advisory Committee included representatives of the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network. The People with Disability Advisory Committee included the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and People with Disability Australia – they were one of many voices at the table.133 An advisory committee dedicated to the COVID-19 response for children was not established. 68 |