Australian Human Rights Commission Annual Report November 2022 The right of children to participate in decisions that affect them is one of the four guiding principles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Participation is also a key principle in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having a genuine voice and being heard is fundamental to claiming all other rights, with participation being both protective and empowering for children. 45 consultations were held, with 400 participants (face-to-face and on-line) with 426 survey respondents. Final report was provided to DSS in February 2022. Positive feedback was received. The report, including a child-friendly version, was launched on 6 April 2022. Overall, children and families said they needed: 1. Help with housing (60%, n=256) 2. Mental health services (41%, n=174) 3. Help with basic needs (33%, n=142) A key human rights challenge affecting children in Australia is the fragmentation and failure of our basic systems that are meant to support children and their families, especially those living with poverty and disadvantage. Urgent cross-portfolio reform is needed across health, education, and social services including housing, to ensure that these systems are fit-for-purpose and can help families to keep their children safe and well. Transforming Approaches to Protecting Australia’s Children This project was an exploratory rethink of national approaches to child wellbeing funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, led by Commissioner Hollonds. Despite widespread efforts, growing evidence, numerous reviews and inquiries and significant investment, we are failing to make progress on child and family wellbeing, especially for those living with poverty and disadvantage. Late interventions and reacting to crises dominate policy settings and services. Nothing speaks more to this than the number of children in the child protection system and out-of-home care, including the disproportionate number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Children are falling further behind, with rising mental health issues and declining educational outcomes. The project convened new evidence and coalitions of expertise to design longterm strategic work capable of having impact in this complex area of social policy. 35