The Role of the Commissioner

The role of Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People is established under the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016

The Commissioner is empowered to undertake a range of functions related to Aboriginal children and young people and is the only independent body created solely to promote the rights, development and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people within South Australia, at a systemic level. This includes developing culturally safe and informed strategies and promoting Aboriginal voice with regard for the safety and wellbeing of all Aboriginal children and young people.

With complementary functions, the Commissioner works alongside other independent bodies such as the:

These independent bodies are enshrined in the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016 and have individual obligations to fulfil and perform functions that contribute to improving outcomes for children and young people in South Australia, inclusive of Aboriginal children and young people. This legislation was introduced as a direct outcome of the Royal Commission into South Australia’s child protection systems.

The Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People is guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; the principle accord which lays out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the central instrument that defines the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples to their own distinct cultures and to pursue their development according to their own needs and aspirations.

The Commissioner promotes and advocates for the rights, interests and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people in South Australia in the realm of their indigeneity, and ensures that, as a part of the global community, South Australia enacts its obligations to these key covenants.