Children, youth and families

Mission Australia’s response to the NSW government’s ‘Their Future Matters’ access system redesign discussion paper. We welcome the opportunity to make a submission in relation to moving the system from crisis to early help: connecting children, young people and families to the right supports at the right time.

Our submission to the Federal Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs focused on the increase in domestic and family violence, especially in the context of COVID 19, highlighted housing and homelessness related issues that victim-survivors experience and the need for urgent action to holistically address family, domestic and sexual violence related issues.

Our submission highlighted the findings from a range of Mission Australia Youth Survey reports, experience from service delivery and experiences of young people to demonstrate the need for more holistic, wrap around supports for young people to smoothly transition from education to employment. It also focused on the need for young people to have a say in decision making processes, service design and implementation.

The submission to Child Development Council on the proposed outcomes framework for children and young people in South Australia. The submission highlighted some of the areas a future framework should focus on to obtain a clear picture of the needs of children and young people in South Australia.

Mission Australia’s submission to the Inquiry into the WA Children and Community Services Amendment Bill 2019 advocates for strengthening the requirements of the rights of children to be involved in decisions that affect their life; for more consideration to be given to requirements that will minimise their risk of further harm and maximise opportunities to improve their wellbeing; and to contribute towards improved outcomes for young people leaving care.