Children’s Rights Report 2017

Child-Friendly Report

Every year, the National Children's Commissioner provides a child-friendly version of the Children's Rights Report. The child-friendly report is a short, easy-to-read summary of the contents of the National Children's Commissioner's report to Parliament.

• What does the Children's Rights Report 2017 Say? (Child-Friendly Report)

Submissions

The National Children's Commissioner received submissions about young parents and their children.

• Read the submissions on young parents and their children

Summary

• Read the executive summary of the 2017 report.

Overview

This is the fifth Children's Rights Report, which focuses on the rights and needs of young parents and their children. Recent modelling has shown that life outcomes are particularly poor for this small but highly vulnerable group. They may struggle to complete their education, find stable housing, or get a job. Without access to adequate health services, the wellbeing of these families may be compromised. Young parents may need help to learn about parenting and may be unable to afford or access early childhood services. Some are at risk of having their children removed and taken into care.

For the purpose of this report, many young people shared the struggles, stigma and barriers they faced. Despite this, overwhelmingly they were motivated to be great parents, to provide the best care for their children, to get an education and to do well in life. Hopefully, the findings of this report will help to identify the support services these young families need at different points in time.

Following on from work in previous years, this report also advocates for a national focus on suicide and self-harm among children and young people, and for improved responses to the needs of children affected by family and domestic violence. It also continues to seek improvements in the oversight and treatment of children in custodial detention.

Support services

Whether you are younger or older, if you are feeling distressed, are worried about someone, or would like someone to talk to, please contact:

• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelp.com.au

• Headspace on 1800 650 890 or www.headspace.org.au

• Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org

• 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or www.1800respect.org.au

• MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or www.mensline.org.au

• Police and ambulance services on 000