Policy D12: Children and Young People

Issued: June 2008

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

1. children and young people should have access to resources and opportunities necessary for a full and healthy life.
2. children and young people must have greater opportunities to participate in decision making affecting their lives.
3. children and young people have a right to access appropriate services, regardless of their location.
4. children and young people have a right to a loving and nurturing environment which is free of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination.

 Goals

The Australian Greens want:

5. funding programs, service delivery and decisions regarding child protection to be consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
6. children and young people to be able to express their needs and aspirations at all levels of government, as well as in their own communities.
7. a system of regionally based, appropriately resourced and independent youth advisory committees.
8. greater coordination in youth policy formulation.
9. a decent and secure income for young people to enable full participation in education and employment opportunities.
10. improved education and secure, satisfying, employment opportunities for young people, including in remote, rural and regional areas.
11. affordable, accessible and secure housing options for young people.
12. a reduction in the high rates of suicide, mental illness and obesity in children and young people.
13. properly funded services that meet the needs of children in need of care and protection

Measures

The Australian Greens will:

14. support the right of people from the age of 16 years to vote.
15. re-establish a dedicated ministry for children and youth affairs.
16. re-establish a national youth affairs peak body with elected and representative members.
17. increase Youth Allowance to the level of a living wage to enable young people to study full time without recourse to casual work.
18. implement a national employment strategy for young people, with excellent labour market and training programs.
19. develop new, and improve existing, education and preventive health programs for children and young people.
20. adequately fund strategies to deal with youth suicide and mental health issues affecting young people.
21. ban the advertising of junk food during children's viewing hours.
22. conduct community awareness campaigns about the prevalence, prevention and reporting of abuse against children and young people.
23. support and fund high quality services for child survivors of abuse and neglect.