Review of the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014

In 2023, the Department completed the statutory review of the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014. A copy of the final report can be found here (PDF, 499.2 KB).

About the Act

The Act establishes the statutory office of the Advocate for Children and Young People and a Youth Advisory Council to represent the needs and interests of children and young people in NSW. The main responsibilities of the Advocate are:

• Stand up for and promote the safety, welfare and well-being of children and young people
• Make sure children and young people are involved in decisions that affect their lives
• Conduct special inquiries into issues affecting children and young people
• Make recommendations to government and non-government agencies on issues affecting children and young people
• Research issues affecting children and young people
• Make sure children and young people are getting important information and advice; and 
• To prepare a three-year strategic plan for children and young people in NSW.

Community Consultation

A discussion paper (PDF, 443.0 KB) was publicly released in November 2020 and sent directly to key government and non-government stakeholders, inviting written submissions to the review and/or responses to survey questions. Consultation sessions were held with children and young people via email and video, including previous and current members of the YAC, high schools across NSW, and the Upper Hunter Youth Council.

The following seven written submissions were received:

1. Create Foundation (PDF, 546.4 KB)
2. NSW Department of Education (PDF, 20.4 KB)
3. Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research (PDF, 1.1 MB)
4. Office of the Children’s Guardian NSW (PDF, 270.8 KB)
5. Adopt Change (PDF, 146.7 KB)
6. Children in Care Collective (PDF, 172.7 KB)
7. NSW Ministry of Health (PDF, 173.4 KB)