Major Initiatives

The Commissioner for Children and Young People in Tasmania undertakes independent, external monitoring of out-of-home care in Tasmania. This monitoring focuses on systemic issues in institutional and administrative practices – it is distinct from complaint handling and individual advocacy. Independent, external monitoring of OOHC at a systemic level is an important oversight function.

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The role of the Commissioner for Children and Young People is to advocate for all children and young people across Tasmania, including promoting, monitoring and reviewing the wellbeing of Tasmania’s children and young people generally.

Access to information on how Tasmania’s children and young people are faring at a population level can assist us better plan and deliver policy and programmatic responses aimed at promoting their health and wellbeing.

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In late 2020 the Tasmanian government asked Commissioner McLean to talk with Tasmanian children and young people aged up to 17 years, to find out what wellbeing means to them. She was asked to do this to help the Tasmanian government develop Tasmania’s first Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy.

Commissioner McLean also spoke with parents and others who care for Tasmanian children.

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A key function of the Commissioner is to ensure children and young people’s opinions and views are sought, heard, and taken into account in decision-making processes that affect them.

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The CCYP Ambassador Program is an opportunity for children and young people to have their voices heard on how things could be improved for children and young people in Tasmania.

Ambassadors will help the Commissioner understand what is important for children and young people and will be provided with opportunities to come together to discuss key issues and influence decision-makers.

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We are experiencing unprecedented times in Tasmania, Australia and around the world, as the
COVID-19 pandemic affects our daily lives. Many young Tasmanians are experiencing special difficulties during this time.

I remain firmly committed to monitoring and advocating for the rights and wellbeing of all children and young people in Tasmania during the pandemic and beyond. To guide myself and my team’s monitoring and advocacy work throughout this period, I have developed a COVID-19 framework which, at a high level, outlines the focus and scope of my work during the response phase of the pandemic in Tasmania.

The Commissioner’s monitoring and advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic – COVID Monitoring Insight Papers
The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, is monitoring the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people in Tasmania – and advocating for their wellbeing to be central to response and recovery strategies. The Commissioner has released a series of snapshots on selected topics arising from the Commissioner’s monitoring activities, especially during April – June 2020. While evidence of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people is still emerging, these briefs are intended to provide insights into the Tasmanian experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to outline some key learnings for policy and practice across agencies and other organisations delivering services contributing to the wellbeing of Tasmanian children and young people.

The currently available Monitoring Insights are:

New ways of working during the COVID-19 pandemic

Children and young people in out of home care during the COVD-19 pandemic

Mental health and psychological recovery

Family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic