Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-03T09:11:10.752Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Children as decision makers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

David Vicary
Affiliation:
Office for Children and Youth, Curtin University of Technology, Centre for Vulnerable Children and Families, University of Western Australia
Judy Tennant
Affiliation:
Office for Children and Youth West Perth. WA6005. Email: Judy.Tennant@dcd.wa.gov.au
Jade Santa Maria
Affiliation:
Office for Children and Youth West Perth. WA6005. Email: Judy.Tennant@dcd.wa.gov.au
Sarah Wadley
Affiliation:
Office for Children and Youth West Perth. WA6005. Email: Judy.Tennant@dcd.wa.gov.au

Abstract

Involving children and young people in planning, decision making and the evaluation of services and programs inevitably raises the eyebrows of adults working in the areas of service delivery, program development and policy formulation. Some adults may question young people’s ability to see the ‘big picture’ and to make decisions, and even their right to be engaged in the first place. In challenging these ideas, the Western Australian Office for Children and Youth established a Children’s Advisory Group (CAG) in 2004 – the first of its kind to be created within the Western Australia Government, and one of the first such groups to be set up in Australia.

The current Children’s Advisory Group (CAG) is a diverse group often primary school children aged 9-12 years from the Perth metropolitan area. They are actively involved in all aspects of the Office’s operation. The CAG has been evaluated throughout its inaugural year of operation, both in terms of process and impact, and has been found to have a significant impact upon government policy and practice. This paper will outline the process for the establishment and implementation of a CAG and the evaluation of a CAG on government policy. It will highlight evaluation findings and discuss future directions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Carson, L. (2004) Consult your community: A guide to running a youth jury, Sydney: NSW Premier’s Department.Google Scholar
Citizens and Civics Unit (2002) Consulting citizens: A resource guide, Perth: Department of the Premier and Cabinet.Google Scholar
Citizens and Civics Unit (2003) Consulting citizens: Planning for success, Perth: Department of the Premier and Cabinet.Google Scholar
Hart, R. (1997) Children’s participation: The theory and practice of involving young citizens in community development and environmental care, London: Earthscan.Google Scholar
Hart, R. (1998) ‘The developing capacities of children to participate’, in Johnson, V., Ivan-Smith, E., Gordon, G., Pridmore, P. & Scott, P. (eds.), Stepping Forward, London: Intermediate Technology Publications, pp. 2730.Google Scholar
Hatfield, G. (2005) Personal communication, 3 June, Perth: Save the Children Australia.Google Scholar
Kirby, P., Lanyon, C., Cronin, K. & Sinclair, R. (2003) Building a culture of participation. Research Report: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation, London: National Children’s Bureau and PK Research Consultancy.Google Scholar
Miller, J. (1997) Never too young: How young children can take responsibility and make decisions, London: Save the Children and The National Early Years Network.Google Scholar
Save the Children Australia (2004) Annual Report, Melbourne: Save the Children.Google Scholar
UNICEF (2002) The State of the World’s Children 2003, NY: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).Google Scholar
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) Available at www.unicef.org/crc/convention.htm.Google Scholar