Hearing the Voices of Children
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Hearing the Voices of Children
Why Implement
Voice of the Child initiatives?
• DSS objective
• creating strong child-friendly communities
• International Rights of the Child
• Australian Human Rights Commission
• children have a right to be heard
• It is the right thing to do
Mapping and Gap Analysis - 2015
• 90 children consulted in community groups and
schools
• Across 4 different geographical areas:
o Bullsbrook - rural
o Ellenbrook – new, masterplan development
o Altone – mixed established, multi-cultural area
o Midland - old, working class with highest number of Aboriginal children in
Perth metro
Child Friendly Community - Voice of the Child
What’s GREAT about What do you want your What would be good things
living in your community to look like? for children and families to
community? do together in your
community?
Recreational facilities Safe, happy & healthy place Free Activities:
Safe places without crime Play in the park
playgrounds, skate parks, BBQ and picnics
Friendly neighbours, police and
water parks and nature swimming
teachers
play areas including bush fishing and camping
Safe, caring community who help one
walking Bike rides
another
What are things that Fun places to hang out with friends and Play/go to sports together
family Family social events
WORRY or concern Work together in the community
Free sports & recreational activities for
you in your all children Go out together on the weekend
community? A job for everyone Help others who are in need
Church
Crime & Safety Clean, tidy open spaces Organize community talent shows
drunk people, fighting, No litter, no graffiti Play on the computer
breaking into cars & Water fountains, BBQs
houses, thieves, hooning, Paid Activities:
Nature & open spaces
tv & internet violence, Adventure World, Maze, Outback
More recreation facilities & playgrounds
smoking, car accidents & Splash, bowling, museum, zoo,
Good transport
racing & crossing road, holidays
Free Wi-Fi
swearing, getting lost
Who and where... We consulted with 168 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people at: •5 local primary schools •Moorditj Noongar Community College •Midland Aboriginal Hip Hop Program •Binar Sports Midland PCYC
How we began the
process
1. We began by yarning
with local parents.
2. We needed to ask for
their support and seek
advice about the
consultation process.
3. They helped us come up
with wording for the
questions, to make them
more locally relevant.
We needed to carefully consider... 1.We had to ensure that we had strong relationships with the schools we were engaging, and our key contacts were Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEO’s) 2.We went out to the schools on days and times that suited them 3.We brought incentives
How we did it... 1. We used proven technology Qwizdom. 2. It overcomes literacy and numeracy barriers. 3. Responses are confidential. 4. Kids love it!
We needed to be aware of… 1.We did not want the children involved to feel singled out. 2.We wanted to make it a fun and inclusive process for the participants. 3.We wanted to use the experience to further build our connections with local schools.
IN OUR CONSULTATION
WHAT THE
CHILDREN SAID
• Proud to be Aboriginal
“staying with our family”
• Care deeply about families – identity and - 8 year old girl from Midland
belonging
“Come and deadly yarn”
- 11 year old girl from Lockridge
• Support each other
“Come and yarn boss”
• Want the Commissioner to come and - 13 year old girl from Beechboro
yarn – want to have a voice
learn to the best of your ability”
- 13 year old boy from Lockridge
• Want help to stop bullying
“Being with my crew and knowing my area”
- 12 year old girl from Midvale
• Proud to go to school regularly
• Very sporty and love sportWhat did we discover?
• Family, friends and
community are very
important
• Aboriginal children have solid
aspirations
• Aboriginal children want to be
heard What did the Commissioner
Discover?
• Family, and community
• Culture
• Education and aspirations for future
• Recreational activities
• Racism and reconciliationWHAT WE HAVE LEARNED…
1. Always have fun.
2. We needed to let the children know
that they had a choice about their
participation.
3. We needed to really listen and take
notice of what the children were saying.
4. The children were very upfront and
honest and they expected that of us.
5. The children wanted feedback (and that
included their families and community).Community Partner Activities
Giant sculpture at local pool - whole of
community project NAIDOC Week
Art is used to engage children, including
children with disabilities. Children regularly
present their work at exhibitions and have the
opportunity to sell their pieces.Children’ Safety Activity – Photo voice
Collaborative Partnership Paint the Swan REaD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgfL6WPn6ko
Co-presentation at conferences
How have you changed since you started
Hip Hop?
Twitter feeds -
More confident, better at school,
WACOSS
feeling fit and healthy, something to do
rather than sit around, get on better
with family, get on better with other
children, made friends, not so angry.
Tell us about your Leadership roles
G – became a school prefect last year,
leader in Hip Hop Group, gave feedback
to the Children’s Commissioner
C and N – selected to teach other
children Hip Hop at Cockburn.
What do you want to do in the future?
dance, further education, teacher,
singerDads Project 2017 § Dads and male role models § 167 children participated across Years 3-5 § 2 schools in very different locations § Implemented by teachers with work books and lesson plan matching the curriculum Main findings: üQuality time with parents is very important to children üMajority of children have strong connections with biological fathers üChildren enjoy connecting outdoors – parks, sport, fishing, camping üSocialising and hanging out together
Challenges Dad’s face
Best things about being a dad “My dad’s best things about being a dad is that even though he is mostly at work he still has our family time” (A) “Being proud of your kids. Going out with your family. Watching Football games with family” (K) “The best thing about being a dad is being able to watch his kids grow up, being trusted, being there for them and being there role model. They also like to play with the kids and be silly and being the provider” (Y)
How our reports are used:
1. Disseminated throughout our region
2. Community Partners and other organisations - basis
for writing tenders for funding (environmental scans)
3. City of Swan - strategic planning and Place Plans
4. CfC Committee -decisions about future Activities
5. Current CfC EOI (reserved for Emerging Need) - core
basis for Activity selection
Biggest Challenge:
Giving feedback to the children,
parents and communityQuestions?
ThankyouYou can also read
