Commissioner for Children and Young People WA

11/06/2026

Protect play, protect childhood.
Today is International Day of Play, a reminder that play is essential to children’s health, wellbeing, learning and development.

Play Matters Collective and the Commissioner for Children and Young People are gathering input for consideration in the development of the WA Play Strategy.
The strategy, being developed by the Office of Early Childhood, aims to champion children’s rights to play and guide improvements to play opportunities across communities, services and government.
To help inform this work, the Commissioner, on behalf of Play Matters Collective, is distributing a statewide survey to capture how children and young people experience play in their daily lives.

There are separate surveys for:
🎈Early childhood and primary school children aged 3-12 years
🎈 High school students aged 13-18 years

If you’re a parent, carer, educator or school community member, we encourage you to help share the survey so children and young people’s voices are heard.
Links to both surveys are available in the comments.

10/06/2026

In case you missed it, Youth Disability Advocacy Network - YDAN's ‘Disabled. Deal With It.’ campaign is challenging the attitudes, assumptions and stigma that continue to create barriers for Disabled young people.

Led by, co-designed with and starring Disabled young people, the campaign carries a clear message: disability is not the problem. Perception is.

YDAN’s full suite of resources is now available, including the campaign video, community attitudes report and practical inclusion toolkits for the community and employers.

We encourage our networks to explore and share these important resources.

09/06/2026

A big thank you to Maggie Dent for helping us spread the word about our statewide survey on play 💚

As a trusted voice for parents, families and educators, Maggie has long championed the importance of play in children’s lives.

Ahead of International Day of Play this Thursday, we are encouraging families, schools, early learning centres and community organisations to share the survey with children and young people across Western Australia.

Their views will build a clearer picture of how, where and when children and young people play, including their opportunities for play at school and the responses will be considered in the development of the WA Play Strategy.

Please share the survey with the children and young people in your life.

Play Matters Collective and the Commissioner for Children and Young People are gathering input for consideration in the development of the WA Play Strategy.

08/06/2026

Children’s rights require action 💜
Articles 41–54 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child explain how governments and international bodies work to monitor and strengthen protections for children 🌱
Understanding children’s rights helps ensure they are respected in everyday decisions 🌏
Check the comments for the link to learn more 🌐

05/06/2026

Final call for nominations 📣

Nominations for the 2026 WA Youth Awards close on Monday.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Rising Voice Award recognises young people aged 10 to 17 years who are speaking up, supporting others, leading by example or creating positive change in their community.

Know an inspiring young person? Nominate them today via the link in the comments.

03/06/2026

Today is Mabo Day.

On 3 June, we honour the legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo and the Meriam people whose strength and determination led to the landmark 1992 High Court decision.

The Mabo decision rejected terra nullius, the false idea that Australia belonged to no one before colonisation, and recognised the traditional land rights of the Meriam people. It paved the way for native title in Australia.

Mabo Day marks the final day of National Reconciliation Week, but reconciliation is a commitment we must carry forward every day. We all have a role to play in listening, learning and taking meaningful action towards recognition, respect and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Graphic designed by Yarn: yarn.com.au/blogs/yarn-in-the-community/mabo-day

28/05/2026

Our latest Speaking Out Survey 2025 snapshot looks at young carers.

When asked, “Do you help take care of anyone at home?”, 7,140 students answered yes. Many said they cared for a sibling or parent, often helping with things like preparing meals, shopping, entertaining family members or providing emotional support.

Only 804 students said they considered themselves a young carer, while 2,275 were unsure.

This shows how important it is to recognise the caring roles some children and young people take on, and to make sure they have the support they need for their own wellbeing.

Read the snapshot through the link in comments.

27/05/2026

Children and young people have the right to play, and their views can help shape better play opportunities across Western Australia.
Play Matters Collective and the Commissioner for Children and Young People are gathering input to support the development of the WA Play Strategy.
As part of the consultation, we are inviting children and young people to share how they experience play in their daily lives.
There are two surveys available:
Early childhood and primary school children aged 3 to 12 years:
bit.ly/4vfymBj
High school students aged 13 to 18 years:
bit.ly/4uwAnJ5

Schools are encouraged to share the surveys so a broad range of voices from across WA can be heard.

27/05/2026

This National Reconciliation Week, we are All In.
The 2026 theme is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation, not just during this week, but every day.
Reconciliation is not a spectator sport. It asks each of us to step away from the sidelines, listen deeply, act with respect and help create change.
We remain committed to listening to Aboriginal children and young people, respecting their voices and working alongside families and communities towards systems that support their social, cultural, emotional and physical wellbeing.

LinkedIn
National Reconciliation Week 2026 reminds us that reconciliation requires all of us.
This year’s theme, All In, is a call to move beyond passive support and take meaningful action every day.
Reconciliation cannot rest only on the shoulders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have carried the work of advocating, educating and leading change for far too long.
We remain committed to listening to Aboriginal children and young people, respecting their voices and working alongside families and communities to support their social, cultural, emotional and physical wellbeing.

26/05/2026

Today is National Sorry Day.
We acknowledge the Stolen Generations, their families and communities, and recognise the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people across Western Australia.
This is a day for truth-telling, reflection and respect. It is also a reminder that the impacts of past policies continue to affect children, young people and families today.
We all have a responsibility to listen, learn and work towards a future where Aboriginal children and young people are safe, heard, strong, and connected to culture.