New National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People appointed

Professor Sue-Anne Hunter has been appointed as the new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.

Ms Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, will commence in the role later this year, replacing Lil Gordon, who has served as Acting Commissioner since January.

The appointment follows the release of new Productivity Commission data showing that national targets to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care and youth detention are not on track.

According to the data, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain more than ten times more likely to be in out-of-home care and 27 times more likely to be in youth detention compared to non-Indigenous children. Target 12 of the national Closing the Gap agreement, which focuses on reducing the over-representation of Indigenous children in out-of-home care, is worsening.

Nationally, only four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are currently on track to be met by 2031.

Ms Hunter has more than 20 years’ experience in child and family services, having worked in frontline roles and senior positions at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children. She also served as deputy chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

The Commissioner’s role will involve hearing directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and advocating for their rights and wellbeing at the national level.

The appointment supports the implementation of Safe and Supported, the national framework for protecting children, which is being delivered in partnership with states, territories and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the role was created to ensure the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are central to decision-making. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy noted that addressing the number of First Nations children in out-of-home care and youth detention requires coordinated action across all levels of government.

The Commissioner will work with government agencies, service providers and communities to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

This article is based on reporting from ABC News.