How one service takes children’s self-advocacy seriously 

What does it really mean to honour the voices of children in education and  care? We spoke with Education Leader Jessica Matthews and Executive  Director Rebecca Vouch from East Melbourne Childcare Co-op (EMCC) about their service’s Children’s Advisory Council (CAC) and what they’ve learned by listening to and acting on the will of the children.  

 

Educators who apply to work at EMCC get a hint that they do things differently during the  interview process.  

 

‘We usually ask three or four questions from the children,’ says Executive Director, Rebecca Vouch. ‘Things like “What will you play with us when you come?” and “What sort of person are  you? Are you kind? Are you loud? Are you quiet?” They ask really interesting questions and it’s funny to see people say “Oh, I’ve never had that before in an interview”.’ 

 

It’s just one small example of how EMCC’s two centres are shaped by the perspectives and feedback given by the Children’s Advisory Council (CAC). The group, which includes all 4- year-old kindergarten children who wish to participate, weigh in on everything from menus to community issues and even the care of younger children.  

 

It’s all part of EMCC’s larger philosophy on children’s rights, Education Leader, Jessica  Matthews explains.  

 

‘We view children as competent and capable citizens and EMCC values children’s voices and children’s agency in having a say in all matters that affect them.’

 

The council was first conceived in 2019, inspired in part by the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The team also drew from a number of other sources, like UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities Initiative and research from the University of  South Australia’s on engaging children as citizens.  

 

Most importantly, the direction, operation and influence of the CAC is guided by the children themselves.  

 

‘It’s not just empty words, they actually do affect change,’ Jessica says, noting that the CAC influenced the design of the infant room at EMCC’s Powlett Reserve centre.  

 

‘The children went around the room and they critiqued the setup, they critiqued the activities, they critiqued what they had out. And then the room leader used that feedback to modify her room to make it a space that children might be more comfortable in and feel like they have a sense of belonging.’ 

 

The CAC made Melbourne news this year when the children advocated for their right to climb trees at a nearby nature reserve. After an initial art and letter-writing campaign was unsuccessful, the children voted to give speeches using a microphone and to create larger posters.  

 

‘Our job was to arrange someone to come and hear them,’ Rebecca says. ‘Some of the children were reluctant and were shy but got up anyway and afterwards their stance and their faces showed they were so empowered.’ 

 

As a result of their advocacy, the city council clarified their position: they would not prevent children from exploring the park and climbing (albeit, at their own risk).  

 

After conducting risk assessments and devising safety rules (including having ‘three points of contact’ with trees at all time and listening to your body), the children hit the park for a triumphant climb.  

 

‘It really does have lifelong effects for them,’ Jessica says. ‘There’s a saying: “Children won’t remember what you said to them, but they’ll remember how it made them feel.” I think this is very similar. They may not remember the nitty gritty of what we were doing, but they’re going to remember that feeling of overcoming.’

 

But the power of the CAC is bigger than any one project.  

 

‘It impacts their learning. It impacts their development. It impacts the little people that they’re becoming,’ Jessica says. ‘They have ideas and they want to be heard and they know they have the right to have a say.’ 

 

Five tips on facilitating a Children’s Advisory Council  

 

Want to start a CAC at your service? The EMCC team have some advice.  

 

• Seek ongoing consent from children, as well as families 

 

Each year, EMCC children sign a formal agreement to be part of the CAC and their parents also give consent. They also get to decide which policies and issues they wish to consult on, and where and how their feedback on wider community issues is shared.  ‘They’re constantly consulted,’ Rebecca says.  

 

• Facilitate, don’t dictate  

 

When it came to the tree climbing campaign, Jessica says the children decided how to deliver their arguments as well as what the next steps would be after they were initially knocked back. ‘It’s completely driven by them. Yes, we’re facilitating it, but the steps and the actions are all them. They’re leading the way.’ 

 

• Expect the unexpected 

 

‘With children, you have to have a degree of flexibility,’ Rebecca says. ‘Be open to the fact that it might not look the way you want it to look, but that’s actually where the best work happens.’  

 

• Make it relevant and authentic 

 

Jessica says they followed children’s lead when it came to the format of the CAC.  ‘Going into it, I thought it would be a very structured. That we would meet on this day  and at this time, it didn’t take long for us to realise that that didn’t work,’ she says. ‘It needs to be authentically linked to things that are happening or events that are current in these children’s lives or current within the service or current within our community.’  Rebecca adds that they also respect when the children have other priorities. ‘Sometimes  it’s pretty much “Buzz off, we’re busy. We’re not answering your questions at the moment.”

 

• Be prepared to have your mind changed  

 

‘The children do have really good input,’ Rebecca says. ‘Sometimes they shock us. We go “Oh, we hadn’t thought of that.” The perspective that they give us is really quite rich.’ 

 

Taylor O’Connell is a writer and journalist covering early childhood education and care across Australia. She is the Communications Officer and Content Writer at Community Child Care Association, where she contributes sector-focused content that informs, connects and elevates the work of educators, providers and advocates nationally.

 

This article originally appeared in Roundtable, Community Child Care Association’s member magazine. Find out more about membership on their website.