New guide launched to strengthen children’s voice in decisions

A new guide gives adults that work with young children a rights-based framework for involving children and young people in decisions. 

The resource may help ECEC services strengthen governance, service design, feedback and complaints processes.

Guide sets expectations for participation

Tasmania’s Department for Education, Children and Young People launched its Participation and Empowerment Guide during Children’s Week.

Developed with the Youth Network of Tasmania, the guide sets out expectations for adults who work with children and young people.

It has been designed as a guide to offer meaningful opportunities for children and young people to participate in ways that they understand and that work best for them.

The framework also drew on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically focusing on children’s right to take part in decisions and have their views heard.

Six principles guide adult practice

The guide sets out six A*VOICE principles: 

• accountable; 
• valued and respected; 
• open communication; 
• inclusive; 
• child and youth rights; and 
• ethical and safe.

The department said the principles arose from statewide consultation with various stakeholders including children, young people and adults.

Practical advice included telling children what they could influence, explaining decisions and reporting back on what changed. The guide also called for age-appropriate language and action to remove barriers to participation.

For ECEC services, educators could use the principles to review how children are encouraged to provide feedback, raise concerns and contribute to decisions that affect their daily experiences. This may include reviewing child-friendly complaints processes and identifying opportunities for children to have a greater say in their learning environment.

The guide also covers informed consent, privacy and responding promptly to concerns.

Access the Participation and Empowerment guide here.