Thursday, March 19, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM

Adelaide Oval - Suite One

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Overview

Presented by: Shona Reid, Guardian for Children and Young People.

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Details

Independent oversight is a powerful catalyst for transforming the systems that shape the lives of children and young people. In the Guardian’s statutory roles as Guardian for Children and Young People and Training Centre Visitor, she provides independent, rights-based oversight across out-of-home care and youth detention. Delivered by her Principal Aboriginal Advocate and Youth Consultant, this presentation shares reflections from individual and systemic oversight of these settings, with a strong focus on the experiences and voices of Aboriginal children and young people. Advocacy is grounded in their rights, guided by international human rights instruments, domestic law, and best-practice child protection and youth justice standards. We will highlight how independent oversight can illuminate system failures, challenge harmful practices, and elevate solutions that are culturally grounded, community-led, and centred on the wellbeing and self-determination of Aboriginal children and young people. We will share examples of how oversight contributes to safer environments, strengthens cultural connection, and supports more therapeutic responses in both care and detention. Ultimately, systems transformation requires collective responsibility. Oversight alone cannot fix the shortcomings of child protection and youth justice systems, but it can shine a light, amplify young people’s voices, and drive accountability. Real change occurs when government, services, community, and oversight bodies work together with a shared commitment to safety, culture, and healing. This presentation aims to inspire collaborative action and reinforce that every one of us has a role to play in building systems that truly uphold the rights and futures of children and young people.