Young Australians have spoken and the consensus is clear; a huge majority want a greater say in the decisions that affect their lives, according to new research that has sparked a bold campaign urging for the creation of a dedicated Federal Minister for Children.
The launch of the national Children’s Week campaign Give kids a voice in Canberra is co-designed by children and will be presented to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The voices of 1,000 children and young people have been captured in new national research revealing that 98% believe it is important for children to have a voice in decisions that affect them, but only a third of them (34%) feel like adults listen to what they think.
The national survey also asked children and young people what they would want Australia’s Federal Minister for Children to work on first, with education, child safety and bullying prevention topping the list of priorities.
Australian children face challenges across almost every area of public policy, from health and education to family safety and the online environment.
These issues are often handled separately, despite impacting the same children and families.
In 2024, only half (53%) of children were developmentally on track across all five domains measured by the Australian Early Development Census1.
Children are also navigating growing risks both online and at home. In fact, new eSafety Commissioner research finds over half (53%) of Australian children aged 10-17 have experienced cyberbullying2, while close to two-thirds (60%) have seen or heard online hate3.
In addition, around 179,000 children came into contact with the child protection system in 2023-24, with emotional abuse, including exposure to family and domestic violence, the most common primary type of substantiated maltreatment4.
The feedback from Australia’s young people has prompted child protection organisation, Act for Kids, to launch a national campaign and petition calling for the creation of a dedicated Federal Minister for Children, with six in 10 (60%) young people supporting the establishment of the position.
Act for Kids CEO Dr Katrina Lines says there is an obvious need for children to be represented in Cabinet, given they make up one of the largest population groups in Australia.
“Australian children are telling us they have something to say and they want a dedicated advocate in government to ensure their voices are heard on issues and causes that matter to them,” Dr Lines said.
“It’s great that we have a Federal Minister for Seniors, Women and even Fisheries, but our survey highlights that children don’t have representation on national issues that directly affect them, including domestic and family violence, child protection and online safety.
“Countries such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom have dedicated ministers, but the Australian Government’s support for children is spread throughout different portfolios, creating the risk of gaps, duplication and inconsistent support.”
Theodore Le, 12, who helped develop the campaign, agrees that child safety should be the highest priority.
“The Minister should strengthen national child protection measures, improve early intervention and ensure that vulnerable children and families have access to appropriate support services,” Theodore says.
High school student Shraddha Makkar, 17, who also played a role in the development of the campaign, says she wants education to be a key focus.
“The first thing I would want the Minister to work on would be education, specifically education on social awareness, bullying and safety,” Shraddha says.
Leading child protection organisation, Act for Kids is calling for a Federal Minister for Children position to be created in the Cabinet to represent children’s voices, concerns and future aspirations.
The campaign aligns with the themes raised during Children’s Week; children having the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practice their religion – in summary, having the right to have their own voice.
Sign the petition here.
About the Research
The research by Act for Kids was carried out on a national representative sample of 1,000 Australians aged 10-18 in July 2026.
Methodology: The data sample was weighted against ABS data for age, gender and location using an online survey that is
independently conducted and verified by PureProfile.
-ENDS-
Act for Kids media contact:
Melanie Whiting
0427 794 666
Melanie.whiting@actforkids.com.au