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Committee on Children and Young People

The Committee on Children and Young People is a current joint statutory committee.

The Committee was first established on 17 August 2000. The Committee was reestablished in the 54th Parliament on 28 June 2007. The primary responsibility of the Committee on Children and Young People is to monitor and review the work of the Commission for Children and Young People and report its findings and recommendations to Parliament. In particular, the Committee is required to examine and report on annual and other reports of the Commission for Children and Young People. However, the Committee has a broader responsibility to examine trends and changes in services and issues affecting children and young people, and to make recommendations as to the need for changes to the functions and procedures of the Commission for Children and Young People.

The terms of reference for the Committee are set out in Part 6 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, sections 27-30 and Schedule 1.

Extract from the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998:
s.28 (1) The Parliamentary Joint Committee has the following functions under this Act:
(a) to monitor and review the exercise by the Commission of its functions;
(b) to report to both Houses of Parliament, with such comments as it thinks fit, on any matter appertaining to the Commission or connected with the exercise of its functions to which, in the opinion of the Joint Committee, the attention of Parliament should be directed;
(c) to examine each annual or other report of the Commission and report to both Houses of Parliament on any matter appearing in, or arising out of, any such report;
(d) to examine trends and changes in services and issues affecting children, and report to both Houses of Parliament any changes that the Joint Committee thinks desirable to the functions and procedures of the Commission;
(e) to inquire into any question in connection with the Committee's functions which is referred to it by both Houses of Parliament, and report to both Houses on that question.

It is important to note that the Committee on Children and Young People cannot investigate a matter relating to particular conduct (s.28 (2)).

The position of Commissioner for Children and Young People is currently vacant.
The Commission is located at:
Level 2, 407 Elizabeth Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010.
Telephone: (02) 9286 7276
Fax: (02) 9286 7267
www.kids.nsw.gov.au

Inquiries

During the current parliament, the following inquiries have been undertaken by the committee:

ReferredInquiry Name
 Review of Child Death Review Team Reports: 2007 Annual Report & Trends in Child Deaths in New South Wales 1996-2005 (Completed)
 Review of 2007-2008 Annual Report of Commission for Children and Young People (Completed)
 Children and Young People 9-14 Years in NSW (Report Tabled)
 Children, Young People and the Built Environment - Follow-up Inquiry (Commenced)
 Review of 2006-2007 Annual Report of Commission for Children and Young People and 2006 Annual Report of Child Death Review Team (Completed)
10/10/2007 Review of the 2005/06 Annual Report of the Commission for Children and Young People (Completed)

Records of 15 earlier inquiries conducted by the committee are also available online.

Submissions Invited

The committee is not actively receiving submissions at present. Past submissions may be available under the relevant inquiry.

Reports and Government Responses

During the current parliament, the committee has or plans to table the following reports:
Report DateName of Report
03/09/2009Children and Young People 9-14 Years in NSW
12/05/2009Review of Child Death Review Team Reports: 2007 Annual Report and Trends in Child Deaths in New South Wales 1996-2005
12/05/2009Review of the 2007-2008 Annual Report of the Commission for Children and Young People
19/06/2008Review of the 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Commission for Children and Young People
08/11/2007Review of the 2005-2006 Annual Report of the Commission for Children and Young People
(there are also 34 reports from past Parliaments).

Members

Contact

Role Name Phone Fax Email
Main Contact Mr Mel Keenan (02) 9230 3060 (02) 9230 3052 childc@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Committee Manager Mr Mel Keenan (02) 9230 3060
Senior Committee Officer Ms Jo Alley (02) 9230 2363
Research Officer Mrs Cheryl Samuels (02) 9230 2096
Committee Officer Ms Jacqui Isles (02) 9230 3011
Assistant Committee Officer Mr John Miller (02) 9230 2354

Postal Address

Committee on Children and Young People
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Terms of Reference Establishing Committee

Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly, 21 June 2007, 1st Session, V&P 14, Item 13 (6), p.167. Resolution passed by the Legislative Council 27 June 2007, V&P 17, Item 1 (4) p.194

Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly, 21 May 2007
6) Committee on Children and Young People
That:

      (1) In accordance with section 29 (1) (b) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, the following members of the Legislative Assembly be appointed to serve on the Committee on Children and Young People: Ms Andrews, Mr Cansdell, Dr McDonald and Ms Tebbutt.
      (2) The committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New South Wales and other states and territories of Australia.
      (3) A message be sent acquainting the Legislative Council of the resolution and requesting the Legislative Council to appoint three of its members to serve on the committee.

Resolution passed by the Legislative Council 27 June 2007
Mr SPEAKER
The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution:

1. That under section 27 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, a joint committee known as the Committee on Children and Young People be appointed.

2. That under section 29 (1) (a) of the Act, Ms Griffin, Ms Cusack and Revd Mr Nile be appointed to serve on the committee as members of the Legislative Council.

Legislative Council Peter Primrose
27 June 2007 (am) President