Children at risk in the education system
Introduction10.21 For the majority of children, school builds on and complements the emotional and financial resources that their families provide for their development. However, for a number of students family support is inadequate. Other children may require particular support as a result of behavioural or learning difficulties. These children are often at risk of dropping …
Publications
Read moreTruancy
Introduction10.49 There is no uniform, aggregated data on the extent of school truancy.[84] Evidence received from young people during focus groups suggests that some students are absent from school more often than they attend.[85] Reasons for truancy include boredom at school, embarrassment and frustration at poor performance, fear of bullying or harassment,[86] drug dependency,[87] family …
Publications
Read moreCo-ordination models
Introduction6.2 Many bodies, including the DEETYA Youth Bureau, various taskforces and campaigns and State and Territory bodies seek to co-ordinate policies and programs for children and young people. None achieves this goal comprehensively. Certain of these important existing agencies are considered here.DEETYA Youth Bureau6.3 The Youth Bureau within DEETYA undertakes policy monitoring, research and program …
Publications
Read moreWhy do policies and programs for children need co-ordination?
Introduction5.3 Government responsibility for children is split between Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, among different departments according to ‘portfolios’ and among a myriad of government agencies at different levels of government.[2] There are over 230 pieces of federal, State and Territory legislation which deal with issues relevant to children.[3]5.4 This division may enable laws and …
Publications
Read moreLooking to the future: a national approach
Introduction5.32 No Australian government has a particularly good record in ensuring that policies and services for children are properly co-ordinated, that waste is reduced or that service delivery is effectively targeted.The Commonwealth will never achieve much for children while its policies and programs for children and their carers are scattered across every conceivable portfolio area …
Publications
Read moreCurrent federal policies and undertakings regarding children
Introduction3.36 Federal, State and Territory governments allocate significant resources to children’s issues in accordance with their various jurisdictional responsibilities. The Commonwealth provides significant levels of funding for services, programs and initiatives for children and their families, and develops and implements policy on a national level.[71] It not only supports programs that are within the federal …
Publications
Read moreModel provisions reflecting best practice?
While pursuing model family violence laws is beyond the scope of this Inquiry, the Commissions consider that there are a number of discrete areas of family violence laws that ought to be the subject of best practice approaches across the jurisdictions.Guiding principles and a human rights frameworkPrinciplesThere is some precedent in family violence legislation—and criminal …
Publications
Read moreChild welfare laws and practices (ACT)
The Child Welfare report reviews the child welfare laws and practices in the Australian Capital Territory.The ALRC observed that the Children’s Court and police service lacked a clear policy and practical guidelines on how to manage cases involving young offenders.In addition, the welfare system was found to be inadequately equipped to deal with neglected, abused and uncontrollable …
Inquiries
Read moreTerms of Reference
I, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Attorney-General of Australia, having regard to the Government’s commitment to strengthen and harmonise sexual assault and consent laws, refer to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) for inquiry and report, pursuant to subsection 20(1) of the Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996 (Cth), an inquiry into justice responses …
Inquiries
Read morePublic Engagement
Public engagement with the ALRC Corporate Criminal Responsibility Inquiry.
Inquiries
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