Introduction

5.1 The Inquiry heard repeated expressions of concern about the issues facing Australia’s children and about their ability to develop to a well-adjusted and successful maturity. These concerns focused on children as a substantial proportion of victims of crime, child abuse, high rates of youth unemployment, homelessness, mental illness and suicide. Many children facing these difficulties are drawn into contact with legal processes. All this, it was said, reflected a failure of government policy to provide a co-ordinated response to the needs of children and demanded effective advocacy of the interests of all children.

5.2 Submissions called for an integrated national policy for children, allowing co-ordinated policy development and service delivery for children and the provision of advocacy for children.[1]

[1] See paras 6.20, 7.22.