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Commissioner for Children and Young People, Gillian Calvert today handed over her job to nine-year-old Ruby Smith from Scone for the day to celebrate International Children’s Day.

Ruby’s day started by arriving at the Commission office and meeting with the staff for a morning briefing. This included finalising the next edition of the Commission’s e-magazine Feedback Mag.

Bruce and Colette discuss Feedback Mag with Ruby.

Ruby then went through her in-tray and reviewed new designs for business cards, authorised bills that needed to be signed. Research staff then briefed Ruby on Mobile Me which looks at how having a mobile phone helps or hinders kids relationships with family and friends.

Ruby speaks with Penny about Mobile Me.

Then it was time to go to Parliament House with Gillian where she had a meeting with her local member, The Hon. George Souris MP, Member for Upper Hunter.

Ruby meets with her local member, The Hon. George Souris MP, Member for Upper Hunter.

Ruby’s next meeting was with John Della Bosca, Minister for Health and Graham West, Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Volunteering and Minister for Youth. There was a media photo shoot with a photographer and lots and lots of picture were taken!

Ruby meets with The Hon. John Della Bosca, Minister for Health and 
The Hon. Graham West MP, Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Volunteering and Minister for Youth.

Afterwards, Ruby and Gillian went to Governor Macquarie Tower. Before her next meeting, Ruby visited the 41st floor where she could see out across the city to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.

The next meeting of the day was with staff at the Department of Premier and Cabinet about kids and their place in the State Plan. The Director said she would pass on Ruby’s ideas to the Premier, Nathan Rees.

Ruby at her meeting with Susan Calvert at the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Afterwards, it was time to head back to Parliament House for Question Time where the Speaker, Richard Torbay acknowledged Ruby as the Children’s Commissioner for a day. And all the members of Parliament said “Hear, Hear” which is like clapping with words rather than hands.

Already it was getting close to the end of the day, so Ruby and Gillian went back to the office so that Ruby could record the Commission’s new on-hold phone message and sign letters thanking all the people she had met through the day.

Ruby said, “The best part of the day was going to the top floor of Governor Macquarie Tower, meeting all the politicians and going to Question Time at Parliament House. I also liked meeting with the staff and getting to sign things.”

Gillian thanked Ruby for her hard work and great job as Commissioner before saying goodbye for the day. “Ruby has some great ideas about ways in which we can make the lives of kids in NSW better. I congratulate Ruby on her hard work today and her fantastic job as the Children’s Commissioner,” said Gillian.

Ruby and Gillian at the Commission.

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