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Meeting Together-Deciding Together focuses on kids' participation in meetings. It provides practical ideas and tools that adults can use to help children and young people participate in meetings where decisions are made about their lives.

A number of organisations and individuals assisted the Commission with the development of the resource, including the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian, the NSW Department of Community Services, the CREATE Foundation and Dr Nigel Thomas, from the University of Swansea.

Children and young people were actively involved in developing this resource, and we are grateful for their advice and expertise.

• Steps involved in effective participation
• Before a meeting: preparing for participation
• At the meeting: supporting participation
• After the meeting: preparing for future participation

Steps involved in effective participation

Helping a child or young person to participate effectively in a meeting involves:

• preparation before a meeting
• support during a meeting
• support after a meeting
• continued support between meetings.

It includes preparation, explanation, consultation, discussion and negotiation.

Before a meeting: preparing for participation

Talk with the child or young person about:

• why the meeting is being held
• who will be at the meeting
• where would they like the meeting to be held
• what will happen at the meeting, including how differing opinions will be heard
• what they would like to be discussed during the meeting
• how they would like to participate in the meeting
• whether they'd like a friend to come to the meeting for support (and whether they want anything kept private from their friend)
• how they'll get to the meeting
• any 'hard to understand' language or jargon that may be used and what it means.

It is a good idea to send the child or young person an invitation to the meeting, either by letter or email, to confirm the details that you discussed with them.

At the meeting: supporting participation

Make sure the child or young person:

• knows everyone's name, what they do and why they are there
• is given a pen and paper to take notes
• is given the opportunity to have their say
• is given the chance to ask questions
• understands what is being discussed and what it means for them
• is clear about the decisions that have been made.

  After the meeting: preparing for future participation

Make sure the child or young person:

• has an opportunity to talk about how they thought the meeting went
• is clear about what happens next and who will do what
• receives a copy of the minutes from the meeting (if minutes were taken).

Follow the links below to download or order a hardcopy.