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Through their participation, children and young people can make an important contribution to helping organisations become more child-safe and child-friendly.

Participation for kids means they are involved in making decisions about policies, programs and services. This helps kids to learn more about how organisations work and what to do if a situation arises that makes them uncomfortable.

Participation helps to:

  • build children and young people’s self esteem and confidence
  • encourage them to respect the views of others (peers and adults)
  • strengthen their relationships within the organisation

Organisations can become child-safe and child-friendly by providing services and activities where kids:

  • have a say in planning activities and decisions that affect them
  • are listened to
  • have their views respected and valued
  • have their ideas taken seriously

Children and young people’s participation could include:

  • getting their ideas on your organisation’s code of conduct, policy and program activities
  • involving a young person when decisions are made that will affect them eg. staff selection and canteen advisory committees
  • providing leadership training and roles for kids
  • consulting with kids about issues that affect them

For more information on how to include children and young people, follow the link to the Commission’s TAKING PARTicipation seriously kit.

 
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