National Child Safety Youth Summit

National Child Safety Youth Summit 2024

We hosted the National Child Safety Youth Summit 2024 on 24 and 25 June at the National Museum of Australia.

The Youth Summit brought together about 60 young people (18-30 years) with lived experience of child sexual abuse, as well as advocates and other invited attendees from across Australia to engage with us on topics, issues and measures under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 (National Strategy).

Young people are a priority group under the National Strategy, and the Youth Summit established a safe, effective and meaningful space for young people to collaborate and share their ideas and approaches to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse.

Importantly, their feedback will help inform the development of the National Strategy's Second Action Plan to ensure that the projects and key activities represent the interests and lived experiences of young people. Attendees also shared how government can better engage with young people.

The Youth Summit was also an opportunity to offer attendees a platform to build their advocacy networks with other young people and advocates from across the country.

Attendees heard keynote addresses from Anne Hollands, the National Children's Commissioner, and Grace Tame, survivor of child sexual abuse, writer, and advocate and 2021 Australian of the Year. Attendees engaged in a meaningful Q&A session with both keynote speakers, which was thought provoking and inspired a real sense of agency.

The Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, and the Minister for Youth, the Hon Anne Aly MP, addressed the Youth Summit on the second day, emphasising the Australian Government's commitment to ensuring the safety of children and young people.

At the Youth Summit, young people shared why it is important for young people to share their views and voices with government, and how can individuals and communities play a role in preventing child sexual abuse.