Sue-Anne Hunter is the inaugural National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. Photo: Sue-Anne Hunter Instagram.
Australia is set to have its first National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, with the appointment of Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter.
Her appointment comes as the Productivity Commission data shows the Closing the Gap target to reduce the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care is not on track and is actually getting worse.
A Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, Ms Hunter brings more than 20 years of experience in the family services sector to the role.
This includes senior roles at SNAICC – National Voice of Our Children, as well as with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and as a frontline social worker.
She was a Commissioner and Deputy Chair of the Yoorook Justice Commission.
Ms Hunter will shortly replace Lil Gordon, who has performed the role of Acting Commissioner since January this year.
The Federal Government says the appointment of a Commissioner is delivering on a Labor election promise.
The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said Ms Hunter would be a fierce advocate in the role for First Nations young people.
“The number of First Nations children in out-of-home care and youth detention is deeply distressing and will take a collective effort to turn the figures around,” the Minister said.
“Under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, all governments have committed to reducing these rates, and states and territories must redouble their efforts.
“I commend SNAICC for their lengthy advocacy for the establishment of a Commissioner position to ensure First Nations children’s rights are respected and protected.
“I also thank Lil Gordon for her work as Acting Commissioner.”
The appointment was announced over the Garma Festival weekend in Arnhem Land, with the Productivity Commission update a focus of discussion.
The report found just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets were on track to be met by 2031.
Those targets are preschool program enrolments, employment, and land mass and sea country subject to legal rights and interests.
Outcomes are continuing to worsen in four targets: adult imprisonment, children in out-of-home care, suicide, and children developmentally on track.
Outcomes are improving, but targets are not on track to be met in life expectancy, healthy birthweights, year 12 or equivalent qualifications, tertiary qualifications, youth engagement, and appropriately sized housing.
The youth justice target is assessed as having no change, while the progress of four other targets could not be assessed (access to essential services, family violence, number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken, and digital inclusion).
Ms Hunter has been tasked as the new Commissioner with hearing from children and young people on the issues that directly affect them.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are more than 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care compared to non-Indigenous children and 27 times more likely to be in youth detention.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said more work needed to be done to ensure First Nations children have the same opportunities as every other child in this country.
“First Nations children and young people are the heirs to 65,000 years of continuous culture and heritage. We must ensure they can grow up connected to their family, community, culture, and Country,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Recent data shows us that the over-representation of First Nations children in out-of-home care is worsening in many parts of the country. This is unacceptable, and the government recognises we must do better.
“We created this Commissioner role to ensure the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not just heard, but are amplified.
“Sue-Anne is an inspiring, highly qualified and highly respected First Nations leader. Most importantly, she’s truly dedicated to creating better futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
“The appointment of Sue-Anne Hunter as the inaugural Commissioner marks a huge step towards creating a future Australia where every child, no matter their culture, grows up safe and supported.”
Ms Hunter said she was honoured to accept this appointment as Australia’s Inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People’s Commissioner.
She said the role has the responsibility to ensure the nation’s systems are working to protect the well-being, rights and interests of First Nations young people.
“I recognise that we are at risk of losing another generation to systems that fail them, to removal, out-of-home care, detention and a bleak future,” Ms Hunter said.
“The work is urgent and the statistics are grim. But our children are not statistics; they are our future.
“This role will elevate their voices and their concerns. They will be at the centre of everything I do.”
