Children’s Participation in Care and Protection Decision-Making Matters

Laws and policies in different jurisdictions provide a range of mechanisms that allow children involved child protection processes care proceedings to express their views when decisions affect them are being made. Whether these facilitate children’s involvement whether they result heard “given due weight accordance with the age maturity child”, as required by article 12 UN Convention on Rights Child, is focus this article. The law, policy practice New South Wales, Australia, used contextual illustration wider theoretical practical issues, drawing international comparisons research. It clear there still some way go satisfy requirements Australia other jurisdictions. These often do not information need understand process, nor consistently encourage meaningful participation through trusted advocates who can accurately convey those making decisions. generally unclear how heard, interpreted, weighted decision-making processes. research findings from number countries, however, consistent feel ‘unheard’ have had few opportunities say what important them. A conclusions suggestions outlined for law could better accommodate views.