By Mitchell Clarke
Cardinia Shire Council is the first council in the state to appoint Children’s Ambassadors.
Almost 30 percent of the shire’s population is under 17-years-old and council’s Children’s Ambassador Program is one of the ways to ensure the younger voices are being heard.
Mayor Graeme Moore said that children have a right to be heard and it was important to council that they have their concerns and ideas taken seriously.
“At Cardinia Shire Council we recognise the importance of listening to the voices of children in our community and that we must utilise them meaningfully in our planning, design and delivery of services,” Cr Moore said.
“Children are experts in their own lives and experiences and they have a right to be included in decision making processes that relate to their lives, as important citizens in our community.”
Local primary students recently presented a number of staff with badges to formally declare them as Children’s Ambassadors for council.
The ambassadors will be the voice of children in the community and provide leadership by influencing the outcomes for children.
“The program highlights the importance council places on listening to children and will help encourage the inclusion of children in everyday decisions at council,” Cr Moore said.
“The ambassadors will be advocates for listening to, involving, and safeguarding the rights of children in the work carried out by each department across council.”
Earlier this year, council’s within the Child Friendly Cities initiative surveyed children across the state to ask why adults should be listening to children.
The survey’s top five reasons were:
1. Listening to children teaches children how to listen.
2. Children’s opinions matter because they are the ones who will live with the outcomes of decisions made now.
3. Listening to children is a good way to understand and empathise with them; they are growing up in a different world and they want to talk about and express how they feel.
4. Adults can learn from children’s ideas (which could possibly change the world!) as they offer a different perspective, are thoughtful and creative.
5. Children need adults to listen to them so they can feel safe to speak up if they find themselves in a vulnerable situation.
“All staff and councillors have the responsibility to consider our community in every decision we make,” Cr Moore said.
“As a council that is focused on inclusiveness and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone in our community, our Children’s Ambassadors take that responsibility a step further to ensure our youngest citizens are also always considered.”
