Catherine Rule

As the Director-General of the Community Services Directorate, I am pleased to mark the occasion of ACT Children’s Week and express our continued support for this significant annual event. 

During Children’s Week, we celebrate the contributions of families, carers, and community workers in shaping the lives of young people. This week also serves as a moment for us to reflect on how we can further empower children and young people, and ensure they have the best possible start in life. 

This year’s theme recognises all children have the right to a safe and clean environment. The Next Steps for our Kids 2022-2030 strategy and Our Booris Our Way recommendations outline our focus on providing earlier support to families to keep children and young people safe and connected at home. 

In developing the Next Steps for our Kids strategy, we heard that children and young people must have a stronger voice in decision making to give full effect to their right to participate. As part of consultation undertaken to amend the Children and Young People Act, the ACT Government hosted a consultation with young people and heard their views on how we can do better to involve them in the process. 

I thank the ACT Children’s Week committee for their strong commitment to raising awareness of the rights of children and young people. 

I look forward to attending the festivities including the annual launch and awards ceremony. It is an important opportunity to recognise members of our community who are making a difference to the lives of the next generation.