UNICEF Australia

A huge welcome to Rev. Bill Crews, who was appointed as one of only three UNICEF Global Faith Envoys at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Founder of the Rev. Bill Crews Foundation, and a passionate advocate for marginalised communities, Reverend Crews is an Australian leader in the inter-faith community.    He will join our Faith Leadership Circle, a unique platform which brings together significant faith partners to address key challenges faced by children around the world. As an envoy, Reverend Crews will also represent UNICEF in engaging with faith-based communities, advocating for children’s rights and fostering collaboration across diverse faiths.   Read more about how we work with faith-based organisations to deliver lasting impact for children: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g2NVhE3D 🔗

We believe that every child deserves to be heard. That’s why on Wednesday 20 November, for World Children’s Day, we’re inviting schools across Australia to amplify children’s voices and celebrate their right to speak out on issues that matter to them. This year, we’re turning up the volume on children’s rights, and we want every child’s voice to be heard! 📣 How can your school or community group get involved? Register for A Minute of Loudness to receive free, age-appropriate lesson plans developed by education specialists, and fun activities to help you celebrate. This year, we've created even more resources, ensuring children from preschool to high school can get involved. 👉 Ready to register? Visit 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gnKyj2Yz 🔗 to sign up, and let’s get loud for children’s rights!

In Gaza, the fight to protect children against polio is more important than ever. Nearly two hundred thousand children have been vaccinated with their second dose of the polio vaccine but intense bombardments, mass displacements and lack of access in northern Gaza, have forced the postponement of the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign. Any delay increases the risk to children's health and the threat of further polio outbreaks.    With over 75% of the cold chain infrastructure destroyed – essential for vaccine storage – we’ve had to adapt, bringing in new refrigerators, freezers and vaccine carriers. However, the current conditions, including ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure, continue to jeopardise people’s safety and movement in northern Gaza, making it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination, and for health workers to operate.   This #WorldPolioDay, we honour the bravery of our health workers who ensure that, even in the toughest conditions, no child is left behind. Children need safe access to critical healthcare, their lives depend on it.

Innovation is rewriting the future for these teenagers, one vertical farm at a time. In the small African nation of Burundi, farming is made even more difficult by frequent climate disasters, limited space and limited access to water. But UNICEF’s Creatable program is helping students adapt to an uncertain environment through sustainable agricultural projects like this vertical farm. Inspired, upskilled and innovative, young people in Burundi are grasping their future with both hands and setting themselves up for success 💙 This program is supported by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade #ANCP

UNICEF Australia, Save the Children Australia / 54 reasons and The Australian Child Rights Taskforce are proud to present our ‘Blueprint for a National Children’s Plan’ – a comprehensive framework that aims to prioritise every child in Australia.   While Australia is one of the best places for many children to grow up, there are still too many who don’t receive the support their need to reach their full potential. With families facing growing pressures like the cost-of-living crisis, we believe that a National Children’s Plan will ensure a coordinated, comprehensive response to improve outcomes for all children.   This Plan would: ✅ Establish clear outcomes and priorities for children’s wellbeing ✅ Unify existing strategies to create a cohesive approach centred on children and their needs ✅ Ensure every child is given the support they need to thrive   We look forward to working with the government on how we can implement this plan, improving outcomes for children and families across Australia.   To read the ‘Blueprint for a National Children’s Plan’ visit our website: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gGRmXfCG 🔗

Young people in the #Pacific are leaders in #ClimateAction, advocacy, and solutions. Their voices and perspectives are profoundly important in driving climate ambition in this critical decade, and in shaping a genuinely inclusive #COP31.    Last week, on the sidelines of a youth climate gathering at SXSW Sydney, We accompanied four youth Pacific climate changemakers from Kiribati and Papua New Guinea to Canberra for meetings with colleagues in Parliament and Government.   Each spoke powerfully about their experiences of climate change, their work in community, and their key asks of the Australian Government in the areas of #YouthInclusion, #ClimateFinance, and #Mitigation. We also had a chance to hear more about the work, and priorities of government in these areas.    We are grateful to Senator David Pocock, and colleagues at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and Australian Council for International Development for hosting us, and to our colleagues at the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education for their partnership and support.   Paul Kelly | Nishadh Rego| Lovanchor Dotson | Miriam Moriati | Robert Karoro | Kimberly Tetabwa Tokanang | Isabelle Zhu-Maguire | UNICEF East Asia and Pacific | UNICEF Kiribati | UNICEF Papua New Guinea

A wonderful end to a jam-packed week at SXSW Sydney! We’ve had the privilege of hosting four sessions in the past two days, with insights from the next generation of philanthropists and creative innovations from young climate activists from Australia and the Pacific. A huge thank you to Tyson F., Lucy Steggles, Arielle Gamble, and our Next Gen Philanthropy Program Lead Ané Coetzee for an insightful discussion about the future of charity.   We’d also like to thank Georgia Shakeshaft, Grace Vegesana, our Young Ambassador Luke McNamara and our Head of Climate Nishadh Rego for putting a spotlight on youth climate action, alongside our Nxt Wave Youth Lab guest speaker Ryan Patel. The Youth Lab was supported by a session at the SXSW main stage from our Innovation Lead Zunilka C. and our Young Ambassador Peta Pyrgiotis - featuring an interview with Raaia, a UNICEF Climate Guardian from the Maldives. To all those who attended our sessions, your support is helping us to raise the voices of children and young people on climate action. Thank you to SXSW Sydney for partnering with us to give youth voices a platform 💙 Philanthropy Australia | NEXUS Australia | Groundswell | Plan International Australia | Australian Youth Climate Coalition | UNICEF Maldives

UNICEF Australia welcomes the Australian Government ’s new Humanitarian Policy. The policy articulates a clear direction for future humanitarian action and demonstrates a strong understanding of the depth of the challenges currently facing the global humanitarian system. We look forward to working with the Government to bring this important strategy to fruition. We are particularly heartened by the focus on children as a priority population and welcome the commitment of $5 million to the newly established Asia-Pacific Regional Humanitarian Fund which will enable rapid responses to escalating humanitarian needs in our region.   Thank you Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Hon. Pat Conroy, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, for your leadership and dedication to making a difference in the lives of those affected by crises and disasters, particularly children and young people as they have distinct and unique needs.   Together, we are building a safer, more resilient future for all children.    #Humanitarian #AsiaPacific #ForEveryChild 

UNICEF Australia is concerned by proposed changes to the #YouthJustice system in the Northern Territory including lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 10 years. This and other measures under consideration are inconsistent with Australia’s commitments to protect the rights of children and are likely to worsen outcomes for already vulnerable children, without strong evidence that they will contribute to enhancing community safety. Children in contact with the justice system often face significant challenges that are better addressed outside of incarceration. Community-based preventative and diversionary programs offer viable alternatives to reduce reoffending and improve community safety. As emphasised in the Convention on the Rights of the Child: detention should be a last resort. We believe that investing in community-led, evidence-based programs that protect children’s rights and address the root causes of youth offending will provide better outcomes for everyone.  Let’s protect our children’s future. Read our full statement here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gTynuiQC 🔗 #ChildRights #HumanRights #NTJusticeReform

We're proud to continue our partnership with Jo Malone London to protect and promote the #MentalHealth and #Wellbeing of children, young people and caregivers around the world. This partnership is vital in helping UNICEF expand its reach and impact, ensuring we can deliver essential mental health support to those who need it most.   Jo Malone London's commitment to donating $4.5 million towards UNICEF’s mental health work by 2025, including a one-off $1 million donation announced in 2022, will support our global mental health programs. Through their charity candle collection, consumer check-out donations, and employee fundraising activities, they’re helping to break the cycle of poor mental health and create a brighter future for young people worldwide.   It's #partnerships like these that make lasting change possible.