UNICEF Australia

Between 2017 and 2022, more than 12,600 Aussie babies a year did not have their birth registered in their first year of life. This must change.    Yesterday, we hosted a webinar to launch our new report, Certify Hope – Rights from the Start, shining a light on the barriers that stand between children and their right to a legal identity.    We explored groundbreaking new data on the scale of delayed birth registration, its impacts on children and families, who are affected. We also shared our recommendations to achieve universal birth registration and certification in Australia.     A huge thank you to our incredible speakers and panellists Pathfinders Ltd, Laura Faraj from United Way Australia's The Hive, Lauren Moran from Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Brett Cunningham from NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages, for their expertise and insights.    Every child deserves the best start to life – that's why we’re calling on governments to make birth registration easier and to make birth certificates more affordable for every child in Australia.     👉 Read the full report: https://unicef.au/3XiJoX0  🎥 Watch the webinar replay: https://lnkd.in/g_JAgpw5 

No matter who they are or where they live, every child deserves access to education.     The inaugural Investors for Impact Gala, in partnership with CII Events Management, will be a special evening to make a difference and support our work for children in crisis all around the world.     Hosted by UNICEF Australia Ambassador Edwina Bartholomew, she’ll be joined by fellow Ambassadors, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins and Australia's most decorated Olympic athlete Emma McKeon.     Guests will also hear the incredible life story of Bismarck Swangin, UNICEF Sri Lanka’s Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, who will reflect on his journey from a child refugee to becoming a voice for children and families around the world.      Let’s build a future where every child has the right to learn, grow, and thrive. Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gyT9v6wP

Are you passionate about issues that affect young people?  Do you want to make a difference? Applications are now open for UNICEF Australia Young Ambassadors! As a Young Ambassador, you’ll get the chance to advocate for children’s rights and raise young people’s voices. Applicants can come from all over Australia – if you’re successful, you’ll act as a spokesperson for us and have leadership, advocacy and media opportunities.  Applications will close on 6 October 2024. If you or someone you know is interested, visit the link below for more information! https://bit.ly/3To4Qc5  

UNICEF Australia and ARACY are hosting a ‘Learning: A Deeper Look at AI in Education’ webinar, where we'll explore the opportunities and challenges of #GenerativeAI in #education. 📅 Date: Tuesday, 24 September 2024 🕒 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm 📍 Location: Online webinar (Microsoft Teams) You’ll hear from Dr Kelly Stephens, Director of Edtech and Education Policy at UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion, and UNICEF Australia Young Ambassadors, Cyril Saji and Jules Gabor – who will share their insights on how generative AI is shaping the future of learning and its impact on equitable access to education. We will also launch the Empowering Young Minds: A Review of Australian Children and Young People’s Learning report, part of a series of papers from ARACY and UNICEF Australia that examine the Australian Children’s Wellbeing Index (https://lnkd.in/gtutWNZK) in detail through each of The Nest (https://lnkd.in/gMU87VCu) domains. Register now to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/g5e_gDXx

Asking “are you OK?” can make a real difference to someone’s day. We want to create a safe and supportive environment for all our staff. In the lead up to R U OK Day, we’ve encouraged our team members to take breaks during their workday to have a chat and connect with each other. R U OK Day is a great reminder that a small conversation can build trust, normalise talking about life’s ups and downs, and make a difference to someone’s day and their life. Today, and every day, we’re fostering a culture of genuine care for others. R U OK? That’s all you need to ask 💛 #RUOK #RUOKDay

Young people from all over Australia have raised their voices for climate action by contributing to the National Child and Youth Statement, developed in partnership with UNICEF Australia, Plan International Australia and Australian Youth For International Climate Engagement Incorporated (AYFICE), and launched this week at Parliament House. Based on consultations with over 190 children and young people across the country, at Local Conferences of Youth (LCOYs), the Statement calls for our government to: - Consult young people in First Nations and Pacific communities on climate policies. - Invest in supporting Pacific nations respond to climate change - Commit to legislating the Duty of Care Bill to make sure the impact of climate change on children and young people is taken into account. The National Child and Youth Statement will now be presented at COP29 Azerbaijan to influence global youth policy discussions. As part of the launch, our Young Ambassadors, Luke McNamara and Aston Hawkins-Nicholls were in Canberra to speak with government leaders including Assistant Minister for Climate Change Josh Wilson, to share more about the climate issues that are important to children and young people. We believe that every child has the right to have their voices heard and tell the stories of their lived experience. We’ll continue to give young people platforms and opportunities so they can speak up on the issues that matter most to them. To read the full Youth Statement, click here: https://unicef.au/3ZgBWhK Tony Stuart | Jennifer Merryweather | Imogen Kane

A #BirthCertificate is the most powerful certificate any of us ever receive, yet every year, thousands of Australian children may miss out on early education opportunities simply because they don't have one. Released today, our Certify Hope: Rights from the Start report includes groundbreaking new data that maps #BirthRegistration patterns across the country and highlights how unregistered births can create barriers to essential services and deepen existing vulnerabilities, especially for those living remotely or experiencing disadvantage, young mothers, and First Nations communities. We believe that birth registration is a fundamental right that helps every child reach their full potential. That's why we’re calling on the Federal Government to ensure that every child in Australia is registered at birth by: 🔹 Making birth certificates more affordable 🔹 Providing adequate support for parents facing registration challenges Not having a birth certificate can create barriers for children that follow them throughout their lives, but through our partnership with organisations like Pathfinders Ltd and The Ian Potter Foundation, and advocating for change, we’re working to ensure that every child in Australia is given the best start in life. 👉 Read our full report: https://lnkd.in/gQq4FC7q or sign up for our webinar for a deeper understanding of the new data: https://lnkd.in/gnWf-YDy

Young people are raising their voices for climate action, and we are here for it! The National Child and Youth Statement brings together the experiences, ideas and solutions of over 190 changemakers from seven Local Conferences of Youth (LCOY) across Australia. This powerful statement will also help shape the Global Youth Climate Statement at COP29 Azerbaijan.   Want to know what the next generation have to say?   Plan International Australia Australian Youth For International Climate Engagement Incorporated (AYFICE) UN Climate Change YOUNGO   #ClimateJustice #YouthEmpowerment #ClimateChange #ClimateAction

As we observe National Child Protection Week, we are deeply concerned about the current state of #ChildProtection and #YouthJustice in Australia. Recent tragic events, including the death of a teenager in a WA youth detention centre, plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility in the NT and the abhorrent mistreatment of children in Queensland watch houses, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive and evidence-based reform. We stand with the Australian Human Rights Commission in calling for immediate action to address systemic issues in our justice system and uphold our international obligations to protect the rights and wellbeing of every child in Australia. Decades of evidence point to raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years – children should be nurtured and guided, not criminalised – and investing in community-based preventative and diversionary programs as alternatives to detention. The time for change is now. We must work together to create a fair and just system that prioritises and safeguards the wellbeing and future of our young people. Read our full statement: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gwiYCYAb 🔗 #ncpw #ncpw24

A birth certificate is an essential step to accessing life-changing services and support. But in Australia, barriers to birth registration exist, restricting a child’s ability to unlock their full potential. We believe that every child should have access to a birth certificate. That’s why we’re working with communities and governments to strengthen birth registration systems, raise awareness, and advocate for every child's right to a legal identity. We want birth registration to be an easy and affordable process, so that every child can benefit from it. With the support of the Australian Bureau of Statistics and NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages, we have cutting-edge new data to highlight the scale of delayed birth registration in Australia. Join us as we discuss key findings from our latest report "Certify Hope – Rights from the Start" and gain insights from a diverse panel of experts on the obstacles to birth registration and recommendations to improve birth registration and certification across Australia. Date: 17 September 2024 Time: 10:30am AEDT Location: Online Click the link to register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gR4qpYpf With The Ian Potter Foundation and Pathfinders Ltd