CENTRE CELEBRATES 20years
This week marks the 20-year anniversary of the establishment of the Centre for Children and Young People. And in typical Centre style, we’ve let it fly mostly under the radar as we keep focused on the research in front of us. Two decades on, there’s still much to be done in ensuring the dignity, rights and wellbeing of children and young people are understood and adequately addressed in research, policy and practice, including the right to be heard in matters that impact their lives.
But we couldn’t let this moment pass without acknowledging the contributions, support and vision of SO many colleagues right from the beginning, both internal and external to SCU, and those who joined along the way. You are an integral part of this story – thank you for being champions of the Centre’s work. So, too, the support and collaboration we have enjoyed with over 100 government, non-government and community partners regionally, nationally and internationally, who have taught us much about ensuring the research we do is relevant, rigorous and accessible to those who can best use it. Some have been on this journey with us over countless years and many projects.
Very especially, though, we are indebted to the many thousands of children and young people who have participated in our research, as participants, co-researchers and advisors. It is from you that we have learned the most – and in return we hope that we’ve done justice to this.
20 years on, there is much that is happening across the world that is unsettling in its short- and long-term impact on the rights, wellbeing and safety of children. Moving forward will require, more than ever, that we each remain vigilant to the ways we listen to the views of children and young people and work together to find evidence informed solutions that honour their experiences and support their aspirations for the future
