The Child Rights Taskforce is made up of advocates, service providers, individuals and experts all focused on achieving child rights in Australia. It meets regularly to discuss upcoming opportunities and events to promote and protect children’s rights. The role of the Taskforce is to hold the Australian government to account on its commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
A Steering Committee of seven organisations and experts leads the Child Rights Taskforce.
Steering Committee

UNICEF Australia
- (02) 9261 2811
- unicef@unicef.org.au
- www.unicef.org.au
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF’s visions is of a world where the basic rights of every child will be met. UNICEF works in over 190 countries to promote and protect the rights of children. In Australia, UNICEF advocates for the rights of all children to be realised and works to improve public and government support for child rights and international development.
Member contact: Freyana Irani [email protected]

NCYLC
- (02) 9385 9588
- admin@ncylc.org.au
- www.ncylc.org.au
The National Children’s and Youth Law Centre is a Community Legal Centre dedicated to addressing human rights issues for children and young people in Australia through legal change – the only community legal centre of its kind in Australia. Established in 1993, the Centre provides advice and information for children and young people about the law and their rights and responsibilities. NCYLC also lobbies governments to consider children and child rights when developing legislation and policies that may have an impact on young people.
Member contact: Ahram Choi [email protected]

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS)
- 1800 012 255
- natsils@atsils.org.au
- www.natsils.org.au
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services is the peak body for the state and territory based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS), which provide culturally competent legal assistance services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NATSILS has become an expert voice on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the justice system, providing commentary and advice on human rights, access to justice, social inclusion, systematic discrimination, evidence based justice policy, and in particular evidence based criminal justice policy.

SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children
- (03) 9419 1922
- info@snaicc.org.au
- www.snaicc.org.au
SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children is the national non-government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Established in 1981, SNAICC is an Aboriginal-led peak with a membership of over 1400 organisations and individuals including community based child care agencies, early childhood education centres, family support organisations, foster care agencies, link up and family reunification services, family group homes, voluntary associations and services for young people at risk.
Member contact: Catherine Liddle c[email protected]

King & Wood Mallesons
- (02) 9296 2000
- syd@au.kwm.com
- www.mallesons.com/
King & Wood Mallesons is a global law firm with over 30 international offices. This is powered by more than 550 partners and 2700 lawyers and is the law firm that can practice Australian, PRC, Hong Kong and UK law, which enables KWM to provide strategic advice in these markets.
Member contact: Stephanie Puris [email protected]
James McDougall
- 0419 243 179
- jmcd@ihug.com.au
- www.jamesmcdougall.com.au
James McDougall is a consultant working in policy; management and governance; and building collaborations.
He has held a number of senior policy and management roles in Australia and has also worked in China and the Asia Pacific region. He was the Director of the National Children’s & Youth Law Centre from 2005 to 2010 and during that period helped to build the profile and capacity of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce. He continues to provide strategic advice to the Taskforce.
Members
-
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service
-
Aboriginal Family Law Services (WA)
-
Aboriginal Land Council
-
Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
-
Act for Kids
-
Anti-Slavery Australia
-
Asylum Seeking Resource Centre
-
Australian Community Children’s Services
-
Australian Education Union
-
Australian Human Rights Commision
-
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
-
Australian National University
-
Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
-
Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
-
Barwon Community Legal Service
-
-
Brotherhood of St Lawrence
-
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
-
Central Community Legal Service (South Australia)
-
Centre of Community Child Health
-
Centre of Excellence Children and Family Welfare
-
Children’s Services Program Development – Training Sense
-
-
Communities NSW
-
Community Child Care Inc.
-
Concerned Australians
-
Consultant – Pearl Wymarra
-
Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA)
-
Council for the Care of Children (South Australia)
-
-
Curtin University – Centre for Human Rights Education
-
Department of Health, Child and Adolescent Health Services
-
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (NSW Chapter)
-
Eastern Community Legal Centre
-
Edmund Rice Centre
-
Expert – Jody Saxton
-
Expert – Rebecca Spratt
-
Families Australia
-
Family Inclusion Network
-
Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action
-
-
-
Human Rights Law Centre
The Human Rights Law Centre is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Australia and beyond. They do this though a strategic combination of evidence-based advocacy, research, litigation, and education. The HRLC is an independent, not-for-profit, non-government organisation. They work in coalition with key partners, including community organisations, law firms and barristers, academics and experts, and international and domestic human rights organisations.
Member contact: Ben Schokman [email protected]
-
ICEA Foundation
-
Indigenous Law Centre UNSW
-
International Social Service Australia
International Social Service (ISS) Australia is a national charitable organisation with over 50 years’ experience defending children and connecting families across the world. We provide professional social work and legal services to families and children separated by international borders, with an emphasis on the best interests and rights of children.
-
Kimberley Institute
-
Koorie Women Means Business
-
Larapinta Valley (Yarrenyty Arltere) Learning Centre
-
Law Council of Australia
-
Legal Aid Commission NT
-
Lowitja Institute
-
Macquarie Legal Centre
-
Marist School Australia
-
Marrickville Legal Centre
-
-
Melbourne Community Foundation
-
Menzies – School of Health Research
-
Millennium Kids
-
Multicultural Youth NT
-
Murdoch University
-
National Early Childhood Intervention Australia
-
National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy for FYA
-
NGO Geneva Delegate – Krista McMeeken
-
NGO Geneva Delegate – Sarah Hort
-
North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
-
NSW Health – Kids and Families
-
NSW Young Lawyers Human Rights Committee
-
NT Council of Social Service Inc
-
Office of Early Years Foundation Tasmania
-
Office of Youth Affairs NT
-
-
Peel Community Legal Services
-
Phoenix Consulting
-
Plan Australia
-
Protect All Children Today Inc (PACT)
-
-
Reichstein Foundation
-
-
Save The Children
Save the Children is Australia’s leading independent emergency relief and development organisation for children. Save the Children aims to save and protect children’s lives and strives to give every child a safe and happy childhood. Save the Children was established in 1919 and works in 120 countries around the world.
-
Sidney Myer Fund
-
South Australia Children’s Guardian
-
Sparke Helmore
-
Sunshine Youth Legal Centre
-
Top End Women’s Legal Service
-
-
UN Youth Australia
-
Uniting Church in Australia: Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
-
University of Melbourne
-
University of Melbourne – Melbourne School of Population Health
-
University of Sydney
-
University of Technology Sydney
-
University of Technology Sydney Law Students’ Society
-
WA Commissioner for Children and Young People
-
-
Welfare Rights Centre
-
Whitlam Institute
-
Windeyer Chambers
-
Women’s Legal Centre (ACT and Region)
-
-
-
Youth Action and Policy Association
-
Youth Advocacy Centre
-
Youth Affairs Council of WA
-
Youth and Family Services
-
Youth Coalition of the ACT
-
Youth Justice Coalition (YJC)
-