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Involving children in decision making - CCYP

1 Involving children in decision makingbYour quick, practical guide2 ContentsForeword ..3 Introduction ..4 Why is children s participation important? ..5 children s participation guidelines ..5 Characteristics of effective and genuine participation ..6 Action 1: Consider whether to involve children in the work of your organisation ..7 Action 2: Plan how the participation is to happen ..13 Action 3: making it happen ..17 Action 4: Evaluating the process ..20 Activity booklet ..24 Examples of good practice ..43 Glossary ..43 Reference list ..43 Involving children in decision making3 ForewordChildren s participation is more than just asking them for their ideas and views. It s about listening to them, taking them seriously and turning their ideas and suggestions into reality.

The children who are involved should be from the target group that is affected by the work done through the organisation. However, it is important to make sure that decisions reflect the interests of all the children that are in the target group, for example, aboriginal children, children and young people with a disability, children from a range of

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1 1 Involving children in decision makingbYour quick, practical guide2 ContentsForeword ..3 Introduction ..4 Why is children s participation important? ..5 children s participation guidelines ..5 Characteristics of effective and genuine participation ..6 Action 1: Consider whether to involve children in the work of your organisation ..7 Action 2: Plan how the participation is to happen ..13 Action 3: making it happen ..17 Action 4: Evaluating the process ..20 Activity booklet ..24 Examples of good practice ..43 Glossary ..43 Reference list ..43 Involving children in decision making3 ForewordChildren s participation is more than just asking them for their ideas and views. It s about listening to them, taking them seriously and turning their ideas and suggestions into reality.

2 It is also about providing them with the ability to influence some of the things that affect them and at the same time helping adults understand children s issues through their is well evidenced in the literature that the accounts and lived experiences of children and young people regarding their world and how they experience it can contribute significantly and meaningfully to new knowledge and in doing so can enhance services that are provided to aim of this guide is to provide organisations with guidelines and associated practical activities to involve children under the age of 12 years in decision making within their services. It has been developed in partnership with the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation and with the advice of key stakeholders from across Tasmania: Child and Family Centres, Department of Education, Lady Gowrie, Uniting Care, Tasmanian Association of Neighbourhood Houses, Kingborough and Hobart City ensure that the activities worked they were trialled and evaluated by Ravenswood Child and Family Centre, Uniting Care and Lady Gowrie.

3 They provided valuable feedback in refining the activities from a child s would like to thank all of those involved for their ideas and practice wisdom and their willingness to road test the project in the safe and honest hands of children which has been invaluable in the development of the materials for this hope that you find the guidelines and activities practical and useful in your endeavours to ensure that the voice of children is heard and acted upon in your services and programs that you Ashford(Commissioner for children )Commissioner for children Guide can be accessed on both the Commissioner for children s website and the Early Years Foundation website at:Early Years children in decision making4 IntroductionThe Commissioner for children and the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation strongly believe that children should have the right to participate in decision making that affects their health, wellbeing and developmentThis belief is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that the views of children and young people should be taken into account in any decision that is likely to affect their wellbeing.

4 UNICEF (2013)The Commissioner for children s Strategic Plan (2011-2013) mission statement: we promote the interests of children and young people in any decision or actions affecting their health, care, protection, development and education supports this position. Commissioner for children Tasmania (2011)The Commissioner for children and the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation have collaborated to produce the participation toolkit for children under the age of 12 years to ensure that best practices are in place when children are involved in decision objectives of the participation guidelines are to provide resources for organisations, both government and non-government, to ensure that there is: support for children s participation in the planning and development of their communities; support for children s participation in decision making that may impact them; encouraging organisations to seek participation of children and young people.

5 And provide organisations with a toolkit of best practice children in decision making5 Why is children s participation important?Participation is important for children because it gives them an opportunity to have a say about issues and decisions that affect them, learn new skills, have fun and develop a closer connection to their community. As a result programs and services created for children will better reflect their needs. The involvement of children , as part of the community and users of services, can make sure agencies and organisations are relevant to them. Their participation ensures what is provided is what is needed, and children are more likely to support the outcome if they have been involved in developing it.

6 Good practice includes a listening culture among staff, clarity, flexibility, adequate resources, and skills development for staff, participating children and young people, inclusion of marginalized groups, feedback and evaluation. (Cavet & Sloper, 2004) children s Participation GuidelinesThis kit contains information for effective participation for service organisations and government agencies as well as practical ideas that organisations can apply to their services to better meet the needs of the children in decision of children in decision making will be enhanced if it includes the following steps:Action 1 Consider whether to involve children in the work of your organisationAction 2 Plan how the participation is to happenAction 3 making it HappenAction 4 Evaluating the Process6 Characteristics of Effective and Genuine ParticipationInvolving children in decision making Issues are real and relevant to children themselves Capacity to make a difference (where possible long term or organisational change)

7 Links to children direct day-to-day experience Adequate time and resources made available Realistic expectations of children Clear goals and targets agreed with children Address the promotion or protection of children s Honesty from adults about the issue and the process Inclusive equal opportunity for participation by all Groups of interested children Equal respect for children of all ages, abilities, ethnicity, social background Information is shared with the children to enable then to make real choices children s views are taken seriously Voluntary nature of children s involvement decision - making is Clarity of purpose Child-friendly meeting places, language and structures Involvement of children from the earliest possible stages Training provided to help children acquire necessary skills Methods of involvement developed in collaboration with children Adult support provided where needed Strategy developed for sustainability.

8 Gerison Lansdown (2001) Involving children in decision making71342 Action OneConsider whether to involve children in the work of your organisationInvolving children in decision makingAction One8 There are a number of questions organisations should consider when deciding whether to involve children in decision making . These include: How does your organisation ensure its policies, programs and services are relevant to children ? How does your organisation ensure your targeted programs are based on validated need? How does your organisation enable children to feel connected and that they have some part to play in policy development? How do you encourage children to support your organisation s outcomes?

9 How does your organisation support children develop new skills, increase confidence and have a better awareness of how organisations work so that they are empowered by the experience. How does your organisation support children to become more responsible adult decision -makers?The following decision - making model illustrates the process of decision making for an organisation. This model maybe used to assist with determining at what stage children are involved in decision making and of what benefit their involvement is for the organisation and the children . Finding opportunities for children s involvement begins with reflecting on the types of decisions that are made and assessing the appropriate method for 1 : Typical decision making ProcessDecision making Process1.

10 Clarify the purpose and boundaries of decision - making ? Who will make the decision ? Who will be affected by the decision ? What information is needed to make the decision ? When should the decision be made?2. Define how the decision will be made? Consensus Voting Negotiation3. making the decision Document the integration, influence and prioritisation of ideas Who will implement decision ?4. Communication Communicate the decision and the rationale Feedback to contributors how their input influenced decisionStep 1 What would children s participation contribute to your organisation? Involving children in decision makingAction One95. Implementing the decision Define the steps and timeframe Define the reporting methods6.


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