Victoria's Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People, Liana Buchanan, has been re-appointed for a second five-year term. The new term extends until April 2026 the Commissioner's work on behalf of Victoria's children and young people.
'I am proud of the Commission's strong advocacy over these last five years, and grateful for the opportunity to work with and advocate for change in partnership with children and young people.
'In my first term, the Commission has ensured rigorous oversight of systems and services affecting marginalised children, has driven improvements in the child protection, out-of-home care and youth justice systems, and has built two vital new regulatory schemes to prevent child abuse in organisational settings.
'What I have seen in this time has made very clear to me that we need profound and widespread change in how we view, treat and support children and young people, especially those who are marginalised or growing up in families affected by disadvantage or violence.
'I also know there is much still to be achieved, and I am excited and proud to be able to continue this vital work with Justin Mohamed, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, Commission staff, and all of our government and non-government stakeholders.
She said it had been a pleasure to work with two outstanding commissioners for Aboriginal children and young people in Justin Mohamed and his predecessor, Andrew Jackomos.
'The need for systemic change is too often powerfully demonstrated by the continuing and disproportionate impacts on Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria,' Buchanan concluded.