Consulting with Children Conference

This forum was a partnership initiative of the Central Highlands Primary Care Partnership - Child & Family Platform and Ballarat Best Start. Other partners included:

• Central Highlands Local Learning & Employment Network
• City of Ballarat - Child and Family Friendly City
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
• Grampians Regional Integrated Family Violence Committee

The conference was held in Ballarat on the 22^nd June 2011

Presented by Dr Jonathon Sargeant from the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane , it aimed to provide a broader understanding of:

• the importance of consulting with children
• what children are saying about themselves, families, communities and the world 
• the things that influence children 
• children's perspectives on adults 
• the ethics of consulting with children (why and when) 
• different ways to consult with children (how).

Dr Jonathon Sargeant conducts research on children’s rights and citizenship & their perspectives on the world. He has been talking with groups of children since 1997 throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Sweeden. His interest in the extent to which these children understand and view the modern world reveals perspectives often underappreciated by the adult community.
156 people formally registered for the Consulting with Children Forum, with 141 attending. People came from far and near and represented a broad range of professions and agencies. 60% of participants completed an evaluation form, providing feedback to assist with future planning.

A Consulting with Children evaluation report has been developed from the feedback received from participants.
A copy of the Consulting with Children Presentation is available to view or download. 


Consulting with Children Framework

As part of City of Ballarat ’s Municipal Early Years Plan; Ballarat Best Start, Council and community partners are currently developing a "Consulting with Children Framework". The framework will outline our obligations and desires in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and our Child Friendly Ballarat principles.

The relevant United Nations articles are
Article 12
Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

Article 13
The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.

Central Highlands Primary Care Partnership & the Child & Family Platform support the concept of a "Consulting with Children Framework" and will work with the City of Ballarat on this initiative.