The National Children’s and Youth Law Centre has been working with the legal and justice systems to improve the conditions and opportunities of children and young people throughout Australia, since its establishment in 1993.
The work of the National Children's and Youth Law Centre can be divided into three core areas:
The Centre is at the forefront of public advocacy for the rights of children and young people. It lobbies governments and decision-making bodies to recognise and apply the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. NCYLC is also a key role in the preparation of the NGO Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Chid on Australia’s compliance with the Convention.
The Centre continues to advocate for better and more sustainable solutions on various child right’s issues, including homelessness and family disputes.
The Centre supports the use of legal strategies to improve and protect the rights of children. The Centre maintains a focus on identifying and removing barriers of access and disadvantage for children from all sectors of Australian society.
In accordance with NCYLC's charter the Centre maintains a focus on disadvantaged children from all sectors of Australian society.
The Centre provides advice and information to children and young people. NCYLC’s Lawstuff website continues to provide legal information to all young Australians as well as their parents, advocates and the wider community. It has been regularly revised and updated to make sure that people who access the website can get the most current legal information. The site has been described as one of Australia's leading legal websites, with over 30 million hits since its establishment. In 1998, the Lawmail facility was added, which has allowed many young people to seek legal advice, referral and information by email. Currently the Centre responds to about 1000 requests every year.
The Centre is dedicated to innovation in the provision of information to children and young people that is both appropriate and nationally accessible.
The Centre undertakes a range of projects to promote the rights of children and young people. These projects are designed to raise community awareness with children and young people and the wider community including governments, advocates, educators and employers. Publications arising from these projects include:
The Centre is committed to assisting organisations and decision-makers in having an awareness of children's rights, and being more responsive to the needs of children as active members of society.