Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People SA

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Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People SA

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In April 2025, Dale Agius was appointed as the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.

The Commissioner is the only independent body created solely to promote the rights and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people.

06/11/2026

This week, I had the pleasure of hosting the ANZCCGA meeting at our Adelaide office, bringing together Children’s Commissioners, Guardians and Advocates from across Australia and New Zealand.

A big shout-out to Commissioner Kylie Heneker, Acting Guardian Sue McDonald and their teams for collaborating with my office to bring this gathering together. So much work happens behind the scenes, the teamwork of each office is greatly appreciated 👏🏾

It was particularly special to welcome fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioners Sue-Anne Hunter, Emily Devine, Dallas Widdicombe, Barbara Causon, and C’Zarke Maza.

I look forward to the day when every state and territory commits to having a dedicated, independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner. Our children deserve strong, culturally informed advocacy, with the authority and resources to hold systems accountable and champion their rights.

These meetings give us opportunities to share what is happening across our jurisdictions, learn from each other and strengthen our collective advocacy so children are safe, supported and thriving.

Fantastic to hear from Associate Professor Rhianna Pilkington and Professor John Lynch from Adelaide University’s BetterStart group, and James McDougall and Louisa Yasukwa from the Australian Child Rights Taskforce. Thank you for sharing your research, insights and updates, helping us consider how evidence and children’s rights can inform better responses for children and families.

It was also great to visit The Circle: First Nations Business Showcase, connecting with Aboriginal business owners and seeing the talent, creativity and initiative behind so many amazing business ideas💡
Aboriginal businesses create opportunities for employment, strengthen families and communities, and show our young people what is possible.

A particularly proud moment was taking our visitors to see the Nunga Kids Art Competition exhibition at the South Australian Museum. Every visit reminds me just how talented our young people are. Their artwork shares stories of culture, identity, family and their hopes for the future - it’s a stunning display 👏🏾🎨
To every young artist involved: your work is being seen, admired and celebrated by people from across the country. You should be very proud!

04/11/2026

The Warming the Ground gathering was a fantastic start to the Statewide Approaches to the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program co-design process.

The program is a partnership between the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) and the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN) to strengthen Aboriginal family birthing services. There is clearly enthusiasm for a strength-based, culturally responsive approach to change, that prioritises the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal women, families, communities and workers and pushes the boundaries of what is considered possible.

Professor Yvette Roe and the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights led the Warming the Ground gathering and will lead the co-design process which will bring in input from Aboriginal voices and communities across South Australia.

Credit to Rebecca Kimlin, Executive Director, Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, WCHN, and to Sharon Bilney, Director, Aboriginal Health, EFNLHN, for their work on this project and for preparing the ground for this project to take place.

Credit also to the Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care (AMIC) Practitioners and health professionals at the gathering and all over South Australia who are such an important part of the co-design process.

30/10/2026

This week is national Children’s Week – Oct 26 to Nov 1.

Each year an article from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is chosen as the theme.

The right recognised by this year’s theme is so important. It appears in Article 30 and it acknowledges children’s right to their language, their culture and their spiritual beliefs.

See the Children’s Week Council’s website for more information: https://childrensweek.org.au/

28/10/2026

What an amazing event to attend and support - the 2026 Tracey Westerman Jilya Institute Indigenous Child Su***de Prevention Fundraising Gala.
🖤💛❤️

It was a privilege to come together with people committed to the wellbeing of our children, young people and communities, and to better understand the challenges Aboriginal communities face across the country.

A strong message for me was the importance of Aboriginal-informed frameworks, practice and assessments.

When assessment tools don’t properly consider culture, language, family relationships and lived experience, there is a risk of misunderstanding a child’s needs or reaching an inappropriate diagnosis. Those conclusions can then follow a child through referrals, shaping the services they receive and decisions made about their future.

Our children deserve assessments that recognise their strengths, identity and connections to family, community and Country, alongside any support they need.

We need greater inclusion of culturally validated assessment tools across health, education, disability, child protection and justice, supported by practitioners with the training to use them well.

As Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, I support the use of proven, evidence-informed and culturally validated tools, developed with Aboriginal expertise and appropriate for the children and communities they serve.

A big thank you to Dr Tracy Westerman and the Jilya team, and everyone contributing to this important work. Your commitment to Aboriginal leadership, research and culturally informed practice deserves to be celebrated and supported.

Our children deserve to be understood, valued and given every opportunity to thrive.

20/10/2026

Thank you to the children, young people, families, schools, judges and guests who joined us for the opening and awards of the 2026 Nunga Kids Art Competition Exhibition.

A big shout out to Uncle Micky O’Brien for a beautiful Welcome to Country, sharing language, wisdom and the strength of our culture.

There is something special about seeing our young people proudly share their artwork, with family and community alongside them. Every piece tells a story and gives us an opportunity to see the world through their eyes. 😍

This year’s competition theme, “50 Years of Deadly”, invited young artists to celebrate NAIDOC’s proud history.
Over the decades, NAIDOC themes have challenged Australia, celebrated our achievements and called for change. Our young people have added their voices to that story, sharing what culture, identity and the future mean to them, and just wow! 🤩

A big congratulations to our award winners and every young person who entered. Your creativity deserves to be celebrated!
Everyone who joined us last night had so much to admire in your amazing artwork. You should all feel very proud. 🖤💛❤️👏🏾

To the families, carers, educators and community members who encouraged our young artists, a big thank you for helping their talent grow.

A massive thank you to our award presenters SA Commissioner for Children and Young People Kylie Heneker, Uncle Tim Agius, Commissioner for Mental Health Taimi Allan, SA Chief Psychiatrist Mel Turner and Milly Sumner for joining us to recognise and celebrate our young people.

A special thank you to We Create Studio AU for sponsoring the Emerging Artist Award, and to the South Australian Museum staff for welcoming our young people’s stories into the Museum and helping bring the exhibition to life.

The exhibition is now open at the South Australian Museum until 12 November 2026.

Bring the family, take a look and celebrate the talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people from across South Australia!

Photos by Adam Jenkins of Deadly Designs Media

12/10/2026

Very exciting to be interviewed by students from Newbery Park Primary during my visit to Mount Gambier in August, and then have this interview included in the latest episode of Newbery News! Check out Newbery News’ Term End of Term 3 episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne-7WGVBAto

23/09/2026

It was great to spend time with the leadership team at Avenues College yesterday and hear about their strong commitment to Aboriginal students
👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾

Avenues College has a significant number of Aboriginal students, and its leaders and teachers are working hard to provide culturally safe support, programs and spaces that strengthen engagement, wellbeing and educational outcomes 👌🏾

Avenues students are also always willing to put their hands up and get involved in opportunities offered through my office, including:

🎤 Our SAAY Public Speaking Competition
🎨 Nunga Kids Art Competition
🗣️ Aboriginal Youth Summit

Their participation, confidence and willingness to share their ideas are greatly valued 💪🏾

It would be great to see Avenues College better supported with funding that reflects the number and needs of its Aboriginal students. An additional dedicated space would also provide students with a safe place to gather, connect with culture, access support and strengthen their learning.

Thank you to the leadership team and staff for the warm welcome, and importantly, for the work you continue to do alongside Aboriginal students and families.

21/09/2026

Today I had the privilege of visiting Taparra Primary School, meeting with the Principal and a couple of students who had personally reached out to our office to invite me to their school.

It was inspiring to sit down with these young leaders, hear their questions, and learn more about the projects they are currently driving. Their passion, confidence and commitment to making a difference in their school community was clear, and it was a reminder of the importance of creating opportunities for children and young people to have their voices heard.

One highlight of the visit was seeing the pride students have in their community and identity. I especially enjoyed meeting a student proudly wearing a very cool Kilburn Football Club beanie.

What stood out throughout the visit was the school's strong commitment to inclusion, culture and community. Each morning begins with yarning circles, where students and teachers come together to connect, share and support one another, helping to build a strong sense of belonging across the school.

I also heard about the many ways the school brings community together, including events such as their NAIDOC Week Native BBQ, which celebrates culture and strengthens community connections. Equally impressive is the school's commitment to engaging local leaders, Elders and community members to provide feedback on how the school environment can continue to improve, ensuring that culture remains at the centre of decision-making and future planning.

There is a strong sense of momentum at Taparra. With new funding supporting the development of additional facilities, including a new preschool, exciting opportunities are emerging for current and future students.

One thing was clear during my visit: positive change is happening. Stability, strong leadership and a shared vision for the future are helping create an environment where children and young people can thrive. It was encouraging to see great leaders with great ideas working alongside their community to build something truly special.

Thank you to the students and staff who welcomed me and shared their stories. I look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of Taparra Primary School.

16/09/2026

Earlier this month, I attended the One Fire Many Flames: Lighting the Way Forward for Our Families conference, which showcased the extraordinary expertise, creativity and leadership already thriving within our communities, here in South Australia and across the country, dedicated to nurturing Aboriginal families, children and young people.

The conference is a powerful reminder that the solutions exist within our communities. What is needed is a significant shift in how we recognise, support and invest in the capability of our communities.

It was a pleasure to join an interview with Aunty Karen Glover from the Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA) at SAHMRI, in partnership with the Nunga Wangga show on Radio Adelaide. I was delighted to be interviewed alongside National Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter, whose opening address set an inclusive framework tone for the conference.

The depth of knowledge shared by South Australian presenters was informative for our state. Thank you to Professor Yvonne Clark, Dr Treena Clark, Karen Glover, Michael Collard, Renae Holmberg, Rachel Elovaris, Danielle Lovegrove, Rachel Tait, Katie Coulthard, Jacinta Sweet, Margaret McCallum, and our national treasure Professor Marcia Langton for generously sharing your insights and experience.

Congratulations to the conference co-hosts: ACRA, SAHMRI, NACCHO, the Indigenous Health Equity Unit and the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights. It was clearly a conference centred on Blak excellence.

12/09/2026

Bringing government agencies and community services together to improve services for Aboriginal families

During the week, I convened the fifth meeting of our Interagency Working Group on commissioning services through Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).

The Working Group brings together representatives from across the South Australian Government to improve how agencies fund, commission and partner with ACCOs.

We know ACCOs are best placed to design and deliver services grounded in culture, community knowledge and the real experiences of Aboriginal children, young people and families. Culturally responsive non-government organisations also have an important role to play in supporting better outcomes.

The real test is whether funding and services reach the communities where they are most needed—and whether they make a meaningful difference on the ground.

We welcomed Commonwealth representatives Corri McKenzie, Jeanette Miller and Rick Haines to explain national reforms that will bring five Families and Children Activity funding streams together under the new Children and Family Support program.

In the afternoon at our important connection with Thriving Families, we brought Commonwealth representatives together with South Australian ACCO and NGO leaders to discuss what these changes may mean for organisations delivering services to our families.

There were important questions about how the reforms will work, what roles different organisations will have to play and what support will be available through the transition period to ensure program quality is held intact.

This is why having an independent Commissioner matters.

My role allows me to bring government agencies, community-controlled organisations and service providers to the same table. It creates a space for open and honest discussion, where difficult questions can be asked, concerns can be heard and governments can be held accountable for turning commitments into action.

These conversations are an important step, but success will ultimately be measured by better support for families and improved outcomes for our children, young people, and communities.

Address

Suite 3, Ground Floor, 55 Currie Street
Adelaide, SA
5000

Telephone

+618226 3353

Website

http://www.cacyp.com.au/

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