ACT Human Rights Commission

Do you know an ACT student who struggles to attend school?
The ACT Children and Young People Commissioner has partnered with the Education Directorate to consult children and young people about school attendance. You may know there is an increase in the number of students who are too stressed, worried, or upset to attend school. This is often referred to as school avoidance, school refusal, or school can’t.

“School is like getting ready for war” (Canberra student, 2026)

Although there is a lot of research about this, there is comparatively little that focuses on the views of students themselves. We are keen to change that by hearing directly from students about the drivers and possible solutions. One way we are doing this is through a survey. This short, confidential survey is open to all children and young people aged 5-24 years who are at, or have been to, school in the ACT (in any system, whether government or non-government, and including homeschool). Students don’t need to be currently attending school to complete the survey.

If you know any children or young people who may be interested in having their say, please share. To have their say, they can:
• Scan the QR code 👇 or visit tinyurl.com/adultsshouldknow to fill out the survey
• Upload their ideas in any format at hrc.act.gov.au/ytf
• Send us an email to [email protected].

We are aiming to hear from 1000+ students. Thank you for your help in promoting our consultation!

This week, 13 Sept, we celebrate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples a milestone in protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world.

Drawing on UNDRIP, the ACT Human Rights Act expressly protects the cultural rights of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples. We continue to advocate for the full suite of UNDRIP rights to be implemented, inc self-determination, consultation & participation rights.

Cultural rights & culturally safe services were some of the themes discussed at our recent planning day on Closing the Gap. The day was a chance to strategise on where & how we can get better outcomes in justice, health, housing & education for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT.

⏰ Starting soon!
Canberrans have just experienced their warmest winter on record. As temperatures rise, bushfire seasons are becoming longer & more intense🔥
This FREE online course will help you learn how to protect your physical & mental wellbeing during bushfires.
✅ Practical, evidence-based advice
✅Learn at your own pace.
Register now: 👇
🔗 https://bushfirehealth.mooc.utas.edu.au/course/20497

Bushfires and Your Health (2026-09) Bushfires and Your Health is a short course covering the physical and mental health impacts of bushfires and bushfire smoke, and what you can do to reduce your risk.

Do you have experience with ACT's mental health system?
Or with the ACT Mental Health Act?
🗣️An ACT govt community consultation on the Act is now open.
🔗 To give feedback, see the Your Say page 👇https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/mental-health-act-review
⛔️ Closes 23 Oct 2026

Review of the Mental Health Act 2015 Have your say on the Mental Health Act. Help shape safer, more supportive care for mental health consumers and the people who care for them.

⛔️ Our reception will be closed 9am to 2pm this Thurs 20 Aug.
To contact us during this time, please
📲leave us a message Ph (02) 6205 2222
⌨️ or email us [email protected]

✅ Reception will re-open from 2pm, Thurs 20 Aug.

Celebrating National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day!
As SNAICC’s Catherine Liddle said, today is about "showing our children how special they are, and how special it is that they have this connection to our Elders and more than 60 thousand years of history".

Happy National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day you mob! 🎉🙌

Today, we celebrate our kids for everything they are. Wherever you're celebrating today, we hope it's a deadly one. 🖤💛❤️

Have your say: Transitional Release Program review
ACT Corrective Services is reviewing its Transitional Release Program. This is your opportunity to have a say on the program
📝Read the consultation paper https://tinyurl.com/texw58c6
📧 Send your feedback to [email protected]
📅 Consultation closes Friday 14 August 2026

Victim Support ACT would like to offer support throughout this review, which is being run by ACT Corrective Services.

If you would like to contribute to this ACT Corrective Services review, and want support please call us on (02) 6205 2066 or visit:
🔗 https://www.hrc.act.gov.au/victim-support/victims-register


https://tinyurl.com/texw58c6

Just a moment...

📅 Tuesday 28 July | 6:00–7:30pm | Free online livecast
The event is just days away—register now to secure your spot & submit a question to our expert panel:
Dr Pene Mathew, ACT Human Rights Commissioner
Prof Sotiris Vardoulakis, University of Canberra
Dr Sharon Campbell, University of Tasmania

We'll discuss:
✅ What the ACT's new right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment means for Canberrans
✅ Air quality issues including wood heaters and transport emissions
✅ Findings from our review of the new right
✅ Community questions answered
🎟️ Register now: https://actgov.webex.com/weblink/register/r0e7880c5ecc5edc34013c17b37410df8