Div 2Parliamentary recognition of children and young people

Division 2—Parliamentary recognition of children and young people 9—Parliamentary recognition of children and young people (1) The Parliament of South Australia recognises that— (a) children and young people are valued citizens of the State; and (b) the future of the State is inextricably bound to the wellbeing of all its children and young people; and (c) it is of vital importance to the State, and all of its citizens, that all children and young people are given the opportunity to thrive. (2) The Parliament of South Australia recognises that, as a State, we want each child and young person to benefit from (at least) the following outcomes: (a) to be safe from harm; (b) to do well at all levels of learning and to have skills for life; (c) to enjoy a full sense of wellbeing; (d) to be active citizens who have a voice and influence, and the Parliament of South Australia accordingly commits to promoting these outcomes. (3) The Parliament of South Australia recognises that children and young people can reasonably expect to be loved by their families and treated with respect and dignity by those with whom they interact. (4) The Parliament of South Australia recognises that— (a) it is the duty of every person in the State to safeguard and promote the outcomes set out in subsection (2); and (b) the provisions of this Act, and compliance with its provisions, form only a small part of the way in which the State, the agencies of the State, the Commonwealth and every citizen of the State discharge that duty. (5) The Parliament of South Australia recognises that the provision of services to children and young people and their families that address the underlying risk factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect are critical in preventing children and young people from being in care. (6) The Parliament of South Australia recognises— (a) the impact of laws and policies of past governments that led to the Stolen Generations (being the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people from their families and communities) and that such laws and policies continue to have a strong impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities today; and (b) that the State has a responsibility to implement measures to safeguard and promote the cultural identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination by ensuring connections to family, community, culture and Country are maintained at the highest level, and that decisions are made in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families and communities. (7) It is the intention of the Parliament of South Australia that the performance of functions in the administration and operation of this Act be done in collaboration with, and with the cooperation of, children and young people and their families, rather than simply being done to or for them. (8) The Parliament of South Australia recognises the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as documents that inform the administration and operation of this Act.