Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT 2008 - SECT 7

The objects of this Act include—

        (a)     providing for, and promoting, the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people in a way that—

              (i)     recognises their right to grow in a safe and stable environment; and

              (ii)     takes into account the responsibilities of parents, families, the community and the whole of government for them; and

        (b)     ensuring that children and young people are provided with a safe and nurturing environment by organisations and people who, directly or indirectly, provide for their safety, welfare and wellbeing; and

        (c)     providing for children and young people to receive the care and protection necessary to protect them from significant harm by providing whole of government assistance to them, their parents and families, the community and others who have a responsibility for them; and

        (d)     ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are included and participate in—

              (i)     providing for, and promoting, the safety, welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people; and

              (ii)     providing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to receive the care and protection necessary to protect them from significant harm; and

              (iii)     rehabilitating and reintegrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young offenders; and

        (e)     ensuring that services provided by, or for, government for the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people—

              (i)     are centred on the needs of children and young people; and

              (ii)     are informed by processes which engage children and young people, wherever possible, and take their views and wishes into account; and

              (iii)     foster and promote the health, education, developmental needs, spirituality, self-respect, self-reliance and dignity of children and young people; and

              (iv)     respect the individual race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexuality and culture of children and young people; and

        (f)     ensuring that young offenders—

              (i)     receive positive support and opportunities to become rehabilitated and reintegrated community members; and

              (ii)     share responsibility for rehabilitation and reintegration with their parents and families, the community and the government in partnership; and

        (g)     imposing standards that must be complied with for the delivery of services to children and young people; and

        (h)     ensuring the protection of children and young people in employment.