- Date:
- 15 Aug 2022
Client voice
The Client voice framework for community services (2019) sets the vision for how the department and the community services sector seeks, listens to and acts on the client voice. This includes listening to and acting on the voices of children and young people.
Children and young people have unique and valuable insights, knowledge and skills. When we design, implement and evaluate services, policies and programs with children and young people, they are more likely to be safe, effective, connected and person-centred. This means better outcomes for children, families and the wider community.
Young voices
Young voices is an extension of the Client voice framework. It offers guidance, information and tools to support safe and meaningful child and youth participation.
Young voices supports organisations and staff to:
- plan how to engage with children and young people
- understand the principles and important things to think about
- run participation activities – from consultation to co-design
- see examples of good practice through case studies and lessons learned.
We are committed to seeking, listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience of the community services system. We recognise that unless we truly listen to the voices of children and young people, we can’t fully understand what they need and know how to respond to keep them safe and to make sure supports are of the highest quality.
We also recognise there are many leaders in child and youth participation practices. Young voices is a platform to share good practice, promote the voices of children and young people – particularly those experiencing disadvantage – and contribute to continuous improvement in child and youth participation.
If you have any feedback or would like to add a resource or good practice case study, contact the Children and Families Strategic Engagement and Lived Experience team via email at ChildrenandFamiliesEngagement@dffh.vic.gov.au.
What to consider when running a participation activity
There are things you need to think about when you want to run a participation activity with children and young people. To find out more, see:
Run a participation activity
Before you start
- Review the important considerations.
- Get any necessary preliminary approvals.
It's about young people and adults working together to suss out what the problems are, what needs to be done and then working together to make real changes.
Read the following information and use the steps for meaningful participation with children and young people.
Principles of meaningful participation
The principles of safe and meaningful participation with children and young people.
Our commitments to children and young people
Consider our commitments when running a participation activity.
Step 1: Do a readiness assessment
Consider how the activity will benefit the participants, if you will include lived experience facilitators, and how you will create a safe space.
Step 2: Plan the project
Identify the scope and purpose of the project, determine if you need ethics approval and set up an independent complaints process so children and young people can raise issues as they arise.
Step 3: Engage the children and young people
Decide how you will recognise and reimburse participants, set guidelines for communication, identify opportunities for training or mentoring, and more.
Step 4: Plan for participation activity
Include children and young people in the design of the activity, use trained facilitators and follow the principles for meaningful participation.
Step 5: Set expectations during participation
Make sure your activity is safe for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and create a physically and emotionally safe space for all participants.
Step 6: After participation
Let participants know their opinions and insights were valuable, and tell them about the outcome of the activity even when a solution to the issue wasn't achieved.
Guiding frameworks
Review the guiding frameworks and policy context for child and youth engagement.
Other useful resources
Resources to help plan and run a participation activity with children or young people
Case studies and practice examples
Examples and case studies of activities run in partnership with children and young people.
Updated