Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:36): I rise to update the house on some of the ways in which the Allan Labor government is incorporating the voices of children and young people in our work for Victorian children and families. In our last sitting week I was pleased to endorse the What Does Family Mean to You? art exhibition in Queen’s Hall at Parliament House. The inaugural National Families Week art competition saw entries from more than 200 children and young people drawing on their creativity and experiences to share what family means to them. It engaged children from as young as 20 months old up to 15 years of age, from rural and regional communities to urban centres, and common themes included love and emotional support, safety and security, togetherness and shared experiences. The stunning collection of art featured a piece from Lucy, aged seven, who shared that she thinks of her family as a treasure, and so she drew them inside a big treasure chest. Lucy said to me, ‘My family are the most precious thing in the world.’ It was a pleasure to meet Lucy and her family along with other participating children and young people in Queen’s Hall for the exhibition, and I would like to thank Michele Lonsdale, the acting CEO, and the former CEO, now National Children’s Commissioner, Deb Tsorbaris and their team at the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare for bringing the exhibition to Parliament House and for the ways on and each and every day they incorporate children’s voices and ensure children are heard.

In my role as Minister for Children we listen directly to the views and ideas of children and young people, particularly those who have current or recent experience living away from their families in our care system. The ministerial youth advisory group, known as MYAG, is one of the ways in which we do that. MYAG is an important way in which children and young people with lived experience of the Victorian child protection and care systems have a direct voice to the Victorian government about their experiences. The views and ideas of MYAG members went into the development of the Supporting Stable and Strong Families legislation that was introduced into the Assembly yesterday. I, along with the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, will again meet with the members of MYAG next week, and I look forward to our continued conversations about how government can progress our work to keep all children and young people safe, supported and able to thrive.