Commissioner for Children and Young People
Job reference: 841282
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

About the Commissioner for Children and Young People
The South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) is an independent statutory authority established under the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016 (“the Act”)
The Commissioner promotes and advocates for the rights, development and wellbeing of all children and young people in South Australia, particularly those who are vulnerable and at-risk.
The Act sets out the Commissioner’s role, including advocating and promoting children and young people’s participation in the making of decisions that affect their lives.

The Act specifically requires the Commissioner to advise and make recommendations to Ministers, State authorities and other bodies (including non-Government bodies), undertake and commission research, and prepare and publish reports on matters related to the rights, development and wellbeing of South Australia’s children and young people at the systemic level.

The Commissioners commitment to having children and young people’s voices at the forefront means you’ll be empowered to lead transformative policy initiatives, influence state and national reforms, and foster strong relationships across government and community networks.

Purpose of the role
This pivotal role places you in a senior position in the Commissioner’s office where your research background and human services expertise will help shape policy and system improvements for children and young people, ensuring that their needs and voices are at the forefront of decisions that impact their lives.

The Research and Strategic Engagement Lead will be a key conduit between the CCYP office and university partners, government, education, health and human services and other stakeholders, with responsibility for facilitating structured and purposeful research projects centred around engagement with children and young people, and with those who work directly to support, teach or care for them.

The role will also be responsible for devising policy solutions and identifying systemic changes that will benefit children and young people, particularly those who face complex barriers to active participation in education and community life and may engage with multiple support systems, e.g., mental health, homelessness, and financial support services.

Role Responsibilities and Key Outcomes

The Research and Strategic Engagement Lead has a strategic role in supporting the Commissioner to propose, influence and monitor long-term change to systems that support and respond to the needs of children and young people, particularly children who are engaged with multiple government systems and non-government services.

This role will analyse multiple sources of evidence, including qualitative inputs, quantitative data and published research across the spectrum of issues and sectors that impact children and young people, and present the information in reports, papers and other forms of public documentation to a high standard.

You will develop considered recommendations and policy positions informed by evidence, and review and provide commentary on legislative change, policy submissions, and new program developments both within and beyond the CCYP. This will include supporting the Policy and Advocacy Lead by informing and contributing to the writing of submissions and reports.

Key projects you will contribute to will include supporting government and sector partners with implementing key recommendations impacting children and young people from the DFSV Royal Commission, including lived experience approaches and tailored access points to service support for children and young people.

The Research and Strategic Engagement Lead will also be responsible for developing ethical research, lived experience and engagement frameworks to guide the internal and external relationships and engagement of the CCYP.

Research & Systemic Change

• Support key strategic projects and provide research to underpin advocacy for best practice approaches and system change opportunities that will benefit and positively impact children and young people.
• Contribute to identifying and utilising data to communicate narratives and demonstrate the complex causes that lead to children and young people experiencing disadvantage, exclusion and barriers to active participation and positive wellbeing.
• Identify best practice examples across sectors of innovative ways to ensure that children and young people are being heard, influencing their own circumstances and being supported to contribute to real action or change in their schools, lives or broader communities.

Engagement & Evaluation

• Lead structured and purposeful participatory research projects centred around engagement with children and young people, many facing multiple barriers to participation, and with those who work directly to support, teach or care for them.
• Collate, analyse and present qualitative engagement findings and key themes into reports, providing expert advice on effective policy reform for or publications for public release.
• Contribute to a data system that captures and identifies system issue and trends.
• Assess the effectiveness of existing frameworks and strategies, using a range of evaluation methodologies, and ensure ethical engagement frameworks are in place and delivered safely.
• Conduct focus groups and assist with large workshop facilitation to garner targeted, purpose-driven engagement inputs from children and young people, and targeted stakeholders.
• Consult, negotiate, influence and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including government and non-government sectors, universities and other research groups.
• Facilitate connections between diverse stakeholders and foster communities of practice with experts, researchers and practitioners who delivery services and support children and young people.

Collaborative Leadership

• Manage performance targets for yourself and in alignment with the objectives and workplan of your team through regular monitoring, feedback, and alignment with agreed objectives set by the Commissioner and Director.
• Demonstrate initiative, collaboration and open communication with team members across the office.
• Contribute to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, role modelling respectful behaviours at all times (noting the office employs and supports young people and volunteers experiencing their first work environment).
• Take personal accountability by identifying and reporting incidents, hazards, and injuries in accordance with policy & procedure.
• Cooperate and comply with reasonable instructions of line management and WHS Officers.
• Work with a high level of personal and professional integrity and motivation.

Key Capabilities
Essential

• Relevant tertiary qualification.
• Strong experience in research methods and contemporary evaluation practice, including undertaking qualitative engagement focus groups and interviews; quantitative and qualitative data analysis; and literature reviews to understand current best practice and trends in child and youth policy, engagement and program development.
• Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to research, compile engagement inputs and prepare reports, submissions, and documents.
• Advanced collaboration skills honed through managing relationships across multiple platforms within political and service contexts relevant to children and young people.
• Ability to work to very tight deadlines under broad direction only, including experience in successfully prioritising and managing complex project work and a range of related tasks.
• Detailed knowledge of the social policy frameworks and public policy development, including knowledge of the interface between local, state and commonwealth governments, their policies and political drivers impacting on children and young people in South Australia.
• High level of understanding and capability to analyse proposed legislation and legislative change including its effect on stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to promoting and creating a safe and inclusive work environment, and the legislative requirements of Equal Opportunity and Work Health and Safety legislation.

Desirable

• Deep understanding of vulnerable communities, including families, children and young people from first-hand service or support experience.
• Experience in program evaluation and development, including provision of recommendations to government.
• Established networks in government and/or the sectors supporting families, children and young people.

Special Conditions

The Commissioner has gained amendments to the Public Sector Variations 2010 to employ people under a “direct employment model”. The Variation Regulations, titled: Public Sector (Commissioner for Children and Young People) Variation Regulations 2017, came into effect in 2018. Staff are employed under Part 7 of the Public Sector Act 2009 and are considered a Public Sector employee.

• Some out of hours work is required and Inter and Intra-state travel may be required.
• The incumbent will be required to achieve performance targets as negotiated and mutually agreed with the Commissioner.
• The successful applicant is required to gain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) screening prior to being employed, which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry.
• The incumbent will be required to undertake RAN – Responding to Abuse and Neglect Training full-day course and the updated online course posted online every three years.
• An appropriate tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline and/or relevant vocational experience and knowledge.
• Australian residency or current work permits (responsibility of the applicant to provide evidence of a current work permit).

The Commissioner for Children and Young People is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

The role will be offered as a 12 month, full time contract with the view to extend.
Applicants will need a valid Working With Children Check and Reporting to Abuse and Neglect Training or must be willing to obtain them.
Candidates with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background are encouraged to apply.

Enquiries and Application

As part of your application process, you will be required to submit a resume and a cover letter address the job requirements.

Applications via this link only. Enquiries can be directed to Lynda Forrest - Director, Partnership and Impact Lead via email lynda.forrest2@sa.gov.au or phone 08 8226 3355

Applications close: 25/04/2026

The role will be offered as a 12 month, full time contract with the view to extend.
Applicants will need a valid Working With Children Check and Reporting to Abuse and Neglect Training or must be willing to obtain them.
Candidates with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background are encouraged to apply.

Enquiries and Application

As part of your application process, you will be required to submit a resume and a cover letter address the job requirements.

Applications via this link only. Enquiries can be directed to Lynda Forrest - Director, Partnership and Impact Lead via email lynda.forrest2@sa.gov.au or phone 08 8226 3355

Applications close: 25/04/2026

 

Applications close: 26/04/2026 11:45 PM

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.