In this report, the New South Wales Advocate for Children and Young People presents 70 recommendations to improve policy and practice relating to children's welfare and wellbeing. The key and overarching recommendation is the need to systematise children and young people's voices into decision-making processes at all levels on matters affecting their lives: from the highest level of government policy making to the day to day decisions made by the service they connect with. The recommendations are based on consultations with almost 3,000 socially excluded children and young people from across New South Wales, defined here as those living in low socio-economic status areas, in out of home care, experiencing homelessness, in the juvenile justice system, or from Indigenous communities. Participants were asked about what and isn't working well, what makes them feel welcome or unwelcome, how to stop violence, support to prevent entry to the juvenile justice system, and key priorities. The recommendations and consultation findings are discussed under the themes of participation and voice, education, employment, homelessness and housing, violence, transport, mental health and substance abuse, supportive workers and services, accessible programs and activities, justice, and the built environment.
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