Commissioner for Children & Young People says young people "not at the centre" in WA, as state sees "lack of progress"

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CW: Some readers/listeners may find details in this story distressing.

Western Australia's Commissioner for Children & Young People says there is a "lack of progress" and "lack of sufficient support" for young people experiencing vulnerability and hardship as her 'Profile of Children and Young People in WA 2025' report is released publicly.

Jacqueline McGowan-Jones phoned into the Newsflash podcast, on Monday, and told Isaac Mulcrone young people are not at the centre of how WA operates.

"I think it's a very sad event to say that we keep doing a patchwork approach, we deliver another program here or another project there or run another trial. What we need is a holistic, systemic approach that brings all agencies together so when we look at a child's vulnerabilities we say 'well, who has to be in the room'. We need to look at each child's needs and work with the family to wrap those supports around the family," the Commissioner told listeners.

Commissioner McGowan-Jones' report found 132 young people, aged between 10 and 13, were held in detention yet fewer than five of those people were sentenced in 2023-24.

Concerningly, it was found that nearly 60% of all children in out-of-home care were Indigenous (between 2023-24 in WA). The Commissioner labelled that statistic as "horrific".

"When I was in the Department, for then child protection and family support, the percentage of children in out of home care, who were Aboriginal, was 47%. That is 13-years-ago and it has risen 13%," she told Isaac Mulcrone.

Hear more from the Commissioner, including findings surrounding the young LGBTQIA+ community, by clicking play.