By Shaylem Wilson, Principal Aboriginal Advocate
It has been an honour to serve as the Office’s Principal Aboriginal Advocate (PAA) for one year!
As someone who is deeply passionate about the rights of Aboriginal peoples, it feels incredibly fitting to hold a role that allows me to actively champion the rights of Aboriginal children and young people who are in care or detention.
This work is both personal and purposeful, it goes beyond professional responsibility and speaks directly to my cultural identity, values, and commitment to justice and equity as a Ngarrindjeri woman.
The Principal Aboriginal Advocate is a critical leadership role within the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People, dedicated to advocating for the rights, wellbeing, and cultural needs of Aboriginal children and young people across South Australia.
The purpose of this role is to make sure that the unique cultural rights, experiences, and voices of Aboriginal children and young people are central to all aspects of our advocacy and oversight.
This is critical, especially in the context of the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, and systemic disadvantage.
It is not enough to simply acknowledge these realities, we must actively respond to them by embedding cultural safety, understanding, and respect into the systems meant to protect and support our children.
When I began in this newly created role just over twelve months ago, I knew we had the opportunity to build something powerful from the ground up.
Since then, I’ve watched the role grow into a meaningful mechanism for advocacy and cultural accountability.
My work involves not only responding to individual cases and concerns but also providing strategic and culturally grounded advice on broader systemic issues, with the aim of creating sustainable, meaningful change.
I am fortunate to work across the entire Office, collaborating with the Visiting Team, the Advocacy Team, and the Policy Team, giving me a unique vantage point into how each part of the organisation functions.
I strive to support and strengthen the work of every team and individual, ensuring that their practices align with what is in the best interests of the Aboriginal children and young people we serve.
Ensure young people are seen, heard and respected
One of the most rewarding aspects of this work has been the time I’ve spent with young people.
Whether it’s sitting down with them at their placements, meeting with them in the Adelaide Youth Training Centre, walking alongside them in community settings, or connecting during events, each of these moments is deeply valuable.
I consider it a privilege when a young person chooses to share part of their story with me.
Sometimes, they speak about things that bring them joy and hope. Other times, they share their pain, frustration, and hurt.
Each of these conversations underscores why this role is so important, to ensure that government departments, service providers, and the broader community hear these voices clearly and respond with care, accountability, and change.
These young people deserve to be seen, heard, and respected, and their stories must help shape the policies and systems that affect their lives.
Over the past year, I’ve supported the Office’s core functions in a variety of way, including visiting placements and detention facilities to hear directly from Aboriginal children and young people about their lived experiences.
These insights have been crucial to our monitoring and advocacy work.
I’ve also led cultural practice reviews that have helped inform our internal quality assurance processes and broader systemic reform efforts.
I’ve worked to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal communities, organisations, and kinship networks across the state.
This engagement is fundamental to everything we do, ensuring our work is guided by the perspectives of those we serve.
Additionally, I’ve contributed to embedding cultural considerations in strategic planning, policy development, and formal submissions, while also supporting staff development through training and reflective practice sessions aimed at enhancing cultural capability across the organisation.
The difference this role makes for children and young people is real and lasting.
It provides them with someone who understands their communities, cultural identities, and histories, someone who sees the whole of who they are, not just their placement or circumstance.
It reinforces the message that their cultural identity matters, that their rights are valid, and that their voices are vital to reform efforts.
