News and reports

Over the past month, our weekly blog has explored the key findings from Shona’s annual reports for 2022-23.
So far, we’ve covered her reporting as the Training Centre Visitor and Child and Young Person’s Visitor (about visiting and advocacy for young people in residential care and youth detention). This week, we take a look at her annual report as the Guardian for Children and Young People.

Earlier this month, Shona published her first annual report as the Child and Young Person’s Visitor.
It was a big 12 months for the Visiting Program – after the government announced funding, Shona was appointed to the Visitor role in mid-2022 and work began on recruiting a team of advocates and establishing the program.

In past months, concerns have been raised across the country about the detention of children and young people in police cells. Detention in these environments often exposes young people – who may be primary-school aged, and many of whom have complex disability needs – to adult offenders in the same vicinity, and conditions that are harmful and potentially traumatic for children.

Many of you will have seen or heard Shona Reid in the media this week, following tabling in Parliament of three separate Annual Reports.
Today’s blog looks at the one that has drawn the most attention: the Training Centre Visitor 2022-23 Annual Report.

This week we are celebrating national Children’s Week 2023 (from 20th to 29th October), with the theme: Children have the right to relax, play and take part in activities they enjoy.