Rights of the Child in Healthcare
CHA has been facilitating the sharing of innovation, highlighting strategies and approaches where partnership with consumers is transforming healthcare.
Australia is a signatory on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international human rights treaty that protects the rights of children and young people. It is important that these rights are upheld in the way that health care is delivered.
To support the Rights of the Child, CHA initiated a project, delivered in consultation with the Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare, to develop a charter on the rights of children and young people in healthcare services.
The Charter continues to be a relevant guide to understanding and respecting the rights of children and young people receiving healthcare. All CHA member health services are encouraged to promote the charter and to uphold the rights of children it articulates.
Charters
In consultation with all stakeholders in the project, it was decided to develop and publish separate charters for Australian and New Zealand children that were tailored to the unique cultural needs of children in each country.
Listen Up - The Rights of Every Child in Healthcare
Be in the Know - The Rights of Young People in Healthcare
Posters
CHA has developed posters to raise awareness of children’s and young people’s rights in healthcare. Health services are welcome to download, print, and display these posters to help children and young people understand their rights.
More Information
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (link is external) (CRC) is an international treaty protecting the human rights of children, to which Australia is a signatory.
The Child Rights Website (link is external) gives more information about the implementation of the CRC in Australia.
The Australian Human Rights Commission publishes an annual Children’s Rights Report (link is external), as well as a child-friendly version.
UNICEF has a number of educational resources about children’s rights (link is external).
