A government executive with 15 years of management experience delivering services to vulnerable Queenslanders has been appointed as Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Child Guardian (the Children’s Commissioner).
Acting Child Safety Minister Jann Stuckey today announced Mr Stephen Armitage had been named as the new Children’s Commissioner.
“Mr Armitage’s extensive background includes senior management in the areas of youth justice, Indigenous education, as well as child protection,” Ms Stuckey said.
“He has strong experience in guiding transformative reform and will lead the Commission through a period of significant change, as the Newman Government implements landmark child protection reforms.”
Ms Stuckey said the Newman Government had accepted the recommendations of the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry that would fundamentally reform the child protection system.
“The former Labor government created a child protection system that was overburdened and unsustainable, focusing too heavily on the tertiary end of protecting children,” she said.
“Commissioner Tim Carmody QC found that this system was failing vulnerable Queensland families and that a wide sweeping overhaul was needed.
“The new Family and Child Commission will have an important role in advising the government about how to support families and create intergenerational change, and Mr Armitage will lead the creation of this new entity throughout 2014.”
Ms Stuckey also acknowledged the valuable contribution of outgoing Acting Commissioner Barry Salmon.
“Mr Salmon has had a highly commendable 12 years of service at the Children’s Commission, particularly in his role as Acting Commissioner during 2013,” she said.
“I wish Barry well in his retirement.”
Mr Armitage commences as Children’s Commissioner on 17 January 2014.
