When Deb Tsorbaris assumed her role as National Children’s Commissioner, she was immediately confronted with a series of urgent challenges: a childcare sexual abuse crisis, new laws imposing adult sentences on children, and a coroner’s call to ban youth solitary confinement following the tragic suicide of Cleveland Dodd, a Yamatji boy. For Tsorbaris, these issues are not isolated incidents but indicators of a broader erosion of children’s rights that require immediate attention.
“Civil societies are about treating children fairly and justly and kindly, and for some children, that’s not the case,” Tsorbaris stated. “I’m on the start line, and some of these matters need to be addressed urgently.”
As she embarks on her five-year term at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Tsorbaris has set clear priorities: listen to children and their families, act on their concerns, and advocate fiercely for those entangled in the criminal justice system. However, with political rhetoric around youth crime intensifying and legislative responses becoming more punitive, her task involves not only policy reform but also changing the national conversation.
Challenges and Collaborative Efforts
Tsorbaris is already collaborating with other commissioners, including those focused on race and human rights, especially following the recent “terrifying targeting of our Jewish citizens” at Bondi Beach. She expresses concern over the stalled progress on raising the age of criminal responsibility outside the ACT and the swift introduction of “adult time for violent crime” laws in Queensland and Victoria.
While acknowledging the fears of crime victims, Tsorbaris emphasizes that the number of youth offenders is not increasing. “The nature of what young people are engaging in, in terms of crime, has changed, with more chronic, repeat offending, but … we’re not in a crisis,” she asserts.
“We know that from my predecessor’s work, [the report titled] ‘Help way earlier!’, there are lots of ways to address these issues that are about early intervention, about working with children and their families.”
Community-Based Solutions and Success Stories
Youth crime data varies across regions, which is why Tsorbaris advocates for place-based responses that include individual, community, and systemic strategies. She highlights the success of a partnership initiated in 2016 between the Dharriwaa Elders Group and University of New South Wales researchers in Walgett. This community empowerment program led to increased use of diversionary options by police, better support for families and young people to return to school, and steps to address the over-policing of Aboriginal children.
“Governments need to get back to the agenda of investing in things that work for children rather than locking them up,” Tsorbaris says.
In her first year, Tsorbaris plans to collaborate with state and territory counterparts, local advocates, MPs, and officials concerned with child protection to determine where her efforts can be most effective. Several ministers have already shown interest in meeting with her.
Listening to Children: A Key Priority
Tsorbaris repeatedly emphasizes the importance of listening to children themselves, building on a three-year federally funded consultation project led by her predecessor, Anne Hollonds. The aim is to connect with young people and their families about policies and services that directly affect them.
“Kids do want to have a say [and] they’re quite sophisticated in their views, [such as] wanting programs that are for them and their parents at the same time,” Tsorbaris notes.
The project’s third and final report is due in 2026, and Tsorbaris is exploring ways to continue this work on an ongoing basis. This will enable the commission to track children’s opinions as they evolve and help shape better policies and programs.
Addressing Social Media Restrictions
Tsorbaris sees the Albanese government’s rushed laws banning under-16s from social media, effective December 10, as an early opportunity for better consultation. While popular among Australian adults, critics argue the bans are harmful to teens’ social lives and identity exploration. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, admitted her own daughter believes the ban will “ruin her life,” highlighting the need for more inclusive discussions.
“For my grandchildren, I think that this is something they won’t even know about, as social media before they’re 16 won’t be an option. [For those] who are harmed online, the ban is well and truly overdue,” Tsorbaris comments.
However, she acknowledges the challenges for teens who rely on social media for business or connection in isolated communities. “My job is to point out every vantage point,” she says, expressing hope for collaboration with the eSafety Commissioner to monitor the implementation and ensure children’s voices are heard.
Background and Vision
Before becoming commissioner, Tsorbaris led the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare for nearly 13 years, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of what works and what doesn’t in child welfare. She commends the government’s swift response to the childcare sexual abuse crisis by aligning Working with Children Checks and enhancing training for early-years workers.
New allegations of abuse by childcare workers emerged during Tsorbaris’s first weeks in office, underscoring the urgency of her mission. She remains focused on supporting families, emphasizing that children thrive in connection with their families, traditions, and cultural practices.
Tsorbaris began her career as a nurse and held senior roles with the Department of Human Services in Victoria. Her “very working-class” migrant heritage underscores her commitment to equality of opportunity in Australian childhoods.
Throughout her career, Tsorbaris has championed the rights of those who struggle to access justice. “I’m a strong rights-based advocate because rights equals safety, equals civil society, and when those are not upheld, we do have problems,” she states. Her five-year term will focus on making significant inroads in these areas.
Despite the challenges, Tsorbaris remains optimistic. “The job is to keep on going. That’s the thing about advocacy,” she concludes.
