Bundjalung Widubul-Wiabul woman Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts began her five-year role as the ACT's inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner on Monday.
A survivor, human rights advocate, lawyer and Fulbright Scholar, Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts brings a wealth of experience to the independent role that's been advocated by experts for a lengthy period.
Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts also brings a lived experience to the role – having been removed from her family at the age of ten.
Her research as a Fulbright Scholar explored new ways to transform the child-protection system throughout the country, enhancing the lives of Indigenous children and young people.
She said her experience meant she knew as well as anyone there is a better way to do things and "represent the rights, safety and interests" for Indigenous children so it can be made "right for the next generation".
"I firmly believe that poverty should not result in punishment or removal, but rather support," she said.
"While we still have a long way to go, we will progress together."
In the ACT, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 9.98 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children.
The new commissioner said her vision was for the embedding of cultural safety across the ACT, and to "amplify the voices of our children to create real, systemic change".
"I am honoured to step into this vital role and give voice to the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children and young people," Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts said.
"Making this world a more just, better place for First Nations children and young people is vitally important, requiring a whole-of-community response."
The establishment of the position was a key recommendation of the Indigenous-led Our Booris, Our Way review into the horrific and disproportionate overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child protection system.
The oversight committee chair for Our Booris, Our Way, Natalie Brown, said the new position was a "direct result" of the recommendations for a legislated commissioner by the committee.
She said the position would both advise and influence the government on a "broad spectrum of issues that impact our children across both government and non-government services".
"The role also has the capacity to engage in processes more directly impacting the lives of our children and their families," Ms Brown said.
"The Our Booris, Our Way committee has worked tirelessly to bring this and other recommendations to fruition with the goal being for Aboriginal children to thrive growing up in the ACT."
Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts' appointment comes in the wake of the Federal Government announcing a National Child Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, which is hoped will have broad jurisdiction and strength to help the lives of Indigenous children across the country by directly speaking to parliament.
