The Child Advocacy Hall of Fame is proud to announce Australian Megan Mitchell has been inducted into the Child Advocacy Hall of Fame as our 2021 Inductee. Megan served a seven year term as Australia's first Children's Commissioner through the Australian Human Rights Commission. Australia founded the position of Children's Commissioner in 2012 and from Megan's commitment and prior child advocacy work in Australia, she was the natural choice to take on this prestigious national role. Megan Mitchell served the children and families of Australia with distinction as the Children's Commissioner from February 25th, 2013 to March 24th 2020.
Prior to becoming the Children's Commissioner Megan was the New South Wales (NSW) Commissioner for Children and Young People from 2010 to 2013 and the CEO of the Australian Council of Social Services.
Megan was born in the late 1950's to single mother, Toni Mitchell who had recently moved to Sydney from Queensland. Megan was raised by her mother in Sydney and did well in school moving onto the University of Sydney and Sydney Teachers College eventually earning her masters degree in psychology and social work. Throughout this time in her youth Megan became active in sports like cricket, soccer and an Australian game known as touch footy. These sports activities enabled Megan to bond and share with Australian children.
Looking back at her recruitment to her job as Children's Commissioner, her favorite part was being interviewed for the position by elementary school kids from Kingsford Smith Primary School. The children were very interested to know if Megan had the capacity to listen and understand children as well as be outgoing, gregarious, warm, insightful and not high strung.
Once she landed the job, Megan went all over Australia listening to hundreds of thousands of children in what she called her "Big Banter" tour in such places as refugee camps, prisons and to young teenage parents. Megan visited and listened to transgendered youth, children with physical and mental challenges, child scouting and sports organizations and children in remote regions of the country.
2021 Child Advocacy Hall of Fame Inductee Megan Mitchell has been a monumental outspoken children's human rights advocate for the 5.5 million Australian Children she represented. Through her open dialogue with children, Megan has advised them of their human rights and was a catalyst in creating many child safe organizations through developing resources. Megan has empowered children to speak up about events, decisions and things affecting them. This is extremely significant in Australia as the country has the youngest age for criminal culpability in the world, imprisoning 10 year olds ! ! !
For her dedicated hard work focusing on the needs, rights and best interests of Australia's children Megan was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2021, an extremely prestigious honor recognizing citizens for outstanding service and achievement. The Child Advocacy Hall of Fame is proud to have Megan Mitchell as our 2021 Inductee.
Megan, thank you for your lifelong outstanding contribution to children and their human rights. We are honored to have you included among the ranks of the greatest child advocates in the world !