Sue-Anne Hunter Appointed as Australia's Inaugural First Nations Children's Commissioner

Driven by Personal Loss and Systemic Injustice

Sue-Anne Hunter has been appointed as Australia's inaugural First Nations children's commissioner. Her advocacy is partly motivated by the case of an Aboriginal boy she knew, who was removed from his family and later died in custody. Over 600 Aboriginal individuals have died in custody since a royal commission in the 1980s.

Hunter seeks to achieve systemic change in honor of those who have died.

Prioritizing Vulnerable Children

Legislation establishing the commission as an independent office recently passed parliament. Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, has prioritized addressing the high rates of Indigenous children in out-of-home care and their overrepresentation in custody.

Indigenous children are up to 12 times more likely to be in care than non-Indigenous children, and over 60% of children in custody are Indigenous, detained at 20 times the rate of non-Indigenous children.

Hunter observes the impact of these issues across various settings, including youth detention, out-of-home care, hospitals, and prisons. She states that current issues include Indigenous children being removed from families, incarcerated, and dying from preventable diseases.

An Engaged Approach to Reform

Hunter's work involves engaging with vulnerable children and utilizing their insights to advocate for legislative reforms. Her approach focuses on building relationships and trust among First Nations communities, sector organizations, and political figures. She indicates that existing racism and injustice necessitate continuous advocacy.

Background and Influences

Hunter's background includes growing up in Broadmeadows, completing studies at La Trobe University and a master's at Harvard, and working as a child protection caseworker. She acknowledges mentors such as US trauma scholar Bruce Perry and Aunty Muriel Bamblett. She also references a legacy of survival, noting her Wurundjeri ancestors were reduced to 13 individuals after colonisation.

Reluctant Leadership, Clear Vision

Despite a previous role with Victoria's Yoorrook Justice Commission, Hunter has described herself as a 'reluctant leader.' She emphasizes that policymakers should consider the impact of their decisions on vulnerable children and strives to ensure children's voices are heard in legislative discussions.

A Future Where the Commission is Unnecessary

Hunter's ambition for the commission is to eventually render itself unnecessary by achieving a state where every First Nations child is safe, supported, and thriving.