Disadvantage, Equity and Children’s Rights in Twenty-First Century Australasia

Abstract

This chapter explores the ways in which economic disadvantage and the prioritizing of resources can influence the life chances of vulnerable children. It considers the implications of being raised in economically unequal societies, how this impacts on the opportunities for children and young people, and what this says about human rights. From a micro practice perspective it suggests that professional practices that are child-informed, that meaningfully engage children and young people as solution-finders in their own lives, present real opportunities for advocacy. From a broader advocacy perspective it argues that youth enfranchisement has the potential to influence political systems through the mobilization of the next generation of leadership. A commitment to implementing rights-based practices, at the macro and local levels, has the potential to strengthen the voice of children and young people so they become a vocal constituency in all matters that concern them.