Child Rights Training: Understanding and Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

DTP and STARTTS are calling for applications from refugee and migrant community leaders to participate in a half-day training program on child rights.

Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000

26 June 2026

1:00pm - 4:00pm

This program has concluded

On Friday 26 June at NSW Parliament house, the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) in partnership with STARTTS brought together a wonderfully diverse group of participants for a half day training workshop. This training was based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – and the energy in the room was inspiring from start to finish.

We were honoured to have Rev. Bill Crews open our training with stories from his humanitarian work around the world. Drawing on decades of humanitarian work - from the Cambodia-Thailand border to HIV-affected communities in Africa and the "Jungle" refugee camp in Calais - Rev. Crews shared stories of resilience and hardship, encouraging participants not to lose hope even when advocacy feels overwhelming. He closed with words often shared with him: that while we cannot change the whole world, changing the life of one child changes the world for that child, and at times, that is enough. For all involved, this was a moving and motivating start to the day.

From there, the participants dove into the Convention itself moving through an interactive quiz followed by lively discussion, discovering that it is the most widely ratified human rights treaty on the planet. The session covered the distinction between ratification and incorporation into domestic law in Australia, the role of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in monitoring implementation, and the Optional Protocols, including the individual complaints mechanism Australia has not yet adopted. Small groups then tackled real world scenarios covering everything from climate friendly play spaces to family separation, unpacking core principles like non-discrimination and the powerful role civil society plays in shaping outcomes for children everywhere.

Closer to home, participants shared thoughtful reflections on the issues facing children in their own Australian communities and celebrated the growing momentum behind a enshrining child rights at a federal level. They also explored Australia’s progress and ongoing challenges on refugee children’s rights. These challenges include the landmark 2025 finding on Nauru detention.

A highlight of the day was the discussion on diaspora advocacy, with participants sharing inspiring samples from their own communities. From grassroots mental health education to storytelling projects, it was clear how much our participants have to offer in their own communities. Their insights show just how much impact community-led, collaborative advocacy can have.

The day wrapped up with certificates and warm heartfelt networking, capping off a rich, thought-provoking and genuinely hopeful session for everyone involved.

To read the full program report, please click here.

Featured Speakers

Featured speakers at this event included, Louisa Yasukawa, Advocacy and Policy Manager at UNICEF Australia and Reverend Bill Crews, founder of the Reverend Bill Crews Foundation.