Community visitor

Community visitors are independent officers employed by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to promote and protect the rights of children and young people in out-of-home care or youth detention.

The role and responsibilities of a community visitor are outlined in the Public Guardian Act 2014 (the Act). Their primary purpose is to ensure children and young people have a voice in decisions affecting them and that their human rights are upheld.

Community visitors achieve this by:

• listening to any concerns or grievances raised by the child or young person and working with them to resolve these issues
• enquiring into appropriate support services and ensuring the child or young person can access them
• providing information about their rights and assessing whether this information is adequate
• monitoring and reporting on the child or young person’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

Additionally, community visitors are required to inspect the home environment to determine whether it is suitable for the child or young person in care. They also ensure that carers are meeting the child or young person’s needs.

Initial and ongoing visits

When a child or young person first enters care, they will receive an initial visit from a community visitor. Subsequent visits are then scheduled based on the child or young person's individual needs, with priority given to the most vulnerable.

For children or young people who are well-settled in long-term care, scheduled visits may not be necessary. However, children and young people can request a visit at any time. If such a request is made, carers, Child Safety Officers or service providers must contact OPG to arrange a visit.

For children and young people in foster or kinship care, community visitors will visit the home where they are placed. Recognising that carers lead busy lives, community visitors will always consult with carers before scheduling a visit. They carry official identification, seek the carer’s consent before entering the home, and act respectfully towards everyone in the household.

What to expect

Under the Act, community visitors are authorised to request private conversations with the child or young person. If this request is made, carers must allow it. However, if the child or young person chooses not to engage with the community visitor, their decision will be respected.

Contact

For more information about community visitors, contact OPG on 1300 653 187 or visit their website. Children and young people who already have a community visitor can also text OPG on 0418 740 186.