Case study: The Education matters to me series

Earlier in 2018 the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC), alongside the New Zealand School Trustees Association, released a series of reports - Education matters to me. These reports share the views of tamariki and rangatahi, children and young people, about their experiences in the education system. The project was initiated to help ensure that children and young people’s views were being heard by national decision-makers in the education sector, and the general public. This engagement was a collaboration between children and young people, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the New Zealand School Trustees Association.

The OCC’s decision to engage with children and young people directly was an important way of demonstrating our commitment to putting children and young people at the heart of what we do and the advice we give.

This case study explores how the Office of the Children’s Commissioner designed and carried out best practice child and youth participation for the Education matters to me series. We recommend all child and youth engagements are tailor-made to benefit the tamariki and rangatahi you are supporting. This case study is intended to share our best practice approach to child and youth participation.