Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island ‘tweens’ were among more than 8,000 who contributed their views on life to a report from the Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Commissioner Helen Connolly sent thousands of postcards to schools across South Australia last year to gather the thoughts of 8 to 12 year olds.

They were asked what they like to do; what they want to do in the future; what they worry about; and what they want to change about SA.

Ms Connolly says the 8,429 completed postcards that were returned provide an opportunity for community and school leaders to hear directly from a group whose voices and opinions are rarely heard. 

The responses came from 239 Catholic, Independent, Government, Special Education Units and Aboriginal schools from the Greater Adelaide Region, as well as from regional centres and rural and remote communities across South Australia. 

Children from schools across the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island identified transport as a key issue, with many reporting they wanted it to be easier to get around within their own communities, between their communities and other regions. 

This included transport into Adelaide from the Fleurieu and to the mainland from Kangaroo Island. 

Their ideas for better public transport reflected a need to provide options for people without cars, as well as access to environmentally friendly alternatives to cars. 

Children in this region are very conscious of the cost of living and financial issues, with many writing about lowering the cost of bills and rent and reducing taxes. 

They were also worried about a lack of jobs in the region and what this meant for their own aspirations to get a job. 

Compared to tweens who live in the city, 8-12 year olds in the country wrote more about outdoor activities, such as riding bikes, scooters, and skateboards, as well as about cars, motorbikes, fishing, camping and hunting. 

Keeping their families and communities safe and healthy was very important for regional children. 

Their ideas for creating healthier and happier communities ranged from improving local hospitals and taking a strong stance against cigarettes and drugs, to improving local sporting club facilities and playgrounds for their family and friends to enjoy. 

Although the environment was one of the top issues for children across South Australia, the focus of their environmental concerns varied across regions. 

Overall 8-12 year olds in the country focused less on climate change and more on plastics, pollution, drought, and litter. 

Ms Connolly says the postcards will be sent out annually at the same time each year, to build understanding of the lives of 8 to 12 year olds over time. 

They will have a slightly different focus each year, with the ultimate goal to increase the opportunity for South Australian children of primary school age to influence the Commissioner’s agenda. 

The South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People is an independent statutory position. 

The Commissioner’s role includes advocating for systemic change to policies, programs and practices that impact the rights, development and wellbeing of South Australia’s children and young people. 

The full report is available on the South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People website.