Overrepresented in the out-of-home care and justice systems, Indigenous children will for the first time have a commissioner to represent their rights.
Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman Sue-Anne Hunter has been appointed Australia's first National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
She said it's an honour to accept the responsibility to protect the wellbeing, rights, and interests of Indigenous children and young people.
"The work is urgent and the statistics are grim. But our children are not statistics, they are our future," she said.
"This role will elevate their voices and their concerns. They will be at the centre of everything I do."
Ms Hunter has a background in the family services sector, including work at the peak body for Indigenous children, SNAICC, as well as at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and as a frontline social worker.
Most recently she was a commissioner and deputy chair of the Yoorook Justice Commission.
Ms Hunter will replace Lil Gordon who has performed the role of acting commissioner since January.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy thanked Ms Gordon for her service, saying she was looking forward to working with Ms Hunter.
"Sue-Anne Hunter will be a fierce advocate for First Nations children and young people as Commissioner," she said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are over 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care compared with non-Indigenous children, and 27 times more likely to be in youth detention.
Recent data shows efforts to reduce the overrepresentation of First Nations children in out-of-home-care are going backwards.
Through her role as commissioner, Ms Hunter will hear from children and young people on issues that directly affect them, and drive change to dismantle the barriers they face.
"I recognise that we are at risk of losing another generation to systems that fail them, to removal, out-of-home care, detention and a bleak future," she said.
Ms Hunter's appointment comes in time for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day on Monday.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the day is a reminder that more work needs to be done to ensure all children have the same opportunities.
"First Nations children and young people are the heirs to 65,000 years of continuous culture and heritage," she said.
"We must ensure they can grow up connected to their family, community, culture, and Country."
