James McDougall
James McDougall is one of Australia’s most experienced child rights experts with experience and knowledge in youth justice, child protection, children’s and youth services, family violence and child safety. His broad experience has enabled him to build knowledge and expertise in systems mapping, planning and governance. He has played a key role in the establishment and ongoing achievements of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, a key coordinating and reporting coalition for child rights reporting and advocacy in Australia.
His roles have built capacity, collaboration and influence at:
Youth Legal Service (Western Australia) as Coordinator
Youth Justice Conferencing (New South Wales Government) as Operations Coordinator
National Association of Community Legal Centres as Director
National Children’s & Youth Law Centre as Director
Save the Children Australia as Director of Policy and Advocacy
Policy Advisor at the Commission for Children and Young People (Victoria)
Policy & Programs at the Institute of Child Protection Studies (ACU).
Education and Affiliations
He graduated in law from University of Adelaide. He worked in general practise in South Australia and Western Australia and as a children’s lawyer nationally.
He is chair of the Steering Committee of the Australian Child Rights Task Force and has recently stepped down from the Board of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition.
Experience and expertise
He has provided extensive advice and support to programs in China and Southeast Asia and undertaken consultancy work for Save the Children, UNICEF, and PLAN International. As a consultant in human rights and child rights, children’s policy and management and governance, his clients have included: UNICEF Australia; Plan International Australia; the State Government of Victoria; Secretariat of National Aboriginal Islander Child Care; Refugee Council of Australia; Commission for Children and Young People (Victoria); Commission for Children and Young People (Western Australia); Domestic Violence Service Management (NSW).
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
AUSTRALIAN YOUTH AFFAIRS COALITION: Board member from November 2018 to March 2022; Co-Chair from December 2019 to June 2021
AUSTRALIAN CHILD RIGHTS TASKFORCE: Steering Committee from April 2005 to today
NATIONAL RURAL LAW & JUSTICE ALLIANCE: Board member from April 2014, Treasurer since September 2015
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION & CONSUMER COMMISSION: Community Consultative Committee member from January 2005 to March 2010
NATIONAL YOUTH ADVOCACY NETWORK: Chairperson from April 1995 to September 1998 and from January 2005 to November 2010
