Australia's most vulnerable children will soon have a dedicated representative in the peak human rights body, after the federal government threw open applications for the National Children's Commissioner.
The government passed legislation earlier this year on the role. It passed parliament with the support of the Greens.
UNICEF has long recommended Australia implement a Children's Commissioner, in part so Canberra can uphold its obligations to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Children, to which it is a signatory.
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A report presented to the UN by the Australian branch of UNICEF identified four at risk groups of children.
They are: indigenous children, young people in immigration detention, children in out-of-home care and children with disabilities.
The Commissioner will look at government policies and how they impact the rights of children in Australia.
The new Commissioner is expected to take office later this year.
