Minister Foley launches a new eLearning Course for involving young people in decision making

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD has launched a new, free online eLearning course for involving young people in decision making.

The self-paced course provides checklists, videos and quizzes to ensure that the voices of children and young people are meaningfully included in decisions that affect their lives.

Anyone who works directly for or with children, or who frequently interacts with children as part of their daily role, is encouraged to take the course to build their knowledge and confidence on the topic of child and youth participation in decision-making.

The eLearning Course has been developed by Hub na nÓg, the national centre of excellence and coordination in children and young people’s participation in decision making, which is funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

Minister Foley said: "I am a firm believer in giving children the opportunity to have a say in decisions that will impact their lives. It always leads to better decision making and better outcomes. For example, it was a condition of funding that teenagers had to be consulted for the Department of Children’s initiative to provide new recreational hang-out spaces for them. This new e-learning course provides professionals with the practical expertise needed to ensure that all decisions locally, regionally and nationally are informed by those they impact most.”

Hub na nÓg developed the course to support anyone whose role involves working for or interacting with children and young people. The eLearning course is relevant for a diverse range of professionals, including:

● Public Service: Government departments, State agencies, and Local Authority staff.

● Education: Teachers, principals, and administrative staff in primary and secondary schools.

● Health and Social Care: Healthcare workers, social workers, and allied health professionals.

● Early Years: Early childcare workers and pre-school practitioners.

● Law Enforcement: Members of An Garda Síochána and those in the youth justice setting.

● Non-Governmental and Private Sector: Organisations and businesses that provide services, sports, or activities to children and young people.

The eLearning course was developed as a key action under the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making ACTION PLAN 2024-2028. It is designed to build the capacity of adults across all sectors to meet their obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child grants children the right to express their views freely and have those views given due weight in all matters affecting them. This right is central to child participation in decision-making, ensuring children are heard in decisions ranging from family life to government policies, with their input acted upon appropriately.

The e-Learning module is available now at: https://learning.hubnanog.ie

Course content and features: The four-module course offers an interactive learning experience with videos, good practice examples, and quizzes. Participants will be guided through an understanding of:

1. The benefits and definitions of child and youth participation.
2. The application of the UNCRC and Irish policies in practice.
3. How to apply the National Framework to involve young people in decision-making.
4. Practical use of the Framework’s checklists to assess and improve participation practices.