Children who come to the airport are not generally given an opportunity to exercise their rights; they come as part of a family system, their parents have decided where and when they are going, how much money they have to spend and what they will do while they wait. The airport, airlines and security protocols dictate where they must go and what they must do within the airport and in what order. This lack of control, and often lack of knowledge, of what a trip to the airport involves can result in stressed parents, and stressed children. #
However, at every step of the journey, there are opportunities to introduce choices and accommodations for children and their families to reduce this stress and make it a better experience, so who better to ask about this than children themselves, while giving them an opportunity to exercise their right of forming and expressing their views? Of course, it can’t be forgotten that the adult responsibility here is to ensure these views are listened to by those making decisions, and appropriately taken into account. #
Why we did this project
- As part of our mission to change adult’s attitudes to children, we identified spaces where lots of children are present, but that are not designed for them.
- Perth Airport is one such place, where children spend many hours, but have a limited ability to influence their experience.
- With the announcement of the new terminal, we are delighted that Perth Airport embraced this opportunity to become leaders in valuing children.
- Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that “the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”
- The airport, airlines and security protocols dictate where they must go and what they must do within the airport and in what order.
- This lack of control, and often lack of knowledge, of what a trip to the airport involves can result in stressed parents, and stressed children.
- At every step of the journey, there are opportunities to introduce choices and accommodations for children and their families to reduce this stress and make it a better experience, so who better to ask about this than children themselves.
Methodology
- An Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the child advisory workshops was put out via Perth Airport social media, with over 1,300 EOIs being submitted.
- 21 children, young people and their parents attended the three workshops over two days, ranging in age from 9months to 17years.
- The groups included Aboriginal children and families, children and families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, children with physical disabilities and children who are neurodivergent. All families resided in the Perth metropolitan area or Peel region.
- Children, young people and their parents completed written consent forms at the commencement of the workshops.
- Participants were given an introduction to the new airport terminal project, then went on a guided walk of the T1 domestic terminal with Perth Airport and VCI staff.
- Along the way they were asked to share their opinions and ideas, the older two groups came back to the room to share more ideas & document them with words and pictures.
What happens now
- A children’s version of the report will be sent to the children and young people.
- The airport will the update us and the children on how their feedback was included in the current airport and the new design.
To read about the project and to view photos, click on the link below.