Ms Sue-Anne Hunter is the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.
Role of the National Commissioner
The National Commissioner protects and promotes the rights, interests, and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people by amplifying their voices, aspirations, and strengths. The Commissioner embeds the perspectives and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in advice to government and collaborates with key stakeholders to enhance collective impact and drive systemic reform.
For more information, read about the National Commission.
Sue-Anne Hunter
Ms Hunter is a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman with extensive experience in governance and leadership. She has practiced as a qualified social worker and is a recognised leader in the First Nations child and family services sector.
Her work across these sectors will be vital to ensuring that the rights, interests, and wellbeing of First Nations children and young people are protected. She will advocate across a range of issues, including the overrepresentation of First Nations children in out-of-home care.
From May 2021 to 30 June 2025, Ms Hunter worked as Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and has previously served as National Sector Development Manager, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children. A child and family services practitioner by trade, she has over twenty years’ clinical experience responding to developmental, transgenerational and community trauma.
Among her many accomplishments, Ms Hunter has helped shape policy and practice on Aboriginal guardianship laws in Victoria. This has included leading the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency’s NUGEL (Aboriginal Guardianship) program and developing a new model of child protection practices premised on Aboriginal organisations working in partnership with Aboriginal families.
As a casework and policy expert, Ms Hunter has extensive experience engaging with children, young people and families. Her advocacy work has led to the successful negotiation of reforms and improved health services.
She is widely recognised for developing rights-based, transformative practice responses that empower Aboriginal people to heal from the continuing effects and processes of colonisation. She has practical experience in establishing organisations under government legislation, including developing the framework and methodology for Yoorrook.
As the National Commissioner, Ms Hunter will work closely with First Nations peoples, communities, commissioners, guardians, advocates, other key stakeholders and, most importantly, directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.