The Commissioner's powers and functions are in section 78 of the Children Young Persons and their Families Act 1997. In summary the Commissioner provides advice to the Minister on all matters relating to children and young people, promotes the well being of children and investigates matters as requested by the Minister.;;;;The Commissioner also has the function to act as an advocate for detainees under the Youth Justice Act 1997. In this role the Commissioner, provides independent advice, information and assistance to residents of Ashley Youth Detention to access formal complaint avenues, such as the Ombudsman and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.;;;;The Commissioner's functions under the Act are as follow:;;- on the request of the Minister, to investigate a decision or recommendation made, or an act done or omitted, under this Act in respect of a child, other than a decision or recommendation made by the Court;;;- to encourage the development, within the Department, of policies and services designed to promote the health, welfare, care, protection and development of children;;;- on the request of the Minister, to inquire generally into and report on any matter, including any enactment, practice and procedure, relating to the health, welfare, care, protection and development of children;;;- to increase public awareness of matters relating to the health, welfare, care, protection and development of children;;;- on the Commissioner's own initiative or on the request of the Minister, to advise the Minister on any matter relating to the administration of this Act and the policies and practices of the Department, another Government department or any other person which affect the health, welfare, care, protection and development of children;;;- on the Commissioner's own initiative or on the request of the Minister, to advise the Minister on any matter relating to the health, welfare, education, care, protection and development of children placed in the custody, or under the guardianship, of the Secretary under this or any other Act;;;- on the Commissioner's own initiative or on the request of the Minister, to act as an advocate for a detainee under the Youth Justice Act 1997;;;- to advise the Minister on any matter relating to the health, welfare, education, care, protection and development of detainees under the Youth Justice Act 1997;;;- any other functions imposed by this or any other Act.