December 22nd, 2025Tracy Beaton Principal Commissioner of the Commission for Children and Young People
Tracy Beaton has been appointed the Principal Commissioner of the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP), from today, December 22.
Ms Beaton brings more than 35 years of experience as a clinical practitioner and academic, with a strong record of improving child protection systems and delivering better outcomes for children, young people and families.
She has served as Chief Practitioner and Executive Director of the Office of Professional Practice at the former Department of Health and Human Services, where she provided strategic advice and delivered reforms to strengthen child welfare and embed evidence‑based practice.
During her time in the role, Ms Beaton oversaw the design and implementation of an enhanced response pilot project with Victoria Police that reduced the sexual exploitation of children. She also led a workforce strategy that delivered a substantial increase in the number of child protection practitioners.
Before that, Ms Beaton was Victoria’s Chief Mental Health Nurse for seven years, introducing Safewards into mental health hospital settings to reduce occupational violence and contributing to the development of the state’s Mental Health Act.
In her most recent role, Ms Beaton provided expert advice on child safeguarding initiatives as Associate Partner and Chief Clinical Officer at EY. She has supported organisations with analysis of the Child Safe Standards and redesigned and implemented a new operating model for the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
She has also held the role of Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences at La Trobe University and contributed her expertise in mental health and child protection to a number of publications.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said the Commission for Children and Young People played a vital role in driving continuous improvement to keep Victorian children safe and supported.
“Tracy has decades of experience in child protection and mental health and will bring strong leadership and expertise to the Commission as they work to deliver better outcomes for children and young people.”
