Megan Mitchell has been appointed as the first National Children’s Commissioner.

Ms Mitchell, currently NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People, will be a dedicated advocate for children and young people. Her five-year term starts on March 25.

The Gillard government announced last April that a national commissioner would be based at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

On Monday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that Ms Mitchell would ''ensure that the voices of young people are heard by government''.

Addressing the PM and children at a Canberra primary school, Ms Mitchell said the role was ''something the community has been calling for for some time''.

Ms Mitchell said that until now there had been no one person that could ''focus solely on the needs of children and their rights and their interests and the laws and policies and services that effect them''.

She said that the Children’s Commissioner could position Australia as a regional leader in children’s rights, allowing the country to be more ''proactive'' and ''comprehensive'' in meeting its international obligations.

This includes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ms Mitchell will have a focus on vulnerable or at-risk groups of children, such as those with a disability, indigenous children and homeless children.

The work of a National Children's Commissioner will also complement the work of existing state and territory children's commissioners and guardians.

HREOC president Gillian Triggs said Ms Mitchell had extensive experience in issues facing children and young people and held qualifications in social policy, psychology and education.

''Throughout her career, Megan has not only worked to improve the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people, but she has encouraged the participation of children and young people in decision-making about issues that affect their lives,'' Professor Triggs said in a statement.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said $3.5 million in additional funding over four years had been made available for the role.