Under the Aegis: Davina Reidy on Why a Child’s Voice Must Guide Advocacy

In this video, TIGALA Guardian ad Litem Davina Reidy reflects on why listening to a child’s will and preference is essential to the work of every Guardian. Drawing on years of experience across child protection and mental health services, Davina shares how empowering a child to be heard can transform both the court process – and the child’s own sense of worth.

TIGALA Guardian ad Litem Davina Reidy brings deep experience to her role – and a clear belief in what matters most. “This experience has reinforced my belief in the importance of truly listening to children’s expressed wishes and preferences in all aspects of our work,” she says.

Before becoming a Guardian ad Litem, Davina worked in a variety of roles across child protection and welfare teams and the community child and adolescent mental health service. These years gave her an understanding of how complex a child’s needs can be – and how vital it is that the child’s voice remains central to every decision made on their behalf.

When Davina first started her work as a Guardian ad Litem, she understood the basic framework of the role: “to represent the child’s best interests, act independently and ensure their welfare is front and centre in all decision-making.” But early on, she realised something crucial:

The best interest is not a one size fits all concept. It’s not static, and it most certainly cannot be fully understood without hearing the child’s own voice and without truly listening to their will and preference.

For Davina, listening isn’t a procedural step. “Will and preference aren’t just part of the process. They are at the very heart of it,” she says. “They represent the child’s humanity – their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their values, their autonomy and their agency.”

And this applies to every child. “Even when a child is very young or unable to express themselves clearly, there are always ways to hear them, and at times a little creativity can go a long way.”

Davina has also faced moments where a child’s wishes didn’t align with the professional view of what was best for them. In these cases, advocacy demands more: “I had to very much slow down, dig a little bit deeper, take a bit of time and ask the difficult questions – not only of myself but of others. Because for me, advocacy isn’t about convenience, it’s about courage.”

She reflects that Guardians must walk a fine line. “We have a duty to protect, but we also have a duty to empower, to build the child’s resilience and to give the child space to be known as their authentic self.” By doing so, TIGALA Guardians aim to validate “their lived experience, their choices, and their right to participate in the decisions that ultimately shape their lives.”

This can sometimes challenge the system. “Sometimes honouring a child’s will and preference… requires us to hold complexity and discomfort,” Davina acknowledges. “But it’s in those challenges that the integrity of our role as Guardian ad Litem is truly tested.”

Ultimately, the power of listening goes beyond advocacy. “When a child sees that their words are heard, their feelings are respected – even at times when the outcome doesn’t align exactly with their wishes – they learn something vital… that they matter.”

For Davina, this is at the heart of the work. “The child’s voice carried through mine, not overwritten, but uplifted. And that’s the work of a Guardian ad Litem. That’s the power of listening and the difference between speaking for someone and truly advocating with them.”

“It’s a privilege, in every sense of the word, to be a Guardian ad Litem. It’s a responsibility, absolutely, but above all, it is a profound privilege.” And when TIGALA Guardians honour a child’s will and preference, Davina reminds us, “We don’t just advocate for them. We affirm their worth, their voice, and their right to be truly seen.”

At TIGALA, we know that listening to a child’s voice is never a one-size-fits-all process. It requires time, curiosity, and a willingness to meet each child where they are. Davina’s reflections build on posts we’ve had with featuring Guardians like Nikki McCarthy, who spoke about the impact each of her prior roles has had on being a GAL, and Karen Rogers, who shared how she connects with young people in their world to help build trust. Together, these voices show how varied experiences and thoughtful practice at TIGALA come together to ensure every child is not only heard, but truly understood and shown that they do indeed matter.