The importance of the early years of childhood development is well established. Experiences early in life affect lifelong health and wellbeing. Timely, accurate and comprehensive information on children's health, development and wellbeing is essential for monitoring the progress of Australia's children, and is critical for the development of evidence-based policy.
The Children, Youth and Families Unit undertakes two main projects related to child health and wellbeing:
The AIHW also produces reports on the health and wellbeing of Australia's youth.
Children's headline indicators
Headline Indicators for children’s health, development and wellbeing 2011 provides the latest available information on how children aged 0–12 years are faring in 19 priority areas in Australia and the states and territories.
The report covers a number of developmental phases including the prenatal period, infancy, early childhood and school-age childhood. These are crucial periods in children’s development.
The report covers a wide variety of topics, including:
- health status
- risk and protective factors
- early learning and care
- family and community environments.
Online data are also available for 12 of the 19 headline indicators. Users can select priority areas and analyse variables by state and territory, and by year.
A picture of Australia's children
A picture of Australia's children 2009 is the fourth national statistical report produced by the AIHW on the health, development and wellbeing of children aged 0-14 years. This report presents data on key national indicators of children's health, development and wellbeing.
The report covers a wide variety of topics, including:
- health status
- risk and protective factors
- learning and development
- families and communities
- safety and security
- system performance.