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author: AIHW

Access to stable, adequate shelter plays a major role in the health and wellbeing of families, and in particular children, by providing a safe environment, the security that allows participation in the social, educational, economic, and community aspects of their lives and the privacy to foster autonomy as an individual and a family unit. This report describes the process of developing a Children¿s Headline Indicator to measure the multidimensional aspects of shelter. It presents research evidence on the associations between shelter and children's wellbeing; assesses potential indicators and data sources; and recommends an indicator based on households experiencing housing disadvantage.

ISBN 978-1-74249-097-7; Cat. no. PHE 132; 56pp.; Internet only

Full publication

Publication table of contents

  • Preliminary material
    • Title & verso title pages
    • Contents
    • Acknowledgments
    • Abbreviations
    • Summary 
      • Identifying and defining a Headline Indicator
      • Next steps
  • Body content
    1. Introduction
      • 1.1 Process of identifying a Headline Indicator
        • A review of the literature
        • Review of relevant indicator frameworks and reports
        • Consultation with experts
        • Bringing it all together
    2. Definition and conceptualisation
      • 2.1 Defining shelter
      • 2.2 Relevant concepts
        • Secure tenure
        • Availability
        • Affordability
        • Overcrowding
        • Appropriateness
      • 2.3 An ecological approach
    3. Shelter and children’s wellbeing
      • 3.1 Housing affordability
      • 3.2 Security of tenure
        • Home ownership
        • Homelessness
      • 3.3 Appropriateness of housing
        • Overcrowding
        • Dwelling attributes
    4. Policy context
      • 4.1 Social Inclusion Agenda
      • 4.2 Early Childhood Reform Agenda
      • 4.3 National Affordable Housing Agreement
      • 4.4 National Indigenous Reform Agreement (Closing the gap)
    5. Defining and identifying a Headline Indicator for shelter
      • 5.1 Agreed conceptual basis
        • Links between shelter and children’s outcomes
      • 5.2 Assessment of potential indicators
        • Housing disadvantage indicator
        • Housing affordability indicator
      • 5.3 Selecting a single Headline Indicator
    6. Data sources and data issues
      • 6.1 Data sources
        • ABS Census of Population and Housing (Census)
        • ABS Survey of Income and Housing (SIH)
      • 6.2 Key data issues
  • Endmatter
    • Appendix 1: Headline Indicator Expert Working Group
    • Appendix 2: Shelter workshop participants
    • Appendix 3: Headline Indicators for children’s health, development and wellbeing
    • Appendix 4: Review of indicator frameworks
    • Appendix 5: Comparison of housing cost and income data from the ABS Census
      • Household income as a denominator
      • Housing costs to income ratios
    • References

Recommended citation

AIHW 2010. Shelter: development of a Children's Headline Indicator. Cat. no. PHE 132. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 13 June 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442472426>.