Overview

The early years of a child’s life provide the foundation for future heath, development and wellbeing. The transitions from childhood to adolescence to independent adulthood are also crucial periods for establishing positive health and social behaviours.

More reports and statistics on children & youth can be found under Adoption, Child protection and Mothers & babies.

Latest findings

26% of those in detention in 2018–19 had been in out-of-home care in the 5 years from 1 June 2014 – 30 July 2019 54% of those under youth justice supervision in 2018–19 had received a child protection service in the last 5 years 61% of those in detention during 2018–19 had received a child protection service in the last 5 years 63% of young people in detention were unsentenced—that is, awaiting the outcome of their legal matter or sentencing. 22% of those under youth justice supervision in 2018–19 had been in out-of-home care in the last 5 years 23% of those under youth justice supervision in 2018–19 received a care and protection order in the last 5 years 34% of those in detention in 2018–19 had a substantiated notification for abuse or neglect in the last 5 years 11% of those in detention in 2018–19 had 5 or more out-of-home placements in the last 5 years Of young people under supervision on an average day, 84% were supervised in the community and 17% were in detention. 28% of those under youth justice supervision in 2018–19 had received a child protection service in the same year 22% of those in detention in 2018–19 had been in residential care at least once in the last 5 years Individual periods of supervision that were completed during 2018–19 lasted for a median of 132 days (over 4 months). Indigenous young people aged 10–17 made up 50% of those under youth justice supervision. On an average day in 2018–19, 5,694 young people aged 10 and over were under youth justice supervision.

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Highlights

93%of Australian children were fully immunised by the time they started school in 2015
26%of children aged 5–14 and 22% of young people aged 15–24 are overweight or obese
74,000children aged 0–14 and 80,000 young people aged 15–24 were hospitalised in 2013–14 due to injury and poisoning
39%of young people aged 15–24 drink alcohol at levels that puts them at risk of harm
2.5%of children aged 5–14 and 3.3% of people aged 15–24 eat enough fruit and vegetables
10%of children aged 4–12 were classified as having abnormal social and emotional wellbeing in 2013–14
14%of young people aged 12–17 had a mental health disorder in the last 12 months
11%of young people aged 15–24 were current daily smokers in 2013 compared with 21% in 2001