Children, youth and families

Children and young people in Australia are growing up in an environment of rapid social and economic change. The impact this is having on their development, health and wellbeing has received growing attention over the last 5 years. Further, there is an extensive body of evidence that points to the long-term benefits that can be gained by investing in a child’s early years. Childhood, particularly early childhood, has emerged as a key priority for governments and non-government organisations. This chapter provides a contemporary profile of Australia’s children, youth and families in a context of change. It captures the dynamic and diverse nature of childhood, adolescence and family life. Section 3.2 begins with a socio-demographic overview of children and youth from the 1980s, and presents population projections to 2026. Section 3.3 describes the characteristics of Australian families over the last decade. Section 3.4 presents information on trends in adoptions. Sections 3.5 and 3.6 examine the transitions in a young person's life: from early childhood to child care, preschool, school, higher education and finally to employment. Section 3.7 considers some of the risks associated with growing up and their outcomes—abuse, victimisation and homelessness. As child neglect is regarded as one of the strongest predictors of later youth offending, this section considers juvenile offending in a welfare context. The final section, 3.8, outlines some new national data collections that are being developed to provide a better basis for future policy and planning.