Resources

This Australian Human Rights Commission report gathered survey data from children, young people and carers and their experiences of COVID-19 and impact on their health and mental well-being; and offers recommendations for policy responses.

In 2022, the Australian Human Rights Commission surveyed 4,559 children aged 9-17 and 2,796 parents and guardians across Australia to better understand the challenges that COVID-19 have posed to children’s wellbeing and mental health. Key findings are detailed in the report which also makes eight further recommendations.

This Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health study provides valuable insights for practitioners in child and family services. It examines child protection contact among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children in South Australia and reveals a higher likelihood compared to non-CALD children. Practitioners can benefit from this research as it emphasises the importance of targeting support within the child protection system to address the specific challenges that CALD children and their families face.

This collaborative piece by Orygen and Mission Australia presents the findings of a 2021 survey of Australians aged 15 to 19 years. The study identifies aspects of their lives that were most negatively impacted by lockdowns and the groups who were most affected by COVID-19 and associated lockdowns. The study also makes recommendations for policy and practice.

This article from the Centre for Social Research and Methods illustrates the effect of applying a wellbeing participatory framework – focused on key areas that children indicate as having value to themselves – to an existing dataset on child wellbeing. Results showed some areas of concern for children and young people in Australia and details how policies should be changed as a result.

The working paper by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child explores how built and natural environments influence child development and lifelong health. It discusses the effects of policy change and systemic barriers on resource distribution for healthy development and is relevant for practitioners.

This episode of "The Lancet Voice" discusses the health outcomes of Indigenous children and adolescents globally and explores the factors contributing to their poorer health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous peers. Valuable for health practitioners and academics interested in Indigenous health.

In this episode of The Lancet, child rights expert and medical professionals come together to explore the significance of peer support and its role in promoting the physical and mental health of children and adolescents worldwide.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has released this paper examining how the wellbeing of children from disadvantaged backgrounds compares to their peers from more advantaged backgrounds, and relative to OECD countries. The study uses key comparative indicators to highlight how children from low SES backgrounds face poorer outcomes across many of the aspects of wellbeing. Outcomes are detailed in the report.

Emerging Minds podcast series on bullying explores supporting mental health of children who engage in or experience bullying. Part one discusses speaking sensitively about bullying, discouraging self-blame, and fostering self-worth. Valuable for practitioners seeking guidance on addressing bullying-related issues with children.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released this report seeking to understand the challenges experienced by LGBTQI+ students and examining supportive educational policies and programs across OECD countries. This report had many findings and also identified seven practices that contribute to the wellbeing of LGBTQI+ students.

Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) and Emerging Minds have released this rapid evidence review identifying prevention and early intervention programs that effectively improve the social, emotional and behavioural health of children under 5 years of age at risk of poor outcomes. The review found that parenting programs are promising due to their ability to address multiple risk factors and their likely capacity to be delivered flexibly according to the needs and preferences of families and practitioners. The findings provide guidance for practitioners regarding which programs are most effective to address different types of risk factors.

AIC has released this paper investigating whether young people with acquired brain injury (ABI) are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and looking at how the system responds to their needs. The study found that young people with ABI are very likely to be overrepresented, however the true extent is unclear due to low levels of diagnosis and identification. Further findings and proposals are detailed in the report.