The Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth (ARACY) launched Australia's first ever national plan for child and youth wellbeing, known as The Nest action agenda on Monday 18 November 2013. The Nest action agenda provides evidence showing our children and youth are lagging behind across key international health and wellbeing indicators when compared to other Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries on indicators of child and youth wellbeing across the key domains of family, health, education, child poverty and deprivation and participation. The Nest action agenda identified:
Australia ranks just ‘middle of the road' - it ranked in the top third of OECD countries for only 12 out of the 46 indicators
Australia is ranked relatively poorly when it comes to keeping our kids safe and preventing deaths from injuries - 22nd out of 34 OECD countries. Australia ranks 22nd on infant mortality and 29th for rates of some infant vaccinations to prevent disease.
Teenage pregnancy rates are higher than the OECD average, with Australia ranked 22nd out of 34 OECD countries.
Nearly one in three (30%) young people aged 15-24 years are overweight or obese and more than half (57%) lead sedentary lifestyles. Most children don't eat the recommended levels of fruit and vegetables.
Australia fares well when compared to other OECD nations on rates of youth smoking (7% smoke daily) but less favourably for use of illicit drugs (18% using illicit drugs).
Rates of youth suicide are declining but we are still ranked only 20th of 33 OECD countries. More than one in 10 young people suffer high levels of psychological distress. Indigenous rates of psychological distress and suicide are close to three times the national average.
School achievement is relatively positive for 15 year olds but below average for primary school reading, maths and science.
Youth unemployment is increasing despite our strong economy. One in six young people are not in education or in employment.
The gap between rich and poor is increasing as is the percentage of young children living in jobless families. Over one in six children lived at or below the poverty line in 2010.The Nest action agenda shared vision for Australia's children and youth (aged 0-24) is an Australia where: ‘All young people are loved and safe, have material basics, are healthy, are learning and participating and have a positive sense of identity and culture.' Your assignment task is to: - Select one priority direction from the list. - Introduce the priority direction highlighting the significance for Australian children and youth on growth and development - Identify the current status of child and youth health and wellbeing in Australia (birth to 24 years) in your selected priority direction and present the problem currently faced in Australia. - Discuss what determinants of health and wellbeing are contributing to these outcomes. Identify determinants from across various context influencing child and youth outcome. - Propose strategies supported by research and the literature that will help achieve one or more aspects of the Nest action agenda vision for Australia's children and youth (aged 0-24) related to your identified priority direction.