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, Mothers & babies and Youth justice. 

Latest findings

Between 2001 and 2019, rates of 14-24 year olds who drank at risky levels, smoked daily, or used drugs illicitly fell Around 19,400 (0.4%) children aged 0–14 were homeless on Census night in 2016, similar to 2006 (0.5%) Between 2011 and 2017, the proportion of mothers smoking during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy fell from 13% to 9.5% In 2018, most Year 5 students achieved at or above the national minimum standard for reading (95%) and numeracy (96%) In 2017–18, 4.4% children aged 5–14 ate enough vegetables, only a slight increase from 2014–15 (2.9%) In 2019, police-recorded sexual assault was 9 times as high for females as males aged 15–24 In February 2021, 11% of 15–24 year olds were not in education, employment or training; similar to February 2020 Severe psychological distress among 18–24 year olds increased from 14% in February 2017 to 22% in April 2020

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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
74,000 children 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