Summary

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has been monitoring the health, development and wellbeing of Australia’s children and young people since 1996 and, to date, has produced six comprehensive national reports in this area (AIHW 2003, 2005, 2007c; AIHW: Al-Yaman et al. 2002; AIHW: Moon et al. 2000; AIHW: Moon et al. 1999). This bulletin previews the key national indicators of children’s health, development and wellbeing, hereafter referred to as the ‘key national indicators’, that are the basis of the forthcoming report, A picture of Australia’s children 2009, scheduled for release in May 2009. This bulletin also contains the Headline Indicators for Children’s Health, Development and Wellbeing, which will be reported on for the first time in A picture of Australia’s children 2009.