Dimension 3: Wellbeing
Aboriginal
Outcome
Young South Australians are happy, inspired and engaged
Indicators
- Children have early experiences that enhance their development
- Children and young people are connected to family, friends and culture
- Children and young people play and participate in recreational activities
- Children and young people are leading satisfied lives
What we know from the most recent data…
Children have early experiences that enhance their development
Attending an approved childcare service
In 2022, the percentage of Aboriginal children (birth to 5 years) attending an approved childcare service was 3.0% (1.7% in 2018) and the percentage of Aboriginal children under six years in the community was 5.2% at 30 June 2021.
Nationally, the percentage was 4.6% in 2022 (2.9% in 2018) and the percentage of Aboriginal children under six years in the community was 6.3% at 30 June 2021.
Note: Children attending approved childcare services may be counted more than once if they attended more than one childcare service in the relevant period.
Data Source: Report on Government Services (ROGS)
Enrolments in a quality preschool program in the year before attending fulltime school
In SA the percentage of Aboriginal children enrolled in a preschool program at:
• three years, was 79.0% in 2022 (77.1% in 2018). Nationally, the percentage was 57.4% in 2022 (36.9% in 2018)
• four years, was 94.3% in 2022 (87.7% in 2018), Nationally, the percentage was 91.0% (78.2% in 2018).
Data Source: ABS, Preschool Education
Children and young people are connected to family, friends and culture
Feeling connected at school
The WEC data for SA indicate that 67.0% of Aboriginal Year 4 to Year 10 students in government schools reported feeling connected to adults at school in 2022 (65.5% in 2019).
Data Source: Wellbeing and Engagement Collection, Australia
Friends
The percentage of Aboriginal Year 4 to Year 10 students in government schools with one or more friends in whom they can confide was 87.6% in 2023 (88.8% in 2019).
Data Source: Wellbeing and Engagement Collection, Australia
Children and young people play and participate in recreational activities
Self-reported participation in organised activities
In 2023, 85.2% of Aboriginal Year 4 to Year 10 students in government schools participated in organised activities outside of school hours in (84.0% in 2020).
Data Source: Wellbeing and Engagement Collection, Australia
Self-reported participation in sports or recreational physical activities
In 2023, 62.7% of Aboriginal Year 4 to Year 10 students in government schools participated in sports or recreational physical activities (61.8% in 2020).
Data Source: Wellbeing and Engagement Collection, Australia
Children and young people are leading satisfied lives
Self-reported optimism about life
77.8% of Aboriginal Year 4 to Year 10 students in government schools reported feeling optimistic about life in 2023 (81.4% in 2019).
Data Source: Wellbeing and Engagement Collection, Australia
Self-reported level of satisfaction with life
74.2% of Aboriginal Year 4 to Year 10 students in government schools reported a medium to high level of satisfaction with life in 2023 (77.2% in 2019).
Data Source: Wellbeing and Engagement Collection, Australia
Suicide
In the five years from 2018-2022, the national rate of suicide for Aboriginal children and young people (5-17 years) was 7.3 per 100,000 population (10.1 from 2013-2017).
Data Source: ABS, Causes of Death