Data gaps for Aboriginal children and young people

The Child Development Council (CDC) recognises opportunities to strengthen the availability and quality of data relating to Aboriginal children and young people, including through more consistent data collection, improved sample sizes and greater disaggregation of existing measures.

To support a more comprehensive understanding of outcomes, the CDC advocates to state authorities to prioritise the collection and periodic monitoring of these measures, using culturally appropriate approaches to data collection, analysis and reporting.

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Wellbeing

Measure	Rationale
Proportion of children who can be accommodated in available childcare places	The proportion of children who can be accommodated in available childcare places is a key indicator of equitable access to early education and care. It influences parents’ ability to participate in the workforce, especially for women. Ensuring sufficient childcare supports children’s development during critical early years. This measure also helps governments plan and allocate resources effectively to meet demand.
Proportion of children and young people participating in cultural and/or creative activities	Cultural activities in the areas of art, ethnicity, food, language, music, nationality, and religion can affect development including cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and language development.
Proportion of children and young people attending cultural venues and events	Attending cultural venues and events is important, as it reflects how well children and young people are staying connected to their families, peers, and communities, which supports their overall wellbeing and development.
Area and accessibility of green and blue space for children and young people	Access to green and blue spaces supports children’s physical development, mental wellbeing, helps prevent obesity, and provides opportunities for children to be active, socialize, and develop a sense of connection to their community.
Proportion of children and young people who report experiences of discrimination, racism, bullying, or exclusion	Bullying, racism, and discrimination directly affect mental health and overall development. Bullying as racism: The 2024 Everyday Racism Report shows bullying often reflects racism for children. Captures discrimination: Measure includes other forms of discrimination beyond bullying. Focus on priority groups: Addresses wellbeing for First Nations, refugee, migrant, and LGBTIQA+ youth. Supports equity: Ensures the framework reflects real social determinants and informs targeted interventions.
Proportion of children and young people who report being worried about their family’s financial situation	Poverty and parental capacity have a massive impact on child wellbeing. While the existing measure, proportion of children and young people living in households with financial hardship, captures objective household-level conditions, this new measure reflects children’s own experiences and perceptions. Financial worry is a wellbeing measure, showing the psychological and emotional impact of economic stress on children and young people. Keeping it separate ensures both perspectives are monitored: structural disadvantage and lived experience.

Health

Measure	Rationale
Proportion of babies born large for gestational age	This measure provides insight into maternal health trends, particularly the rising rates of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes. Monitoring this measure helps identify at-risk pregnancies, inform preventive health strategies, support improved maternal and neonatal outcomes, and can influence both pregnancy and long-term outcomes for children.
Proportion of infants receiving breastmilk at key early milestones (2, 4 and 6 months)	Breastfeeding is an important health promoting behaviour that influences the long term health of children. Evidence demonstrates high rates of initiation of breastfeeding but this drops off sharply in the first 3 months. This outcome is important for understanding impacts of services like CAFHS in helping families sustain breastfeeding. Breastfeeding associated with improved health outcomes including reduced obesity, infections hospitalisations etc.
Proportion of children and young people being reported as underweight, overweight or obese	This measure is important because tracking underweight, overweight, and obesity rates using BMI (International standard) helps identify early health risks and informs targeted interventions to support healthy growth and development in children and young people.
Proportion of young people smoking tobacco	Smoking tobacco poses serious long-term health risks, and tracking its prevalence among young people helps guide prevention efforts and public health campaigns to reduce uptake.
Proportion of young people vaping	Vaping among young people poses significant health risks and may lead to nicotine addiction, making it essential to monitor and address through prevention and education efforts.
Proportion of young people consuming alcohol	Helps monitor the prevalence of alcohol use among young people, which can influence their physical health, mental wellbeing, and social outcomes.
Proportion of young people with potentially unsafe or binge-drinking behaviour	Helps identify alcohol consumption patterns among young people that can lead to short-term and long-term health consequences. Monitoring potentially unsafe or binge-drinking behaviour supports targeted education, prevention strategies, and early intervention to promote safer choices and healthier lifestyles.
Proportion of young people taking illicit drugs	Helps monitor behaviour that can negatively impact young people’s health, safety, and future opportunities. Tracking illicit drug use supports early intervention, informs prevention strategies, and guides health education efforts to promote safer, healthier choices.
Proportion of young people with sexually transmissible infections	Reflects the effectiveness of health education and access to sexual health services among young people. Monitoring rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) helps identify areas where prevention efforts, awareness campaigns, and support services may need to be strengthened to promote safer behaviours and better health outcomes.
Proportion of children and young people reporting use of health services in the previous 12 months	A broad Measure of health service use, such as having visited a GP in the past 12 months, provides more meaningful insights into service demand and supports effective planning. Unlike access, which is often difficult to Measure consistently, service use reflects actual engagement with the health system and is more closely linked to outcomes.
Proportion of children and young people with access to healthy food	Access to foods that support healthy eating patterns contributes to children and young people’s general health and supports healthy eating as adults. Poor nutrition and an unhealthy diet are risk factors for high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.
Proportion of children and young people with tooth decay	Good oral health is fundamental to overall health and wellbeing. Without it, a person’s quality of life and the ability to eat, speak and socialise is compromised and may result in pain, discomfort and embarrassment.
Proportion of children and young people estimated to have an emotional, mental health or behavioural problem	Good mental health is fundamental to the wellbeing of individuals, their families and the population as a whole. Mental health disorders include anxiety and depression, as well as conditions such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Mental health disorders may be induced by trauma and substance abuse. Mental health problems and mental illness include a range of cognitive, emotional and behavioural disorders.

Safety

Measure	Rationale
Proportion of children and young people feeling safe and secure at home	Resolving family conflict effectively teaches children and young people how to negotiate and reach compromises, setting them up for strong relationships throughout life. Family conflict is a leading cause of homelessness in young people.
Number of police cautions or fines issued for failing to safely restrain children and young people who are passengers	When travelling in a motor vehicle in South Australia, all children and young people under 16 years of age must be restrained in a suitable approved restraint that is properly adjusted and fastened. The law is specific about what type of restraint should be used at different ages and where children must be seated in a vehicle. The aim of these laws is to reduce the risk of injury caused by restraints that are unsuitable for a child’s size. The driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers are correctly restrained.

Education

Measure	Rationale
Number of children receiving early childhood early intervention supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or with an approved NDIS plan before entering school	The NDIS early childhood early intervention (ECEI) approach aims to support children birth to 6 years of age who have a developmental delay or disability, and their families/carers. The ECEI approach supports families to help children develop the skills they need to take part in daily activities and achieve the best possible outcomes throughout their life.
Proportion of children and young people who have been suspended, excluded, or expelled in the last year	In addition to monitoring attendance, it is essential to include this measure given the growing body of evidence highlighting the harms associated with suspension, exclusion and expulsion. Recent research has reinforced concerns that use of suspension, exclusion and expulsion has a severely negative impact on students’ short and long-term wellbeing and opportunities, including increased likelihood of disengagement, reduced postschool academic achievement, reduced employment opportunities, and increased risk of becoming involved in the youth justice system.

Preparing for adulthood

Measure	Rationale
Proportion of young people that are literate	Learning to read is key to being able to read to learn and an important factor in school success. Early exposure to books and stories may substantially contribute to success in early literacy. There are strong links between literacy, school performance, self-esteem and life chances with poor literacy skills being linked with lower education, earnings, health and social outcomes.
Proportion of young people that are numerate	Numeracy is important for individuals to develop logical thinking and reasoning strategies in their everyday activities. Numeracy is defined as the ability to access, use and interpret, and communicate mathematical information and ideas, in order to engage in and manage the mathematical demands of various situations.
Proportion of young people that are financially literate	Financial literacy is an essential life skill. It means having the financial knowledge, skills and attitude needed to make good financial decisions. This includes learning how to budget and manage money, weighing up whether to save or spend, and what to spend on.
Proportion of young people with a driver’s licence	A driver’s licence can be critical to independence, getting to and from work, study, sporting, volunteering and social events. Young people who have difficulties getting or keeping a licence may find it hard to compete for jobs, further their study or remain socially engaged, especially if they live regionally.
Proportion of young people satisfied with their level of independence	Achieving independence is an essential part of the journey to adulthood for young people. To be successful young people need freedom to try new things, take more responsibility, form their own identity, make decisions and solve problems.
Average hours of paid employment for young people	Employment is important for a young person’s wellbeing and future success. Having a job gives a young person an opportunity to attain financial security, independence, skill development and a sense of belonging. Young people with a part-time job may: • develop greater independence and a sense of responsibility • have a positive attitude to team work • develop key work skills such as customer service, time-keeping and prioritising • acquire money management skills • become prepared for full-time employment • have money to spend.
Proportion of Year 10 students achieving at or above proficient standard in the Australian curriculum civics and citizenship assessment	The National Assessment Program Civics and Citizenship (NAPCC), provides students with opportunities to investigate political and legal systems, and explore the nature of citizenship, diversity and identity in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on the federal system of government, derived from the Westminster system, and the liberal democratic values that underpin it such as freedom, equality and the rule of law. The curriculum explores how the people, as citizens, choose their governments; how the system safeguards democracy by vesting people with civic rights and responsibilities; how laws and the legal system protect people’s rights; and how individuals and groups can influence civic life.
Proportion of young people 18 years enrolled to vote	Voting is a way to have a say in lots of things that affect you, your friends, your family and your community. Voter participation is a means of measuring civic and political engagement. Public engagement in decision making promotes government accountability and public trust in government institutions.
Proportion of children and young people participating in community support groups	Support groups can help children and young people in many ways by: • providing emotional and social support • developing new skills • sharing information • offering advice and a place to learn from others • improving motivation.