Wellbeing strategies for children and young people is a report from the Centre for Policy Development that draws on insights from jurisdictions that have successfully implemented child and youth wellbeing strategies – offering valuable lessons to help strengthen Australian policy, ensuring more effective approaches to improving the wellbeing of children and young people.
The report identifies three key ways child and youth wellbeing strategies have improved government ways of working, as well as offering three recommendations for how Australian governments can enhance child and youth wellbeing through policy.
Wellbeing strategies for children and young people identifies three key ways child and youth wellbeing strategies have improved government ways of working, as well as offering three recommendations for how Australian governments can enhance child and youth wellbeing through policy.
The first five years of a child’s life are the most critical years for brain development, with brain connections developing faster than during any other life stage. These formative years set children up for success throughout their lives, laying the foundation for a child’s lifelong health, education, career opportunities, and overall wellbeing.
Despite their importance, the specific needs of children and young people are often overlooked in broader policy aimed at improving population-wide wellbeing. Initiatives like the national Measuring What Matters framework represent a positive step towards embedding wellbeing into government decision-making. However, to be truly effective, these approaches must pay close attention to groups with unique and diverse needs—especially children and young people—to ensure their needs are being met.
Based on analysis of jurisdictions that have successfully implemented child and youth wellbeing strategies, the report identifies three key ways they have improved government ways of working, which include:
Drawing on the learning from these jurisdictions, the report also identifies three broad ways Australian governments can enhance child and youth wellbeing through policy, including:
Wellbeing strategies ensure the specific needs of children and young people are prioritised in policymaking. By taking a preventative approach, these strategies tackle the root causes of issues like poverty and mental health challenges early, preventing them from escalating into more complex and costly problems.
Prioritising the wellbeing of children and young people not only supports their growth and development but also delivers widespread benefits for society as a whole—fostering healthier, more resilient communities now and for generations to come.
