The ACT Government is committed to improving the wellbeing and life outcomes of Canberra's children and young people.
To support this commitment, the Government has released the Children and Young People Lens as part of the ACT Wellbeing Framework.
The Children and Young People Lens presents the latest data on the wellbeing of children and young people in the ACT from conception to age 25. This data complements the existing Wellbeing Dashboard, which is primarily focused on people aged 18 and over.
The Lens tracks the wellbeing of children and young people in the ACT against key indicators. This includes a comprehensive overview of national and local indicators relating to the health, wellbeing, learning and development of children and young people.
The Lens will replace the Picture of Children and Young People in the ACT that has previously been published every two years. The online dashboard will enable data to be updated more often and improve its usability for comparison and analysis.
Minister for Families and Community Services Rachel Stephen-Smith said measuring wellbeing helps to identify how we can improve the lives of all Canberrans.
"Supporting children and young people to grow up healthy and happy is a whole of community responsibility, including efforts of the Government, the non-government sector and everyone who can have an influence in their families and communities.
"By improving the way we analyse and present data relating to the wellbeing of children and young people, the Government and community can better target our collective efforts to build a city that gives kids the best start and the right supports as they navigate childhood and adolescence.
"The data in the Lens shows the wellbeing of children and young people in the ACT compares well with national data in indicators across the education, health and safety domains, but it also shows there are areas where the ACT needs to improve.
"The Children and Young People Lens was developed in consultation with young people. They told us what matters to them and how their needs change as they get older. This will help to ensure we continue to develop policies and invest in programs that are age-appropriate and effective in supporting young Canberrans," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
