Home News & Publications Research & publications Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email Future Healthy Countdown 2030 Every year until 2030 we'll highlight the health and wellbeing of children and young people and propose pathways to ensure an equitable future for all 28 Nov 2023 Research and Publications Scroll down Subscribe for updates More info at Medical Journal Australia We all want children to have the opportunity to not only live a happy and healthy life, but to live better than the previous generation. And yet, despite Australia’s abundant resources and wealth, in some areas the prospects for our children, young people and future generations are not only stagnating – they're moving backwards. The Countdown explained Scroll Tabs What is the Countdown? Why do we need it? How does it work? Body If a healthy future for children is the goal, Future Healthy Countdown is the pathway to make it happen. It's a comprehensive national framework for measuring progress on children and young people's health and wellbeing. It brings together evidence (across seven key health and wellbeing domains) to identify policy priorities, and track progress on how we are (or aren't) supporting future generations to thrive. Body Like many countries, Australia’s strong focus on economic growth at all costs has led to complex problems such as the climate emergency, obesity, the mental health crisis, and societal inequities. There's a growing gap in health and wellbeing, with children facing food insecurity and higher rates of psychological distress than older adults. To turn this around, we need systems changes that put children and young people at the heart of decision making. Body Every year until 2030, the Countdown will deliver the best up-to-date data and evidence to highlight key priorities using a publicly available dashboard and annual updates (watch this space). Crucially, the Countdown will include the voices of young people to ensure they play a part in shaping their future. From 2024 the Countdown will include a themed deep dive into one critical issue of collective importance for children’s and young people’s health and wellbeing. Body In their words, here's what matters to young people: Body "Health and climate action considered in all policy making and reduced capacity of corporate interests to influence health policy." Body "Connection is in our lineage and when we’re connected to our culture and practice it helps our overall wellbeing." Body "A sustainable future with action taken to combat climate change and infrastructure to enable active transport and access to healthy foods." Quick FYI about the 7 wellbeing domains Future Healthy Countdown 2023 is based on the Nest wellbeing framework, created by Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), which outlines six domains (valued, loved, and safe, material basics, healthy, learning, participating, positive sense of identity and culture) as a way of thinking about the whole context of a child's daily life and the elements they need to thrive. Due to the existential threat of the climate crisis and the impact this will have on future generations, we added an additional domain to Future Healthy Countdown 2030: environment and sustainable futures. The following stats highlight the importance of nurturing each of these domains. A snapshot of how childrenand young peopleare faring Healthy Mental disorders: 40% of 16-24-year-olds meet the criteria for having a mental disorder. Overweight/obesity: 24% of 5–14-year-olds and 41% of 15-24-year-olds experience overweight and obesity.. Head to the MJA article for more details Positive sense of identity and culture Language and culture: 34% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 10–24-year-olds speak a few words or more of Indigenous language and 96% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 18-24-year-olds are proud of their culture. Head to the MJA article for more details Environment and sustainable futures CO2 Emissions: Australia ranks 39 out of 43 (at the bottom) OECD countries in terms of consumption-based CO2 emissions since the Kyoto protocol was adopted. Head to the MJA article for more details Material Basics Poverty: 12% of 0–18-year-olds live in poverty, with higher rates in remote/very remote areas (22%) and in the least advantaged areas (30%). Head to the MJA article for more details Learning & employment pathways Learning inequities: For reading, the measured achievement gap between socio-educationally disadvantaged and advantaged students grows almost threefold from Year 3 to Year 9. Head to the MJA article for more details Participating Political participation: 8% of 15-19-year-olds participated in political groups and activities. Head to the MJA article for more details Valued, loved, safe Maltreatment: 62% of Australians aged ≥ 16 years reported personal experience of maltreatment when they were 0-18 years old. Head to the MJA article for more details Title Visualise the data Body Head to Australian Child and Youth Wellbeing Atlas and check out their maps Title The good news is the solutions are within our grasp Body At the core of the Countdown is the recognition that social, economic and environmental factors shape the health and wellbeing of children and young people unequally. By building on the momentum of Australia’s past policy successes such as: increased access for children to healthcare and early childhood education services improved educational access increased immunisation rates We can address these inequities and improve outcomes not only for this generation of children and young people, but for generations to come. Meet the minds behind the Countdown VicHealth is working in collaboration with young people and research experts in child health and wellbeing from across Australia. This work is being led by: Prof Sharon Goldfeld Dr Kate Lycett Prof Rosemary Calder AM with contributions from: Prof Fiona Stanle AC Anne Hollonds Joyce Cleary Prof Ngiare Brown Penny Dakin Dr Sandro Demaio Prof Peter Sly and other top researchers As Future Healthy Countdown 2030 gains momentum, policy experts, people with lived experience and experts from other disciplines will be involved to ensure analysis and recommendations are on target. Body VicHealth are proud to collaborate with the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Medical Journal of Australia. How to create a wellbeing economy We explain the basics of a wellbeing economy before we delve into the Australian context and the 5-stages in our wellbeing economy toolkit. As a world-first health promotion foundation, VicHealth has... A Co-designed Youth Engagement Evaluation Framework Over the past two years, VicHealth’s Future Healthy initiative, has centred the voices and experiences of children and young people, especially following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Back Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email
