Social Policy Resources

Family, Children and Youth Resources

GENERAL RESOURCES | CHILDREN | YOUTH | INTERNATIONAL LINKS

This resource guide provides links to a selection of websites and electronic resources to meet the information needs of senators and members of the Australian Parliament. For education and training links, see the Parliamentary Library's Education and Training Resources Guide.

General resources

Australian Government resources

• The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) website provides access to information about Australian Government policies and programs for early childhood, school education, higher education and youth.

• The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website provides access to information about Australian Government policies and programs for children and families.

• The Family Assistance Office provides coordinated access to Australian government services and payments for families.

• Family Relationships Online is an Australian Government initiative which provides families with access to information about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution.

State and territory government resources

• Australian Capital Territory
  • Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

• New South Wales
  • Department of Community Services
  • NSW Commission for Children and Young People

• Northern Territory
  • Department of Health and Families
    • Children, Youth and Families
  • Northern Territory Families Website

• Queensland
  • Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
  • Department of Communities

 

• South Australia
  • Child and Youth Health website
• Department for Families and Communities
• Department of Education and Children's Services

• Tasmania
  • Department of Health and Human Services
    • Children and Families
  • Office of Children & Youth Affairs

• Victoria
  • Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
  • Department of Human Services
    • Children, Youth & Families

• Western Australia
  • Department for Communities

Statistics

• The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Families and Community Statistics theme page provides links to ABS statistics relating to children, youth and families.  The theme page includes links to non-ABS family-related statistics sources, Australian and international.

• The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publishes a range of statistics relating to children, youth and families, including child health, development and well-being.; youth health and well-being.; child protection; adoption; children's services; and juvenile justice.

• Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators is produced every two years by the Productivity Commission's Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision. Includes a range of data relating to Indigenous families, children and youth. Latest issue is 2009.

• The Report Card on the Well-being. of Young Australians, published by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, presents a summary of the health and well-being. of Australia's young people, comparing the Australian average, the Indigenous Australian average and international performance.

• The Report on Government Services, produced annually by the Productivity Commission's Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision, provides a range of statistics comparing Australian, state and territory government service provision. It includes chapters on children's services, school education, child protection and juvenile justice. Latest issue is 2009.

Organisations and other resources

• Anglicare Australia is the peak body for a national network of locally based Anglican care organisations serving the needs of disadvantaged Australians and their communities. The network provides services to disadvantaged people, conducts research and produces publications. It produces an annual State of the Family Report, each with a different theme. Latest issue is 2009.
• The Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent & Family Mental Health Association promotes the mental health and well-being. of infants, children, adolescents and their families/carers.

• The Australian Institute of Family Studies is a centre for research and information on family well-being.  Its resources include publications, current literature abstracts, statistics, databases and discussion lists.

• The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) is a cross-discipline organisation, founded by researchers, policy makers and practitioners, to find solutions to problems affecting children and young people. 

• The work of the Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) includes services for children and families and young people. The BSL also undertakes research.

• Families Australia promotes the needs and interests of families. It produces a range of publications, and provides links to family-related articles and resources and organisations involved with family issues.

• Growing Up in Australia is the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, which explores family and social issues, and addresses a range of research questions about children's development and well-being.

• The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) comprises state, territory, Australian Government and New Zealand ministers with responsibility for school education, early childhood development and youth affairs.

• Mission Australia provides a range of services and undertakes projects relating to children and families, and youth.

Children

Australian Government resources

• The Australian Attorney General's Intercountry Adoption website provides information about the legal aspects of intercountry adoption arrangements.

• The Child Support Agency is responsible for administering Australia's Child Support Scheme.

• DEEWR's Early Childhood website provides access to information about the Australian Government's policies and programs for early childhood education and child care.

• Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

• The mychild.gov.au website focuses mainly on Australian Government policies and programs relating to early childhood learning and child care. It also includes links to state and territory government agencies and non-government organisations.

State and territory government resources

• Australian Capital Territory
  • Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

• New South Wales
  • NSW Commission for Children and Young People

• Northern Territory
  • Children, Youth and Families

• Queensland
  • Child Safety Services
• Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
• Department of Community Services
  • Children
• Office for Early Childhood Education and Care

• South Australia
  • Child and Youth Health Service

• Tasmania
  • Office of Children & Youth Affairs
  • Office of the Commissioner for Children

• Victoria
  • Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
    • Early Childhood Services Management
    • Early Childhood 0-8

• Western Australia
  • Department for Communities
    • Under 12s website

Statistics

• Childhood Education and Care, Australia, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, presents estimates of child care arrangements and early childhood education and learning. Latest issue is June 2008.

• A Picture of Australia's Children, published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Latest issue is 2009.

Organisations and other resources

• The Australian Child Care Index is a database of child care services and provides news about child care issues.

• Early Childhood Australia is Australia's peak early childhood advocacy organisation.

• Childcare Associations Australia represents private independent early childhood education and care service providers.

• Growing Up in Australia is the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, which explores family and social issues, and addresses a range of research questions about children's development and well-being.

• The National Child Protection Clearinghouse (part of the Australian Institute of Family Studies) is an information, advisory and research unit focused on child abuse prevention, child protection and out-of-home care.  It has a list of state and territory departments responsible for protecting children.

• The National Childcare Accreditation Council administers Child Care Quality Assurance systems for children's services.

• The National Children's and Youth Law Centre is a community legal centre dedicated to addressing human rights issues for children and young people through legal change.  Its Lawstuff website provides information on legal rights for people under eighteen.

• National Investment for the Early Years (NIFTey) advocates for investment in the early years of childhood. NIFTey produces a range of publications and provides links to other resources and organisations.

Youth

Australian Government resources

• The Australian Youth Forum is an Australian Government communication channel between government, young people and youth organisations.

• The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Youth website provides information about Australian Government policies and programs for youth.

• DEEWR's Office for Youth coordinates youth affairs across government.

• The Source is the Australian Government's youth portal 'a gateway to youth information, programs, services, resources and entertainment for young people between the ages of 12 and 25'.

State and territory government resources

• Australian Capital Territory
  • Youth InterACT is the ACT Government's website for youth.

• New South Wales
  • Youth NSW is the NSW Government's website for youth and youth workers.

• Northern Territory
  • The Office of Youth Affairs is the NT Government's website for youth.

• Queensland
  • The Queensland Government's Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian promotes and protects the rights, interests and well-being. of Queenslanders under 18.
  • The Department of Community Services Youth website provides information about Queensland Government youth initiatives.

• South Australia
  • The South Australian Youth Site, maintained by the Office for Youth, is the SA Government's website for youth.

• Tasmania
  • The Office of Children and Youth Affairs is the Tasmanian Government's website for youth.

• Victoria
  • Youthcentral is the Victorian Government's website for youth.
  • The Office for Youth coordinates Victorian Government youth policies and programs.

• Western Australia
  • The Office for Youth is the WA Government's website for youth.

Statistics

• How Young People are Faring, published by the Foundation for Young Australians, is an annual statistical report providing data on education, training and employment. Latest issue is 2009. The Dusseldorp Skills Forum published previous issues.

• The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) project, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research, studies the progress of several groups of young Australians as they move from school into post-secondary education and work. The LSAY project produces a range of statistics on young people's education and employment experiences and outcomes.

• Mission Australia conducts an annual national survey of young Australians about the issues that concern them, who they admire and where they turn to for advice and support.

• Young Australians: Their Health and Well-being. is published by the Australian Institute for health and Welfare. Latest issue is 2007.

Organisations and other resources

• The Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies (ACYS) focuses on information about early adolescence to the early adult years (12 to 25 years). ACYS products includes the journal, Youth Studies Australia, and a free online newsletter, Youth Field Xpress. the website also provides links to state and territory peak youth organisations, other government and non-government organisations involved in the youth sector and international organisations.

• The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition is Australia's non-government youth affairs peak body.

• The Australian Youth Research Centre, located at the University of Melbourne, conducts and promotes research on contemporary youth issues.

• The Dusseldorp Skills Forum 'develops and advances the innovative practices of those who engage young Australians in acquiring skills for a sustainable future.'

• The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) focuses on improving the well-being. of young Australians, particularly by supporting education reform in Australia. FYA delivers a range of programs, grants and research.

International links

• European Commission Youth website.

• Families and Work Institute (US) undertakes research relating to family, community and work issues.

• Infoyouth is a network that provides an overview of youth policies and programs throughout the world. It provides links to government and non-government organisations, research centers, publications and other resources by region and country.

• The International Planned Parenthood Federation is a network of sexual and reproductive health organisations in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Intute: Social Welfare, compiled by UK university subject specialists, provides links to web resources about children, families and youth.

• Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Families and Children website.

• The Society for Research in Child Development is an American organisation for multidisciplinary research in the field of human development.

• The United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) has a number of publications, including its annual report, The State of the World's Children.

Overseas government agencies

• New Zealand
  • Ministry of Social Development's Child, Youth and Family website
  • Families Commission
  • Ministry of Youth Development

• United Kingdom
  • Department for Children, Schools and Families

• USA
• Administration for Children and Families. Includes the Family and Youth Services Bureau.

Comments to: marilyn.harrington@aph.gov.au
Last reviewed 12 November, 2009 by the Parliamentary Library Web Manager
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