21 October 2008

Early Childhood Australia responds to the ARACY Report Card on the Wellbeing of Young Australians

'ARACY is right – the international comparisons in their Report Card are a wake-up call' says Margaret Young, National President of Early Childhood Australia, a national non-profit early childhood advocacy organisation.

'Early Childhood Australia is particularly concerned at the continuing failure to bridge the gap for Indigenous children.'

The Report Card covers a number of areas where Early Childhood Australia would like to see our country with a better ranking across the board. These include material wellbeing; family relationships; health and safety and healthy behaviours; and the environment.

We know that:

• Young children living in poverty are at risk in a number of development educational and social areas that can affect all areas of their current and future wellbeing.
• Caring relationships and sustained conversation between parents and young children have a lasting impact on children's emotional, social and cognitive development and wellbeing.
• Physical health and safety and related behaviours underpin all other areas of lifelong development and wellbeing.
• The environment is a major area of present and future impact on well being for all children.

'It would be good to see more information directly relating to young children from birth to eight in the next report. Reports like this are an important litmus test of the health of our community, its families and its children and inform planning for future action. Early Childhood Australia commends ARACY for its work.'

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