Youth Health
Overview of the health of Australia's young people.
Despite Australia's increasing wealth and generally high level of education, many indicators of developmental health and wellbeing are showing adverse trends amongst children and adolescents.
One of the most notable sources of data and information is Australia's Young People - their Health and Wellbeing 2003. This report, prepared every four years by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, presents a national picture of health status and determinants of health of young people.
In June 2001 there were 3.5 million young people aged 12-24 years in Australia, approximately 18% of the total population. The proportion of young people in the population has been decreasing over the last few decades and in 2001 was the lowest ever observed. This decrease is largely the result of a decline in fertility that began in the 1970s.
The health, behaviour and attitudes of young people today are crucial to the health of the future Australia. While young people enjoy good health relative to other age groups, they are particularly vulnerable to a number of conditions. Motor vehicle accidents, suicide, mental health and behavioural problems, teenage pregnancy and substance misuse have become risks to many young people.
In addition, the health and wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remains poor, compared with other young people. It is therefore important that we continue to monitor and report on trends in youth health and wellbeing in order to achieve health gains for Australia's young people.
It is now accepted that social and environmental conditions are also important determinants of health and that behaviour and attitudes can impact on health status. In addition to examining health outcomes, the AIHW report also describes behaviours and attitudes that affect health status and examines the broader determinants of health and their impact on health status. (AIHW 2003)
The World Youth Report 2003: The Global Situation of Young People includes a chapter on Youth and Health Issues.
Other useful research and information links:
- ABS Children and Youth Statistics
- The Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies
- Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)
- Australian Research Alliance For Children And Youth
- Australian Youth Research Centre - Uni of Melbourne
- Centre for Youth Drug Studies - Australian Drug Foundation
- Drug Information Clearing House (the drug prevention network)
- The impact of caring and connectedness on adolescent health and wellbeing (Michael Resnick paper on the study of over 36,000 7th-12th grade students in the US)
- National Drug Strategy Household Survey
- Profile for Young Australians - Foundation of Young Australians - See Chapter 6 on Health
- Structural Determinants of Youth Drug Use (PDF 2.45 MB) (Australian National Council on Drugs research paper)
For further information on this page contact: Population Health Division, phone 02 6289 1555; email: PHD Frontdesk
