Child and family wellbeing data launched in Queensland digital first

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has launched the Data Explorer, a rich online resource that reports on the wellbeing of Queensland’s 1.6 million children, their families and communities.

The explorer presents a holistic picture of child, family and community wellbeing in Queensland, with data and case studies describing their health, education, wealth, and living and family circumstances.

This is the first time Queensland child, family and community wellbeing data has been presented in an interactive, multi-source platform and at regional and state level, with data sourced from NGOs, researchers and government departments.

The QFCC’s Data Explorer is a go-to resource for information about children and families, drawing together many separate data sources into one location to tell the story about what it’s like to grow up and live in Queensland.

It comprises thousands of data points that describe child, family and community wellbeing in Queensland and more than 20 case studies highlighting people and programs making a difference, with information from state and federal government departments, community and non-government organisations, and research institutions.

The data and case studies map to the wellbeing framework developed by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), which sets out the six interconnected factors children and families need to thrive: feeling valued, loved and safe; having material basics; being healthy; being engaged in education; participating in their communities; and having a positive sense of identity and culture.

The breadth of data in the explorer is immense; for example, you can find survey results about children’s views of issues that affect them; data about employment, family incomes and cost-of-living pressures; health information; data about educational outcomes and young people’s plans after school; data about activities around transitioning to adulthood, such as enrolling to vote and learning to drive; and so much more.

The Data Explorer will be continually updated to ensure it presents a contemporary view of child, family and community wellbeing in Queensland.

The Data Explorer is an essential resource for everyone interested in children and families in Queensland—researchers, policy-makers, sector organisations, students, media—and it’s available now to explore on the QFCC website: www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/dataexplorer  

Quotes attributed to QFCC Principal Commissioner Luke Twyford:

“There is so much disparate data out there about child and family wellbeing, reported by separate government agencies and sector organisations, that it can be difficult to form a complete picture of children’s and families’ experiences growing up and living in Queensland.

“Our Data Explorer brings this rich information into one location to show how children’s wellbeing is shaped by their families, neighbourhoods, communities, governments and systems, which will be immensely informative for researchers, policy-makers, organisations and commentators.

“In drawing together this data and mapping to the ARACY wellbeing framework, it clearly demonstrates that the needs of Queensland children and families don’t fit neatly into one government portfolio or agency; instead, it highlights that wellbeing is interconnected across a number of elements.

“The explorer brings transparency to the data reported about Queensland children and families, so we can identify where things are going well and where improvements are needed.

“I am proud to have led the development of a product that provides a clear and comprehensive representation of child, family and community wellbeing across all stages of a child’s development, and it’s now in the community’s hands to explore and use to deliver a better Queensland for everyone.”

ENDS

For media information contact:

Kirstine O’Donnell | Queensland Family and Child Commission

Phone: 0404 971 164

Email:   media@qfcc.qld.gov.au

BACKGROUND

A short video about the Data Explorer is available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii619KISmZo