What’s it like ‘Growing Up in Queensland’?

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has released Growing Up in Queensland, a comprehensive report telling the story of child, family and community wellbeing across the state.

• It reports that Queensland is a positive place to grow up and live in, with many young Queenslanders feeling happy and loved, but it also highlights the areas we need to improve in, including addressing children’s experiences with domestic and family violence, mental health and bullying.
• For the first time, the report details child, family and community wellbeing using thousands of data points and case studies, drawing together multiple information sources across Australia.

The wellbeing of Queensland’s 1.6 million children and their families has been laid bare in a comprehensive report from the QFCC, Growing Up in Queensland.

The report describes young Queenslanders’ feelings and experiences about their futures, health, education, wealth, living situations, employment, families, and so much more.

It features thousands of data points about child and family wellbeing, drawn from multiple government agencies and organisations, as well as more than 20 case studies that showcase the people and programs making a difference in our communities.

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 report shows that, overall, Queensland is a great state to live and grow up in, providing a positive environment for many children and their families. Some of the key positive findings about child and family wellbeing in Queensland include:

• almost 93% of 4- and 5-year-old children are enrolled in kindy
• more than 80% of children and 90% of parents and carers experience loving and trusting family relationships
• 83% of children are happy and 88% like being themselves
• more than 80% of parents feel their neighbourhoods are good places to raise children
• more than 75% of students feel well supported by their teachers
• 72% of parents and carers are actively engaged in supporting their child’s learning.

The report identified there are children and families in Queensland who experience disadvantage, with key findings of concern including:

• 1 in 10 children don’t always feel safe at home or feel they need more support to feel safe
• 44% of young people aged 16 to 24 have been exposed to domestic and family violence
• a third of children have experienced bullying
• stress is a significant worry for two in five young Queenslanders, and 14% expressed concerns about suicide
• 33% of children aged 5 to 14 have never visited a dentist.

The Growing Up in Queensland report is available to view on the QFCC website, alongside our Data Explorer.

Quotes attributed to QFCC Principal Commissioner Luke Twyford:

“Children’s prospects of success soar when they are loved, safe, healthy, cared for, engaged in school, and meaningfully connected to their communities and cultures.

“Until now, there has been no one resource that pulls together information that tells us how well Queensland children, young people and families are faring across these areas.

“For the first time, our Growing Up in Queensland report presents data and case studies to describe the wellbeing of Queensland children and their families.

“On the whole, the report tells us that Queensland is a great place to grow up in and raise a family and there are many opportunities for our young people.

“We should be proud that many Queensland children report feeling happy, liking themselves, and feeling loved and supported by their parents and teachers.

“But the report also highlights the areas of disadvantage experienced by some young Queenslanders and their families, which are action areas for everyone across society to address.

“This report is a comprehensive resource for researchers, decision-makers and organisations who want to make a difference in the lives of young Queenslanders and their families, and I encourage everyone to use it in their work.”

ENDS

For media information contact:

Kirstine O’Donnell | Queensland Family and Child Commission
Phone: 0404 971 164
Email:   media@qfcc.qld.gov.au