We have a vision, where every child is healthy, educated, protected, respected and involved.
Around the world, Australia is known for being one of the best places for a child to grow up, with access to quality health care, education and carefree days of playing in the great outdoors. But that’s not the case for everyone. From remote towns to city centres, the rights and wellbeing of Australia’s most vulnerable children and young people are being impacted by climate-driven disasters, mental health, unemployment, and for some, lack of access to quality education and health care.
At UNICEF Australia, we’re making a difference by putting our years of experience working for children and young people around the world into practice. Through partnerships, advocacy and ensuring the voices of young people are heard, we’re striving for a better future for Australia’s most vulnerable.
Making Australia a Better Place for Children
By 2025, UNICEF Australia wants to profoundly influence policy, attitudes and behaviour to enhance the rights of children and young people in Australia.
1 in 4
children and young people experience a climate disaster every year in Australia.
1 in 7
Australian children and young people experience mental health issues (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).
12,600
There is an average of 12,600 unregistered births in Australia every year.
How we are helping children in Australia
Through partnerships, advocacy and ensuring the voices of young people are heard, we’re striving for a better future for all Australian children and young people
2,427
young Australian voices were elevated and consulted on global and local issues important to them in 2023.
855,174
children and families in 2023 benefited through our initiatives.
$4.2 m
committed by the Australian Government in 2023 to better support children and youth on the issues we advocated for.
Unlocking education with birth certificates
Aimee, who lives in a small town in New South Wales with her husband and three young children, has encountered considerable difficulties getting her son Anton into daycare, pre-school and local sporting groups, all of which require proof of identity.
“I ended up having to get a birth certificate for Anton so he could get into pre-school. So now we need to get my two younger kids their certificates for day-care and sport," said Aimee.
For many Australians, obtaining birth certificates can be a complex and costly process. While registration is free in Australia, birth certificates aren’t automatically issued and come with a price tag. Along with our community partner Pathfinders, UNICEF Australia is helping to eliminate the barriers parents like Aimee face so all Australian children can see the opportunity having one brings.
In Australia, we’re making a difference in:
UNICEF Australia Domestic Impact Report 2024
UNICEF Australia's Impact Report tells the story of how our work, in collaboration with many others and fuelled by the generosity of our supporters, made a difference in 2024.
The impact of our work
Helping to make Australia an even better place for children and young people to grow up.
