The State of Australia’s Children report takes a comprehensive look at the wellbeing of children and youth across the nation.
Developed by UNICEF Australia in partnership with Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and supported by Minderoo Foundation, The State of Australia's Children report combines the latest publicly available data with the firsthand perspectives of Australia's children and young people. Using the Australian Children’s Wellbeing Index, developed by UNICEF Australia and ARACY, the report:
- Explores wellbeing outcomes for children across six domains,
- Identifies the megatrends shaping the future of today’s kids,
- Outlines the next steps for government to ensure all children thrive.
While many Australian children and young people are getting the support they need, many are falling behind. This report is a call to action to address these gaps and make children a national priority so every child in Australia gets the best possible start in life. Let's turn evidence into action to create a brighter future for every child in Australia.
Read the summary Read the full report
What are the report’s key findings?
In 2025, the wellbeing of Australia’s children is at a crossroads. While strong foundations mean most children and young people are faring well, too many – particularly those experiencing systemic disadvantage – are being left behind. The data also points to urgent and emerging challenges for children and young people across the country. They are more than just statistics; they represent real children whose safety, health, and wellbeing depends on the actions we take now.
Not every child has an equal opportunity to thrive
Those experiencing the greatest systemic disadvantage are facing growing barriers that can limit access to the resources and opportunities they need.
We need to intervene to stem emerging challenges
Across the nation, there are a range of emergent challenges that, if not addressed, will lead to worsening lifelong outcomes for children and young people. The report shows that help is possible, spotlighting interventions that work.
We have significant strengths to build on
While challenges persist, encouraging improvements in some key areas of child wellbeing demonstrate that thoughtful investment, sustained political leadership and equity-focused approaches can benefit every child.
Key data points
Bright spots
89.2%
Early childhood education enrolment is high as barriers to access have been removed, with 89.2% of children enrolled in a preschool program in the year before school, including 100% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in 2023.
10.5%
The youth unemployment rate has dropped to 10.5% in 2025, down from 15.9% in 2017.
1 in 3
Nearly one-third of young people are now feeling empowered to have a say in their communities.
Areas requiring action
52.9%
Of all children aged five years are developmentally on track in all five domains measured by the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).
1 in 3
One in three young people leaving out-of-home care experience homelessness within a year.
1 in 5
Young adults aged 18-24 reported high or very high psychological distress in 2022. Among 12–17 year-olds, 39% identified mental health as their second biggest concern after housing and financial stress (43%).
4.3%
Only 4.3% of children met the recommended intake of fruit and vegetables in 2022, down from 6% in 2017-18.
3 in 4
Nearly 3 in 4 10-to-17-year-olds have encountered harmful content online, and more than half (53%) have experienced cyberbullying.
1 in 6
An estimated 932,886 Australian children and young people – or one in six – are impacted by disasters in an average year.
"Kids like me worry about big, big feelings that come in my head and lives around in my head... If you have a worry, you talk to your mum, and your worry gets smaller and smaller and smaller. Or you talk to your dad, or your sister."
What are the recommendations from the report?
Recommendation 1: Establish an Early Intervention Investment Framework, supported by a National Children’s Data Strategy.
A commitment by all Australian governments to address the significant data gaps relating to children and resource an enduring linked data asset.
Recommendation 2: Establish a National Early Childhood Commission to ensure timely, cohesive reform.
A dedicated independent body to steward a unified early childhood development system in Australia with clear accountabilities.
Recommendation 3: Elevate children’s voices in decision making for meaningful co-design.
Create systematic mechanisms for participation and engagement of children and young people in decisions that affect them.
Recommendation 4: Increase the number of mental health and wellbeing professionals in early childhood education and care services and schools.
Early and sustained wraparound support for children’s holistic mental health and wellbeing to support resilience.
Recommendation 5: The implementation of a national Children’s Act, overseen by a national Ministerial Council for Children, to provide cabinet-level oversight and accountability.
A coordinated, long-term strategy that places children’s rights at the heart of national policy.
Dive deeper into the data
We have collaborated with The Australian Child and Youth Wellbeing Atlas (The Atlas) to bring the findings of The State of Australia’s Children report to life through their interactive online platform. The Atlas’s platform allows visitors to explore wellbeing indicators for children and young
people by domain and visualise them on a map. Click below to explore the data at a state-based, regional and local community level.