industry & reform
Australia ‘could do better’
Australia is in the bottom third
of all OECD countries across a
number of education indicators,
according to a new ARACY report.
By Kirstie Chlopicki
T
he latest snapshot of Australia’s
youth shows the wellbeing and
performance of school-aged
children is on a downward slide.
Report Card: The Wellbeing of Young
Australians, released recently by the
Australian Research Alliance for Children
and Youth (ARACY), placed Australia
in the middle of the pack among the
world’s developed nations, and called on
the federal government to prioritise the
wellbeing of young people.
The report ranked Australia in the
bottom third of all OECD countries in a
number of education indicators, including
primary school bullying, youth numeracy
skills, feeling of belonging at school,
pre-primary enrolment rate, and school-
related pressure.
Australia also ranked poorly in
neighbourhood safety, childhood
obesity, whooping cough and measles
vaccinations, teenage pregnancy, cost of
childcare, and children livi