Outcomes for Victoria's Children

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Gathering New Data

Victorian Government Departments hold a large amount of information on how children are faring, as does the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other research bodies. Where possible, these data are used to report against the 150 Victorian Child and Adolescent Monitoring System (VCAMS) indicators (PDF - 95Kb). However, this gives only a partial picture; initially there were many VCAMS indicators for which data were not readily available. Furthermore, some population groups are not satisfactorily represented within standard surveys and they require tailored approaches if their situation is to be properly understood. To address these data gaps, the Department is undertaking a rolling program of new data collections as outlined below:

  • The Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey
    This was first carried out in 2006and again in 2009. 5000 telephone interviews were carried out each year with parents or carers of Victorian children aged from birth to 12 years.
  • The Local Level Child Health and Wellbeing Survey
    A local version of the Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey was carried out in 25 Local Government Areas, with Best Start Partnerships, in 2007. For more information, see: Best Start
  • The Victorian Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Survey
    This online survey was completed in 2009 with a representative sample of over 10,000 secondary school students across the state. Results are published in the Adolescent Community Profiles.
  • The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey
    This national household survey was undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2008 and 2009, with an enhanced Victorian sample to support reporting on outcomes for Indigenous children and young people across the state. Results are reported in the State of Victoria's Children 2009.
  • The Child and Family Services Outcomes Survey
    This survey of outcomes for children and young people who are in contact with child protection and family services or in out of home care is currently underway.
  • Children with Disabilities Survey
    Work is underway to develop a survey of children, young people and families affected by disability.
  • Refugee Children and Families Survey
    This survey development will follow the consideration of a Refugee Status Report, drawing together what is already known about this population group.

The results from these surveys have been incorporated into our annual reports, see Reporting on How Children and Young People are Faring.

Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey

The Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey (VCHWS) was designed to address data gaps identified via the Child and Adolescent Outcomes Framework. Issues covered in the VCHWS include child health, growth, asthma, nutrition (including breastfeeding), oral health, child activities, reading, injury, child behaviour, family functioning, parental health, parental mental health and health in pregnancy. The survey was first conducted in 2006 and repeated in 2009. The survey will continue to be collected every three years. In 2007 a local level version of the survey was conducted across 25 Best Start Local Government Areas and reported in the 2007 Early Childhood Community Profiles. Data from the 2006 and 2009 surveys are presented in the State of Victoria’s Children annual reports and in thematic Child Outcomes Bulletins.

Additional findings and background information is also available in the 2006 Technical Report and the 2009 Preliminary Findings paper.

For more information, see: