Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Acknowledgement
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Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Acknowledgement Wollongong City Council would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the Land, to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living within the Wollongong Local Government Area. Thank you Contents We would like to acknowledge and thank Lord Mayor message 1 students from Austinmer Public School, Purpose 2 Balgownie Public School and Mount Brown Public School who shared their thoughts, Engagement with children 3 ideas and artwork for this report. How to read this report 4 Summary of indicators 5 Demographics 8 Health 10 Learning 16 Family 34 Home 46 Participation 54 Cover image: In The Dreaming, Lorshae Brown, 14 years old, What’s next? 63 Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation References 64 Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Lord Mayor message I am proud to present the first State We encourage local organisations of the Children report for the City and groups to use this document to of Wollongong. This report provides inform their planning, programs and our community with information on services for children. By focusing on how the children of Wollongong are building on our children’s strengths developing, across all areas of their and responding to challenges faced lives. The report presents a snapshot by them and their families, we can of the experiences of children and continue to create a city where families living in the Wollongong children are safe, can thrive and Local Government Area. It shows are supported to reach their full in what aspects of life children are potential. developing well and where we can Wollongong City Lord Mayor focus on improving. Councillor At Wollongong City Council, we Gordon Bradbery AM aim to continue progress towards improving the lives, opportunities and wellbeing of children. In 2008, Council made a commitment to becoming a Child Friendly City, which is a UNICEF initiative that recognises the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children as an integral part of public policy, programming and decision making. We believe that a City that is good for children is good for everyone. We have a focus on increasing children’s participation, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs and wishes are respected and captured in our plans. 1. Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Purpose Engagement with children This is Wollongong’s first State of the This report presents data in areas that In 2017, 80 children aged between five and 12 Their thoughts, ideas and artworks have been Children report. The report has been contribute to a child’s overall development from Austinmer, Balgownie and Mount Brown included throughout this report. developed as a resource for our community and wellbeing. Being the first State of the Public School’s participated in engagement and to support local organisations to plan Children report for Wollongong, the data activities to inform this report. Children services and programs for children across presented here provides a baseline and shared their thoughts on the important things the Wollongong Local Government Area. starting point from which areas of growth and that contribute to their development, health, The report uses data to tell the story of how change can be identified and monitored in safety and wellbeing by drawing a picture and children are developing across Wollongong future years. finishing the following sentences: LGA, compared to New South Wales (NSW) benchmarks. I feel loved and/or safe when I... I feel well and/or happy when I... I feel healthy when I... I feel involved in my community when I... Image: Evie, 11, Austinmer Public School 2. 3. Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 How to read this report Summary of indicators In this report, children have been defined The information has been presented under Health as aged 0-14 years while data has been five areas: presented based on the geographic footprint • Health Indicator Comparison to Page of the Wollongong LGA, unless otherwise • Learning NSW Benchmark stated. • Family Maternal smoking during pregnancy 12 Some data gaps have been identified to • Home highlight the importance of collecting or • Participation Maternal overweight and obesity – Healthy Weight 12 sourcing this data in the future. This would Data has been grouped in this way to help Maternal overweight and obesity – Overweight or Obese 12 help gain a better understanding of children identify areas of focus to make Wollongong and family’s experiences and enable better a better place for children to live, grow and First antenatal visit by gestational age – 14 weeks 12 monitoring of progress over time. play. Introductory information is provided First antenatal visit by gestational age – 20 weeks 12 This report presents a combination of publicly for each area to outline their importance to available data, data sourced independently children’s development. Pre-term births 13 from government agencies and collected Throughout the document, data has Low birth weight babies 13 data by Wollongong City Council. Major data been presented in comparison to NSW Full immunisation in children – 1 year 13 sources include: benchmarks. Results have been colour- • Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census of coded to make the data easier to understand Full immunisation in children – 2 years 13 Population and Housing. and compare: Full immunisation in children – 5 years 13 • NSW Health – HealthStats NSW. Asthma status in children aged 2-15 years – ever had asthma • Australian Early Development Census 13 – Australian Early Development Census Asthma status in children aged 2-15 years – currently have 13 (AEDC). asthma • Australian Curriculum Assessment and Overweight and obesity in children aged 5-16 years 14 Reporting Authority – National Assessment. Fruit and vegetables: Recommended daily consumption by Program - Literacy and Numeracy 14 (NAPLAN). children – vegetables Fruit and vegetables: Recommended daily consumption by • Department of Communities and Justice 14 (DCJ) – Bureau of Crime Statistics and children – Fruit Research. Physical activity by behaviour type - adequate physical 15 • Wollongong City Council - Wollongong Data not activity - children aged 5-15 years LGA Wellbeing Survey. Physical activity by behaviour type - sedentary behaviours available 15 • Wollongong City Council - Wollongong City - children aged 5-15 years Council Community Satisfaction Survey. Performing Close to NSW Not performing well against Benchmark well against NSW NSW benchmark benchmark 4. 5. Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 ■ Performing well against NSW Benchmark ■ Close to NSW Benchmark ■ Not performing well against NSW Benchmark ■ No data Summary of indicators Learning Family Indicator Comparison to Page Indicator Comparison to Page NSW Benchmark NSW Benchmark *Parent/Caregiver engagement with school 18 Children in out of home care 38 *Physical health and wellbeing – AEDC 19 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children in out of 38 home care *Social competence – AEDC 20 Children placed by Non-Government Organisations - 39 *Emotional maturity – AEDC 21 predominantly foster care *Language and cognitive skills (school-based) – AEDC 22 Children placed by DCJ - predominantly in relative or 39 kinship care *Communication skills and general knowledge – AEDC 23 Home ownership 40 *Developmentally vulnerable in one or more domains – AEDC 25 Labour force participation rate 40 *Developmentally vulnerable in two or more domains – AEDC 25 Unemployment 41 Households with an internet connection 25 Median household income 42 National assessment program – literacy and numeracy 28 (NAPLAN) Low income households 42 Households without a car 45 *AEDC indicators have been compared to NSW average Home Indicator Comparison to Page NSW Benchmark Image: Coniston Public School students, Housing stress 48 Stuart Park playground artwork Households renting in social housing 49 SEIFA index of advantage and disadvantage 50 Domestic violence related assault incidents 51 Domestic violence related assault victim reports 0-17 years 51 Sexual offences victim reports 0-17 years 52 Participation Indicator Comparison to Page NSW Benchmark Active Kids voucher uptake 56 Creative Kids voucher uptake 56 Volunteer work 57 6. 7. The estimated By 2036 the number of children aged 0-14 RESIDENT is predicted to increase by 20%1 POPULATION % for 2018 was 17 of the people living 1 Predicted in Wollongong 216,071 2016 2026 2036 change ARE AGED 2016 – 2036 0 – 141 N % N % N % 0 – 4 13,052 6.2 13,849 5.9 14,836 5.8 +1.784 5 – 9 13,232 6.3 14,322 6.1 15,607 6.1 +2,375 % 33.4 10 – 14 12,227 5.8 14,194 6.1 15,726 6.2 of households +3,499 2,100 fully OWN THEIR children aged HOME compared 0-14 were to 30.7% for NSW.1 BORN OVERSEAS1 1,791 Children aged 0-14 identify as MEDIAN WEEKLY ABORIGINAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND/OR in Wollongong is TORRES STRAIT 926 2 ISLANDER CHILDREN AGED $1,335 Wollongong 0-14 HAD A NEED compared to $1,481 FOR ASSISTANCE, for NSW.1 meaning they need help with their day to day lives due to Demographics 1 DISABILITY (1) .id Community Demographic Resources 2019, 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, compiled and presented by .id This material is a derivative of ABS Data that can be accessed from the website of the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au, and which data can be licensed on terms published on the ABS website. (2) Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, TableBuilder. Findings based on 8. use of ABS TableBuilder data. 9. Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Wollongong State of the Children Report 2020 Health A healthy lifestyle and access to childhood, increases the probability of appropriate services helps to protect experiencing poor health later in life.