The Global Youth Development Index (YDI), developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, measures the status of 15-29 year-olds in 170 countries across five key domains: Education, Health and Well-being, Employment, Civic Participation and Political Participation. The Commonwealth Secretariat has now developed a toolkit to help countries analyse their situation at a sub-national level. This report presents the findings for Australia, the first country to pilot the toolkit. Data is presented as available for states and territories, rural versus urban youth, and Indigenous youth, with comparisons between 2010 and 2015. Overall, Australia has comparatively high youth development globally, though there are gaps regionally - between urban and rural groups and for Indigenous youth.

There are more young people in the world today than ever before. Yet surprisingly little is known about the current state of affairs in youth development. Measuring the well-being of young people continues to be a challenge, even though its importance is widely recognised. The Commonwealth's youth flagship report, the Global Youth Development Index and Report, provides an evidence-based overview of the state of development for the nearly 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 30 in the world. The Youth Development Index (YDI) is a composite index of 18 indicators that collectively measure progress on youth development in 183 countries, including 49 of the 53 Commonwealth countries. The YDI has five domains, measuring levels of education, health and well-being, employment and opportunity, political participation and civic participation among young people.

This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of youth development, including theories and applications across different countries, namely India, the UK, and Australia. It presents the status of youth and their role in society, their education, and their career perspectives. The focus is on developing youth's internal abilities by providing a creative and supportive environment through appropriate mentorship and encouragement. It discusses a wide range of contemporary and relevant issues relating to holistic career growth of youth, whereby youth work is recognized as a profession. Academicians from various disciplinary backgrounds offer conceptual and methodological perspectives. Chapters into five themes focus on a balance between developing stable, protective factors for mental health, and positive youth development to ensure appropriate cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral skills needed to thrive in an evolving world. It discusses the status of the youth in terms of digital competency, engagement of youth in sports, teaching, political process, and community development activities in the present and rapidly altering world scenario. The book also discusses the role of institution-based family counseling for healthy youth development. Given its comprehensive coverage, the handbook is an essential resource for a broad audience of youth researchers, practitioners and policymakers of population sciences, childhood and youth studies, development studies, and psychology.

"Ensuring that children get the best possible start in life is a key priority for the Australian Government. This report delivers the latest and most reliable information on how, as a nation, we are faring according to key statistical indicators of child and youth health, development and wellbeing. The report covers children and young people aged 0-19 years, and includes indicators for the entire 0-19 year age range as well as indicators for three different stages of development: 1) infancy and early childhood; 2) school age childhood; and 3) adolescence. Information is presented on important issues such as mental health, disability, risk factors for chronic disease, mortality, education, homelessness, crime, jobless families and family economic situation. Particular attention is given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth, and to how Australia compares internationally."--Publisher website.

This handbook examines positive youth development (PYD) in youth and emerging adults from an international perspective. It focuses on large and underrepresented cultural groups across six continents within a strengths-based conception of adolescence that considers all youth as having assets. The volume explores the ways in which developmental assets, when effectively harnessed, empower youth to transition into a productive and resourceful adulthood. The book focuses on PYD across vast geographical regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Latin America as well as on strengths and resources for optimal well-being. The handbook addresses the positive development of young people across various cultural contexts to advance research, policy, and practice and inform interventions that foster continued thriving and reduce the chances of compromised youth development. It presents theoretical perspectives and supporting empirical findings to promote a more comprehensive understanding of PYD from an integrated, multidisciplinary, and multinational perspective.

The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) is a population measure of early childhood development, and aims to provide data to inform policy and strategy to improve the health, wellbeing and early learning of young children. It is based on an index developed in Canada and adapted and piloted in Australia by the Centre for Community Child Health. This evaluation of the AEDI was commissioned by the Government to consider opportunities for improvement, with reference to appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency, governance, and quality and suitability. The findings are presented across 5 reports.

"This book is the second in a series entitled ‘Learning and Development for a Better World’ and it explores the potential for self-directed lifelong action learning (LAL) by focusing on the design of development pathways with and for young adults. The book considers the reasons why LAL pathways are needed and draws on innovative approaches used by the Global University for Lifelong Learning (including micro enterprise, peace-building, music, sport and the creative arts) with examples from nine countries. The aim is to offer a timely response to the pressing global problem of access to learning and development for marginalized young people during the vulnerable period from their mid-teens to mid-twenties. This book is an engaging and compelling text. I enjoyed the flow of ideas and the key messages of need and solution that it provides. The authors are articulate and convincing in their crafted messages – as well as passionate. Reading this book is time well spent and both enjoyable and instructional.Brendan Bartlett, Professor of Education, Institute of Learning Sciences Australia, Australian Catholic University This book will help both policy makers and those working with young people to change lives. In many areas of the world, young people, particularly women, lead impoverished lives. Developing approaches to lifelong action learning with these young adults will provide hope for the future. Emer Clarke, Formerly Area Director of the UK Learning and Skills Council The plight of millions of young people is clearly worsening as social and economic divisions increase and deepen. This book will serve those well who want to agitate for change and reform based on a belief in social justice and equality of access to learning and economic fairness for all young people.David Davies, Professor Emeritus and Former Executive Dean, University of Derby, UK This book is a valuable resource, an indispensable text and a must read for all working with young people. What captured my attention most was the way in which it illustrates how access to purposeful learning and development can be provided to marginalized young people. Eldrie Gouws, Professor, Department of Psychology of Education, University of South Africa This is a significant and far reaching response to the global problem of young adults’ unemployment and lack of educational opportunities, especially in disadvantaged, remote and poverty-stricken communities in developing as well as developed countries. It is of interest to a wide audience of readers, including youth, parents, educators, non-profit organizations, governments and churches.Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt, Co-author, ‘Lifelong Action Learning for Community Development: Learning and Development for a Better World’, Sense Publishers, 2013"div v>

Humanising Mental Health Care in Australia is a unique and innovative contribution to the healthcare literature that outlines the trauma-informed approaches necessary to provide a more compassionate model of care for those who suffer with mental illness. The impact of abuse and trauma is frequently overlooked in this population, to the detriment of both individual and society. This work highlights the importance of recognising such a history and responding humanely. The book explores the trauma-informed perspective across four sections. The first outlines theory, constructs and effects of abuse and trauma. The second section addresses the effects of abuse and trauma on specific populations. The third section outlines a diverse range of individual treatment approaches. The final section takes a broader perspective, examining the importance of culture and training as well as the organisation and delivery of services. Written in an accessible style by a diverse group of national and international experts, Humanising Mental Health Care in Australia is an invaluable resource for mental health clinicians, the community managed and primary health sectors, policy makers and researchers, and will be a helpful reference for people who have experienced trauma and those who care for them.

The Youth, Prosperity, and Security Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in partnership with the International Youth Foundation (IYF), has developed a groundbreaking Global Youth Wellbeing Index, to elevate distinct young people’s issues and comparative status from within national and population-wide measures of national poverty, development, and wellbeing. The Index comprises 40 representative indicators across six domains of wellbeing: citizen participation, education, economic opportunity, health, safety and security, and information and communications technology. The report details the Initiative’s findings, recommendations, and methodology used to construct the Global Youth Wellbeing Index. It is the hope of the Initiative that policymakers, donors, and youth are able to use this tool as the world moves forward with the post-2015 agenda.

The second edition of Paediatric Nursing in Australia: Principles for Practice brings the important care of the child and young person to life, by equipping students with essential knowledge and skills to become informed and capable partners in the nursing care of children, young people and their families across a variety of clinical and community settings. The text develops students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills by exploring contemporary issues impacting on the health of children, young people and their families. This new edition features the latest research and case studies, coupled with reflection points and learning activities in each chapter. Further resources, including links to video and web content, multiple-choice questions and critical-thinking problems, are available on the updated instructor companion website at www.cambridge.edu.au/academic/paediatricnursing. Written by a team of experienced nurses within the field, Paediatric Nursing in Australia: Principles for Practice, 2nd edition is grounded in current care delivery and is an essential resource in preparing future nurses for practice in paediatric settings throughout Australia.