Page 131 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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(c) it is also the period when young people in Australia transition from primary to secondary school (and are most likely to experience bullying at school);
(d) development during the middle years has been shown to affect “future cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical development”, with impacts stretching into adulthood;
(e) indicators of low wellbeing in the domains of family, school, health and social networks during middle years create disadvantage that likewise tends to follow children into their adult years; and
(f) research suggests that issues typically associated with older adolescence are more frequently presenting in children in the middle years, with:
(i) the onset of puberty beginning earlier;
(ii) half of adult mental health problems emerging by age 14; and
(iii) children as young as 10 regularly seeking professional counselling in the ACT;
(2) further notes that:
(a) notwithstanding the above, child development researchers have highlighted a lack of funding for programs to support the wellbeing of young people in the middle years, as well as a “critical gap in research data” relating to their unique needs; and
(b) researchers have also recommended that “measures and indicators of social inclusion, social capital, community strength and support… should explicitly include data relating to children in middle childhood”;
(3) further notes that:
(a) “children and youth who are homeless experience significant social and health consequences, including disrupted schooling, high rates of mental health problems, and engagement in risk-taking behaviours”;
(b) addressing homelessness therefore can assist in addressing other issues that may complicate the lives of children in the middle years;
(c) “there are currently no accommodation services in the ACT for young people under the age of 16 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness” despite this having been identified as “a critical area of concern” in the ACT Homelessness Strategy 15 years ago;
(d) the Youth Coalition of the ACT found that “there was a strong consensus among youth workers that the issue of at-risk and/or homeless young people aged between 12–15 is a significant problem” in the Territory and that “the conditions faced by 12–15 year old young people experiencing homelessness in the ACT are severe”; and
(e) homelessness programs for young people in other Australian jurisdictions have been shown to be cost effective, “creating $12 in social value for every dollar invested”;
(4) further notes that:
(a) community-based diversion programs “are more effective in reducing re offending than the traditional justice system, especially detention”; and
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