Young Australians: Their Health and Wellbeing 2011

This paper is the fourth in a series of national statistical reports on young people aged 12-24 years produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). This report provides the latest available information on how Australia's young people are faring according to national indicators of health and wellbeing. Many young Australians are faring well according to the national indicators presented in this report; however, there is considerable scope for further gains, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. The good news include: (1) Large declines in death rates (mostly due to declines in injury deaths); (2) Declines in asthma hospitalisations, notifications for hepatitis (A, B and C) and improved survival for cancer, with survival for melanoma very high; (3) Favourable trends in some risk and protective factors, such as declines in smoking and illicit substance use, and most Year 10 and Year 12 students using contraception; (4) The majority of young people rate their health as "good", "very good" or "excellent"; (5) Most young people are achieving national minimum standards for reading, writing and numeracy, are fully engaged in study or work, and have strong support networks; and (6) Most young people are able to get support from outside the household in times of crisis. Things to work on include: (1) Rising rates of diabetes and sexually transmissible infections (largely chlamydia), and high rates of mental disorders and, among males, road transport accident deaths; (2) Too many young people are overweight or obese, not meeting physical activity or fruit and vegetable guidelines, are drinking at risky or high-risk levels for short-term or long-term harm, are victims of alcohol- or drug-related violence, or are homeless; and (3) Although there have been improvements in some of these areas, the rates remain too high. Appended are: (1) Methods; (2) Data Sources; and (3) Abbreviations. (Contains 25 tables and 123 figures.)