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Well-being Indicators for Children and Youth - Outposting Update
The WA Office for Children and Youth (OCY) is producing a set of statistical well-being indicators for children and youth in WA. An ABS outposted officer, Shalini Bellas, has been with OCY since late February developing the indicator set.

Statistical indicators support informed decision-making across government by providing an evidence base for policy and programs.

The WA indicator set is being developed in line with other national and state governments’ initiatives in this field. The indicators will cover a wide range of social issues including: health; education; family; work; economic resources; and community. The wellbeing indicators project is linked to the WA Government’s Sustainable Engagement Strategy for Children and Youth and as such indicators on social participation will also be included.

Initially, a comprehensive set of sustainable indicators will be developed at the state level covering the general population aged 0–24 years. Data on different population groups (e.g. Indigenous, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, regional) will be included as they become available. The initial indicator set will be drawn from data readily available (ABS and agency administration data).

Over 20 state government agencies have provided input to the project. Two workshops were held in July to determine and refine the indicators to be included. Consultation with the agencies has ensured that a highly relevant set of indicators will be produced. It is important that the wellbeing indicators add value to projects and programs undertaken by agencies and therefore agency input is crucial in determining the success of this initiative.

An important objective of the project is to identify gaps in current data holdings and possible sources for later additions to the indicator set. Agency input will also be requested during this phase of the project to identify potential indicators and suitable data sources. It is expected the project will be completed, with the release of a foundation set of indicators, in late 2004.