Child Protection Australia 2008-2009 contains comprehensive information relating to state and territory child protection and support services, and the characteristics of Australian children within the child protection system.

The 2009 National Survey of Young Australians, conducted by Mission Australia, tested the views of close to 48,000 young people – the biggest group since the survey began in 2002 – between the ages of 11-24 (97.9 per cent aged 11-19).

Drugs, suicide and body image were the most common concerns raised by young people in the survey.

The report Juvenile justice in Australia 2007–08, released earlier this month by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), shows that the number of young people in juvenile justice detention in Australia is increasing.

By Robert A. Cummins and others / Australian Centre on Quality of Life

The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index is a barometer of Australians’ satisfaction with their lives and life in Australia. Unlike most official indicators of quality of life and wellbeing, it is subjective – it measures how Australians feel about life, and incorporates both personal and national perspectives.The Index shows how various aspects of life – both personal and national – affects our sense of wellbeing.

By Elizabeth Broderick, Human Rights Commission

In November 2007, Elizabeth Broderick began a nation-wide ‘Listening Tour’ to ask the Australian public two questions: How far have we come in our journey towards gender equality? And where should we focus our efforts into the future.

Found at what the answers were at  http://tinyurl.com/67cudf.

By Ben Saul, Sydney Centre for International Law

The new government has displayed some original thinking but not yet quite up there in the exceptional category of the very best governments around the world, according to this paper, which spells out areas requiring further attention – including Australia's attitude to capital punishment and torture in other countries.

Read the full article at http://tinyurl.com/5tosp4.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Management of not-for-profit organisations was once seen as irrelevant and esoteric. Because these organisations now receive so much government funding, interest in understanding how they ought to be managed and organised is now keen. With public funding comes increased scrutiny and policies to encourage ‘partnerships’ between not-for-profits and governments and businesses. In this environment, not-for-profits face challenges – perhaps threats – they have not encountered before.

Read the full text of this article at http://tinyurl.com/56gf9x.

Source: Australian Policy Online

By Andrew Smith, Eddie Oczkowski, Chris Selby Smith.

This report examines the ways in which Australian employers retain skilled staff and the ways in which employers enhance their ability to use the skills of their people. It has been published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

by Christine Halse, Anne Honey and Desiree Boughtwood

While the primary focus of media attention and medical treatment is the individual's battle with anorexia nervosa, research from University of Western Sydney reveals that anorexia can have a long term impact on the physical, social, and psychological well-being of the entire family.

The Parliamentary Library produces a Monthly statistical bulletin (ISSN 1835-6389), updated each month by the Parliamentary Library's Statistics and Mapping Section at http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/MSB/. It contains a selection of the latest economic and social statistics and is issued during the first week of each month. It contains statistics available on or before the day of release. All figures are original data unless otherwise noted. Section 1.5 of the bulletin provides an overview of youth unemployment: see: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/MSB/15.htm.

Source: Youth Field Xpress, Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies

by Chris Bonnor

The 'ARACY Report Card' presents a summary of the wellbeing of Australia's young people. It provides an international perspective and sets a baseline for future monitoring.

This report, published by the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, 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.

Published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics , this report provides a summary of measures which relate to the fourteen headline dimensions of progress presented in the Bureau's Measures of Australia's Progress (MAP) project. It presents the headline indicators (where a headline indicator is available) at the national level, and a brief discussion about the measure and associated trends.

Australian Social Trends 2008 is the 15th edition of an annual series (published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics) that presents information on contemporary social issues and areas of public policy concern, and describes aspects of Australian society, and how these are changing over time.

Click here for more information and the full report - http://tinyurl.com/5wqccj.

Source: Australian Policy Online