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.

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.

Mental health and other professionals inexperienced at working with Indigenous clients struggle with the limits of their cultural awareness, with language barriers and with the historical legacies of mistrust and misunderstanding. Cultural competency is more than sharing a joke. So what is it? And how can psychologists, doctors and others acquire it?

This report brings together up-to-date national data on the health status of young Australians aged 12-24 years and the factors influencing their health. Information on health status includes self-assessed health status, disability, injury, mental health, chronic disease, communicable diseases, hospitalisations and mortality.

Factors influencing health addressed in this report include family and community environments, environmental factors, socioeconomic factors including education, employment and income and health behaviours such as weight, physical activity, nutrition and substance use. This report also includes a special section on the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

The report is available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10451.