Snapshot of Tassie’s youth

ABOUT 40 per cent of Tasmanian children in out-of-home care are still without an approved care plan, according to a new report.

The statistic is included in a snapshot of the health and well being of young Tasmanians released today.

The report, by the interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, David Cle- ments, presents detailed data on the educational performance, rate of homelessness, immunisation rate and life outlook of Tasmania’s youth, aged from birth to 17 years.

“This publication shows how Tasmanian children are fairing and I encourage anyone with children in their lives to take an interest in the findings,” Mr Clements said.

The report presents time series NAPLAN data showing Tasmanian students are at a comparable standard for reading and writing to their national counterparts. The findings in older students were more concerning with Tasmania’s teens reaching lower levels of achievement.

The data also shows that student retention between years 10 and 12 is lower than in Australia as a whole. But, there is universal enrolment in preschool — the year before for- mal schooling, which is attributed to high levels of parental engagement.

The results show Indigenous children are over represented in the state’s out-ofhome care system.

Overall, the number of children in out-of-home care has increased, with about 40 per cent of those children without an approved care plan.

Other key indicators from the report show a reduction in alcohol consumption, smoking and illicit drug use by young people; Indigenous school attendance rates higher than the national average; and a decline in youth offenders.

“Access to this data is designed to improve the planning and delivery of policy and program responses,” Mr Clements said.

A child-friendly version of the report has been produced, recognising that children are stakeholders in their future.

According to the report, almost half of the state’s children reside in five council areas: Launceston, Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough.

The Health and Wellbeing of Tasmania’s Children and Young People Report 2018 was compiled from statistical information on Tasmania’s 112,646 children, a quarter of the state’s population.