Please note: due to the upcoming public holidays, our next newsletter will be on the 2nd of May.
ARACY and UNICEF Australia Webinar
Building a secure future: Australian children and young people's safety, security and protection
Thursday 15th May, 2025 | 11.00am - 12.00PM | Online
New findings on child well-being: ARACY and UNICEF Australia's The Wellbeing of Australia’s Children Index tracks how children and young people are faring using The Nest wellbeing framework. The latest focus is on safety, security, and protection under The Nest's Valued, Loved, and Safe domain.
Webinar spotlight: This session explores the links between child maltreatment, family violence, and the child protection and youth justice systems—highlighting the realities faced by too many children.
Expert panel: Join Professor Daryl Higgins (Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at ACU), Oliver White (NAPCAN Youth Council), and facilitator Katie Maskiell (UNICEF Australia) for insights into what it means to grow up feeling valued, loved and safe in Australia.
ARACY CEO Prue Warrilow and Lead for AdvocacyAdam Valvasori recently met with Senator Steph Hodgins-May, the Greens spokesperson for ECEC, to discuss our shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
Together, they explored how the Act for Children alliance is driving structural change through coordinated national leadership and shared insights from our Young and Wise initiative—amplifying what children say they need to thrive.
Young and Wise: Social Media and Mental Health Online Roundtable
ARACY recently hosted its first Young and Wise Roundtable, bringing together young people aged 14 to 25 from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The online discussion provided a valuable platform for young voices to be heard on the evolving role of social media in their lives.
Participants acknowledged that while upcoming age restrictions on social media could help reduce exposure to harmful content, these platforms are often the only spaces where young people feel safe to connect, share, and seek mental health support. They called for clear, youth-friendly guidance; stronger digital and mental health literacy; and accessible, trusted services that are co-designed with young people.
Read the full report and explore their recommendations by clicking the button below.
What? A 90-minute online video workshop (via Microsoft Teams)
When? Between 12-16 May
Why? Your insights will help shape government and ARACY’s work in sexual health, contraception, and youth wellbeing. ➡ You’ll receive a $50 payment for your time! (It will be directly transferred to your nominated Australian Bank Account—no gift cards).
Using The Nest to Map Child Wellbeing in Greater Shepparton
In Greater Shepparton, three key organisations have collaborated to launch a dynamic online dashboard—an evolution of the State of Greater Shepparton’s Children Report—making local child wellbeing data more accessible and actionable.
The dashboard is structured around ARACY’s The Nest, using its six interconnected domains to organise data, highlight strengths, and identify areas for further focus.
This project showcases the power of The Nest as a tool to drive collaboration, inform decisions, and support improved outcomes for children and young people at the community level.
Monkey Baa – Exploring wellbeing through Theatre for Young People
Monkey Baa Theatre Company is using The Nest to articulate and evaluate the wellbeing impact of their work with young people, recognising its alignment with the transformative nature of the arts.
By mapping their programs to The Nest’s six wellbeing domains, Monkey Baa highlights how theatre supports creativity, connection, and growth.
Through inclusive productions, a Youth Advisory Council, and school partnerships, they centre young people as co-creators in theatre that reflects and supports their wellbeing.
ARACY warmly invites collaboration and consultation to implement The Nest in your organisation’s work. Your participation is crucial for shaping a healthier future for Australia’s children and young people.
