Today, levels of mistreatment of children are internationally reported as having reached epidemic proportions. Throughout recorded history babies and young children have suffered acts of violence by parents, care providers and others. However, "some believe that, for the first time in history, we are beginning to face the true prevalence and…

The Children's Headline Indicators are a set of measures designed to focus policy attention and to help guide and evaluate policy development on key issues for children's health, development and wellbeing in 19 priority areas. They were endorsed by health, community and disability services ministers and education systems officials in 2006.…

This paper is based on keynote addresses by Jane Woodruff, CEO, UnitingCare Burnside to the National Association of Community Based Children's Services, University of Wollongong, April 2004; and to the Mobile Children's Service Association Conference, Dubbo, August 2003. It offers the perspective of one NSW child and family welfare agency on…

This article reports on Australian research investigating the meaning and function of prayer for children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 primary school participants selected from six different schools in Melbourne, reflecting some of the diverse philosophical and religious traditions found in the Australian society. The three…

A review of the seminar proceedings on "The Realities of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child", held in Melbourne, Australia in May, 1978 is presented in this paper. The report contains the opening address and speeches on the following topics: (1) the rights of the child--myth or reality; (2) present social and judicial…

An Australian national task force examined a number of areas related to achieving educational equality for Australia's Indigenous peoples. This paper looks at health issues, particularly during ages 0-8, that may affect the educational outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Chapter 1 discusses the importance of the early years…

Although a good beginning is well recognised as the foundation for future development, health and wellbeing, not only in the early years, but also throughout life, policy and practice in early education and care in Australia still lack focus and integration. Using metaphors of patchworks and crossroads, the author discusses this issue, outlining…

One of the greatest dilemmas about implementing competency-based training in Child Studies, as prescribed by the Australian National Training Authority, is not what is stated in the training packages but what is left unsaid--the underlying assumptions. Issues such as cultural beliefs and attitudes are addressed, but generally only at the level of…

In 2003, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) released a "Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Health." In recognition of the critical role states play in the development of early childhood initiatives and of the unique contributions that state Title V programs can make to these initiatives, the Bureau operationalized their…