Page 1332 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Madam Speaker, the second priority is to provide access to quality health care, learning and employment opportunities, all important considerations to ensure that children and young people are given the best chance to succeed in life. Under this priority we see a positive trend in immunisation rates for children aged 60 to 63 months of age. The immunisation rate increased by five percentage points, from 89 per cent in 2010 to 94 per cent in 2017, which suggests that more children were protected against harmful infections.
In 2016 there was a significant decrease in the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were fully immunised at 60 to 63 months. In response, ACT Health took action to increase the immunisation coverage rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through a suite of activities, which resulted in an increase from 89 per cent in 2016 to 97 per cent in 2017. This demonstrates the importance of good data informing policy and practice.
Unfortunately, under this priority we also see an upward trend in the proportion of ACT young people aged 18 to 24 years who are overweight or obese. Between 2007-08 and 2014-15, the prevalence of overweight young people increased by 7.3 percentage points and the prevalence of obese young people increased by 4.6 percentage points. This data is comparable with trends seen nationally.
In order to address this issue, the ACT government continues to review and strengthen ongoing programs and initiatives, as well as seeking other ways to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people. A range of health promotion activities are delivered in early childhood and school settings, including kids at play; active play, which promotes active play and fundamental movement skills to children in early childhood education and care settings; fresh tastes, which is making healthier food and drinks an everyday part of life at school; ride or walk to school, which encourages students to travel actively to and from school; and it’s your move, which focuses on student-led health promotion innovation in ACT high schools.
Also aligned with this priority is the ACT government’s commitment to providing learning pathways for students that result in an educated and skilled workforce that meets the present and future needs of the ACT and region. Recent data shows an increase in year 10 to 12 apparent retention rate—up from 90 per cent in 2011 to 92 per cent in 2017 and 10 percentage points higher than the national average. The increase in retention is in line with the policy intent of the ACT government in seeing all 15 to 17-year-olds participate in education and training and/or employment. There has also been an increase in the proportion of year 12 graduates employed or studying, up from 91.9 per cent in 2014 to 93.4 per cent in 2016.
The ACT government seeks to ensure that all Canberrans, including young people, have the opportunity to develop their skills and work to their maximum potential through a vibrant, accessible and flexible training sector. I am pleased to report that the ACT has a lower percentage of youth unemployment for young people aged 15 to 24 years, with a rate of 8.4 per cent in 2018, compared with the national rate of 12.2 per cent.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video