Recognising risk
factors in children early
Karen is three years old and her parents are informed by their GP that she is due for her health and wellbeing check. At the check they tell the GP that recently Karen has been behaving very differently and is much less sociable.
Her parents are provided details of a parenting program to help them maximise Karen's development and build her emotional resilience and coping skills.
Giving children at risk the best start to life
The best chance of preventing mental disorders, or minimising their impact across a person's lifetime, is to provide early intervention in childhood.
And, unlike any other chronic disease, mental illness affects people of all ages, with 25 per cent of people with a mental disorder experiencing their first episode before the age of 12, and 64 per cent by age 21.
That is why the Government is investing in evidence-based approaches to assist families, early childhood educators and school communities to better understand and recognise risk factors for mental illness and to build resilience in children.
This will help to prevent a lifetime of disadvantage caused by chronic mental illness.
A universal three year old health and wellbeing check
The Government is allocating $11 million over five years to introduce a universal voluntary health check for three‑year olds that, for the first time, will include social and emotional wellbeing and development. An Expert Group will also be established to advise on its implementation and to assist in mapping health services nationally. This will help families locate services in their local area.
Supporting the workforce and informing future investments
Through its other work on early childhood development training and education, the Government is also supporting people working with children by including mental health and wellbeing competencies in early childhood education and care qualifications.
More information will also be collected on childhood health and wellbeing to help inform future investments, including through the ongoing implementation of the Australian Early Development Index for children starting school and developing a Social Engagement and Emotional Development survey for children aged eight to fourteen years.
