Atlas maps the wellbeing of children and young people across Australia

A national resource is set to reshape how communities, policymakers and service providers understand and respond to the wellbeing of children and young people across Australia.

Developed by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), the Australian Child and Youth Wellbeing Atlas is a free, interactive tool that uses geospatial and temporal data to visualise wellbeing indicators for Australians aged 0 to 24.

Grounded in The Nest Wellbeing Framework, the Atlas maps data across six interconnected domains of child and youth wellbeing:

• being loved and safe
• having material basics
• being healthy
• learning
• participating
• having a positive sense of culture and identity.

By enabling users to drill down into local, regional and national data, the Atlas supports more targeted, place-based approaches to policy, service delivery and investment. For early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers, it offers a valuable way to understand community strengths and needs, identify service gaps and support strategic planning.

The Atlas builds on ARACY’s commitment to evidence-based collaboration. Its design also incorporates key findings from Young & Wise, a 2024 meta-analysis capturing the voices of children and young people. One major insight from this work was the importance of environmental wellbeing, prompting the Atlas to introduce a seventh domain: living in a sustainable environment.

Originally modelled on the Western Australian Child Development Atlas, the national tool was launched in November 2023 and continues to expand its datasets and user base.

With clear links to national reform priorities, including place-based investment, systems stewardship and outcomes-focused policy, the Atlas offers a powerful new platform for improving outcomes for children and young people.

ECEC leaders, approved providers and service planners can access the tool to guide planning, advocacy and quality improvement aligned with the National Quality Framework.

Explore the Atlas here – Australian Child and Youth Wellbeing Atlas.