Submission to Australia’s Measuring What Matters Framework

Families and children
Written By Yie Liew

Summary

Equity Economics have produced a submission to the Treasury’s ‘Measuring What Matters’ Framework, proposing that children need to be front of mind when developing and implementing our wellbeing framework.

As a prosperous nation, Australia should be one of the best countries in the world to be a child. But it’s not. According to a 2020 UNICEF report ranking rich countries on child wellbeing outcomes, Australia ranks 32 out of 38 rich countries for child wellbeing. We rank 35 out of 38 countries for children’s mental wellbeing.

Findings

Four big ideas could shift the dial on how we think about child wellbeing in Australia. Implementing these ideas would ensure that Australia measures what matters for all Australians, not just adults.


1.    Include analysis of the 2023-24 Budget from a child-centred perspective.
 
2.    Greater consideration of children in the policy development process.

3.    Collect better data to underscore the importance of improved public investment in children.
 
4.    Child wellbeing indicators must be considered across government analysis.

Read the full report

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