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The zero to 25 years life stage is a critical time in life where a period of rapid growth and development occurs. The experiences that people have from birth through to 25 years of age have deep and lasting effects on their health, wellbeing and life chances. Childhood is also an important time for healthy development, learning and establishing the foundations for future wellbeing (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024).

Climate change and youth mental health

  • 1 in 4 young Australians are very or extremely concerned about climate change.
  • 67% of young Australians said climate concerns are having a negative impact on youth mental health, with a particularly large proportion of young females (74%) reporting a negative impact.

Source: Teo et al. 2024 and Orygen 2023.

Alcohol-related harm in young people

  • Harm from alcohol-related accident or injury is experienced disproportionately by young people.
  • Harms include pedestrian injuries, drownings, suicides, work accidents, crime, vehicle crashes and interpersonal/family violence.

Source: National Alcohol Strategy 2019–2026

Exposure to family violence

  • A child saw or was the victim in 38.1% of family violence incidents in Boroondara in 2023–24.
  • Children exposed to violence are more likely to have a range of health, developmental, and social problems, both during childhood and later in life.

Source: Crime Statistics Agency 2023-24 and Women’s Health East 2021.

Health conditions in children and adolescents

  • Asthma is the most common long-term health condition measured in 2021 Census among children aged zero to 14 in Boroondara.
  • Mental health concerns emerge in older children, reflecting the growing mental health needs of adolescents as they transition through high school and into adulthood.
Figure 1 charts the prevalence of health conditions in Boroondara for 2 age groups: Mental health condition: 0-14 1.5% 15-19 7.9% Asthma: 0-14 5.4% 15-19 7.3% Diabetes (ex. gestational): 0-14 0.1% 15-19 0.3% Heart disease: Both groups 0.2% Arthritis: 0-14 0.1% 15-19 0.2% Cancer (inc. remission): Both groups 0.1% Kidney disease: Both groups 0.1% Stroke: Both groups 0.0% Lung condition (inc. COPD or emphysema): 0-14 0.1% 15-19 0.0% Dementia: Both groups 0.0%

Figure 1: Rates of diagnosed long-term health conditions in Boroondara children.

Source: 2021 Census

The Australian Early Development Census focuses on children in their first year of school. Figure 2 shows Boroondara’s 2024 results are lower than Victoria’s across all measures of developmental risk.

Just over one in 3 (34.0%) Boroondara households are a couple with children. Single-parent families account for 8.5% of all households (Figure 3).

Figure 3 shows family types in Boroondara and Greater Melbourne: Couples with children <15 only, Boroondara 16.0% v. Greater Melb. 18.3% Couples with mixed-age children: 4.9% v. 4.3% Couples with children >15 only: 13.1% v. 10.5% Lone parents with children <15 only: 2.6% v. 3.3% Lone parents with mixed-age children: 1.0% v 1.1% Lone parents with children >15 only: 4.9% v 5.7%.

Figure 3: Percentage of Boroondara households by household composition.

Source: 2021 Census

Youth population and school attendance

  • 7.7% of Boroondara residents attend primary school, and 8.5% attend secondary school
  • 20.3% of Boroondara residents are 18 years or under, slightly lower than the Greater Melbourne figure of 21.5%
  • +910 is the forecast growth of the 0 to 5 age group in Boroondara between 2025 and 2035. The number of residents aged 6 to 18 is forecast to decline.

Source: 2021 Census and Id Forecast July 2024

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