Aboriginal children and young people's wellbeing
Share this page
Aboriginal students were more positive than non-Aboriginal students in terms of their self-perception, connection to community and feeling safe in the community.
In general, Aboriginal students fared less well than non-Aboriginal students in terms of their dental health, material basics, family stability, or expectations for further education.
The Speaking Out Survey 2021 (SOS21) findings are outlined below, across three wellbeing domains.
Following on from SOS21, the Commissioner released a new report in December 2022 focusing on the voices of Aboriginal children and young people living in remote WA who participated in the survey, this report is titled The health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people in remote WA: Insights from the 2021 Speaking Out Survey, click here to read more.
Aboriginal children and young people's wellbeing
Healthy and connected
- 2-in-3 Aboriginal students reported knowing their family’s country.
- Female Aboriginal students tend to spend more time with friends and being active outdoors than their non-Aboriginal peers.
- Aboriginal students were more likely to mention school-based staff such as teachers, school psychologists and school nurses as helpful sources for emotional health worries compared to their non-Aboriginal peers.
Safe and supported
- A higher proportion of Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal students reported living with aunts/uncles and grandparents and said that other family members cared a lot about them.
- In general, Aboriginal students fared less well in terms of material basics and concerns about family worries.
- Aboriginal students were more likely to feel safe all the time in their local area or community.
- More Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal students said it was very much true that a teacher or another adult at their school really cared about them.
Learning and participating
- Smaller proportions of Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal students reported usually getting along with classmates.
- Fewer Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal students said their parents often ask about school or homework.
- Fewer Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal students thought they were doing far above or above average in their school results and reported wanting to finish university.
- Aboriginal students in the metropolitan area are more likely to feel negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic than other student groups.
Aboriginal children and young people in remote WA: Insights from the 2021 Speaking Out Survey report
pdf 3MB
Download pdf
Speaking Out Survey 2021 - Summary report
pdf 7MB
Download pdf