Professor Fiona Stanley on social policy and health at
Communities in Control
Summary of presentation by Prof Fiona
Stanley AC, 2003 Australian of the Year and CEO, Australian Research
Alliance for Children and Youth
The Communities in Control Conference,
convened by Our Community and Catholic Social Services
Moonee Valley Racecourse
April 7-8, 2003.
"Protecting our Young
Do stronger communities lead to stronger young people and a stronger
society? "
Professor Stanley gave her
audience a rare insight into the state of play for young Australians
and their families in 2003. Drawing from her own Institute's work along
with overseas research, she portrayed a society that was failing its
youth and would live to regret it.
The epidemiologist discussed "causal pathways" - a set of factors that
interact over time to create an outcome. The outcome the Professor
favours is a "resilient" adult. The resilient individual avoids crime,
violence, drugs, obesity and other negative outcomes. The resilient
child has the skills and attitudes to avoid these pitfalls.
The road to that resilience forks very early in a child's life and the
decision to go in either direction is usually beyond the child's
control. Resilience requires positive adult role models, positive
interaction with adults and peers, lack of access to drugs, responsive,
engaged parenting and recognition. Families, school and communities have
responsibilities in achieving this.
Pathways to Vulnerability.
Professor Stanley referred to the work of Canadian Professor J. Douglas
Willms of the University of New Brunswick who has devised a
"Vulnerability Index" in relation to children. According to the Index
28.6% of Canadian kids fall into that category.
Other findings of his research include:
- family income is a less powerful factor in the welfare of a child
than previously believed,
- maternal education the most powerful factor in avoiding
vulnerability,
- good parenting overcomes low income,
- strong family environments overcome mothers working outside the
home,
- school and communities are an important factor,
- low-income children benefit the most from day care,
- high-income children did better regardless of their community,
- low-income children vary in outcomes depending on community,
- segregation of income groups hurts lower-income kids the most.
Willm's Summary: Reduce focus on specific risk factors, expend more
energy on creating a better environment. Other key factors to reduce
vulnerability were strong parenting skills, a cohesive family, mentally
healthy mothers, engaged parents and a positive community.
Mental health is an issue for all ages with 15% of youth having a
mental health problem, even in the highest income bracket.
Changes in Australian Society
Professor Stanley listed some key changes in Australian society the
past 20 to 30 years that have effected the family environment:
- increased divorce rates from 2% to 50% of marriages
- single-parent and blended families
- change in childcare requirements
- increased need for fostering (simultaneous with less willing
foster parents)
- increase in abuse and neglect
- decreased social capital - trust, co-operation, civic engagement
and reciprocation
Painting a bleak picture Professor Stanley has found that the key
indicators are headed in the wrong direction. "It's surprising to me
that we're surprised that key indicators of child health development and
wellbeing are doing poorly. We should expect them to be poor considering
the dramatic changes that have happened in our society." She
cited the following indicators as getting worse:
- pre-term and low-weight births,
"Some of this is due to better diagnoses and reporting but some
indicators are getting worse dramatically." Moreover, problems are being
encountered at younger ages.
The Professor denied that child abuse statistics are increasing due
only to increased reporting, citing increases in the incidence of
cerebral palsy. According to Professor Stanley the increase is due to
"shaken baby syndrome" - violence in the home.
The profile of offenders charged with serious assault has changed.
Young people commit a larger share of these crimes than ever before and
females are catching up with males as assailants. In the 1970s females
committed around four per cent of serious assaults - it is now near 25
per cent.
Like Professor Willms, Professor Stanley recommends a
multi-disciplinary approach to tackling these problems, largely on a
community level. One-to-one solutions are too expensive.
Professor Stanley emphasised the role of community in combating the
woes youth and families face. "The value is immeasurable." She cited
safety, quality day care, school and family. The problems associated
with these indicators are a huge burden for school, families and
communities. "You're all dealing with these problems - I know you are."
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