Report: Positive Sense of Identity and Culture

Author: Lauren Renshaw

Work by the Australian Research Alliance for
Children and Youth (ARACY) reinforces the importance of culture and identity to
the wellbeing of young Australians and offers guidance on how these can be
better measured and managed.

In 2013 ARACY developed an evidence-based well-being framework for children and young people called The Nest. Developed in consultation with about 4,000 Australians (many of them young people) it presents the evidence that for an Australian child to truly thrive, they must have their needs met in six key interlocking dimensions: Being Loved and Safe; Having Material Basics; Being Healthy; Learning; Participating; and Having a Positive Sense of Identity & Culture.

Building on the work of The Nest, ARACY has now developed a conceptual framework that outlines the
areas that can be measured and on which data can be collected. It has also
identified principles for developing indicators of children and young people’s
sense of identity and culture. 

The report, A Positive Sense of Identity and Culture, has been prepared by ARACY for the
Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Read the Report here:  A Positive Sense of Identity and Culture – a
literature and scoping review on developing better indicators ( Adobe PDF
4.2 MB)