Working with Vulnerable Primary School Aged Children and their Families

Abstract

Children's health and wellbeing in Australia is adversely affected by increasing disadvantage, social exclusion, and vulnerability, with numerous studies confirming the need for an improved societal response to the needs of children and their families. This review highlights the issues facing Australian primary school aged children and their families, and it examines approaches for working with those from diverse backgrounds who have varying health needs. While there are considerable gaps in the literature, findings echo some of the preventative messages from early childhood studies which suggest that neighbourhoods and communities play a crucial role in promoting children's health, wellbeing, and social inclusion through the middle years. Research further suggests that practitioners should engage in a holistic approach to children's health and welfare and offer support across multiple domains of development, giving attention to both cultural and contextual factors. This paper will conclude with some recommendations for future research and a discussion about the implications for practice. Keywords: primary school aged children, key issues, community interventions, programs, approaches Children's health and wellbeing in Australia is adversely affected by increasing disadvantage, social exclusion, and vulnerability (Australian Institute of Health and Family Welfare [AIHW], 2009). The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) indicated that children in Australia fall significantly below average on many key indicators compared to other OECD countries (ARACY, 2008), and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) expressed concern around a number of issues including: child homelessness, child abuse and neglect, bullying, and escalating rates of childhood obesity and diabetes (AIHW, 2009). Such issues are compounded in disadvantaged areas by limited interventions for working with primary school aged children, and thus Australian studies were prioritised. However, if relevant to the Australian context, studies from other countries were used. Articles were limited to those written in the last ten years unless they were a seminal work or had particular relevance to this topic. A number of academic databases were searched electronically, including Informit

Reflections on the value of a supportive ‘village’ culture for parents, carers, and families: Findings from a community survey

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