Outcomes for Victorian children at school entry...Victorian Results from the School Entrant Health...

Outcomes for Victorian children at school entryState and local findings from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire 2008

Published via VCAMS by Data Outcomes and Evaluation Division

Office for Children and Portfolio Coordination

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Melbourne

Published May 2011

© State of Victoria 2011

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Outcomes for Victorian children at school entryState and local findings from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire 2008

5Victorian Results from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire 2008

1 Introduction 8

2 Purpose 92.1 Complementary resources 9

3 Methodology 103.1 Geographically allocated data 103.2 Missing or invalid data 103.3 Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSED)

SEIFA scores 103.4 Population groups at risk 11

4 Demographic profile of children at school entry 124.1 Child and family characteristics 124.2 Distribution across DEECD Regions 134.3 Disadvantage 14

5 General health 155.1 Generally healthy 155.2 Healthy weight, overweight and underweight 165.3 Asthma and asthma action plan 175.4 Allergies 17

6 Oral health 18

Contents

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7 Speech and language 197.1 Children with speech or language difficulties 197.2 Types of speech or language concerns 20

8 Service use 218.1 Maternal and Child Health Centres 218.2 Kindergarten 228.3 Hearing services 238.4 Vision services 24

9 General development 259.1 Children at risk of developmental and/or

behavioural problems 259.2 Children at high risk 269.3 Children at moderate risk 26

10 Behaviour and emotional wellbeing 2710.1 Child behaviour 2710.2 Emotional wellbeing 28

11 Family stress and stressors 2911.1 Stress levels 2911.2 Stressors 30

12 Local findings from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire 31

12.1 Introduction to mapping 31

12.2 How to read the maps 31

12.3 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children 36

12.4 Children born outside Australia 38

12.5 Children with a language background other than English 40

12.6 Children living in one-parent families 42

12.7 Children in excellent or very good health 44

12.8 Children reported to have asthma 46

12.9 Children with asthma who have an asthma action plan at school 48


12.10 Parents concerned about the oral health of their children 50

12.11 Children with reported speech and language difficulties 52

12.12 Children being seen by a speech pathologist 54

12.13 Children reported to have attended their 3.5-year Maternal and Child Health check 56

12.14 Children who have attended hearing services in the past 12 months 58

12.15 Children who have attended a vision service in the past year 60

12.16 Children at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems 62

12.17 Children at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems 64

12.18 Parents concerned about their child’s behaviour 66

12.19 Family stress 68

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1 Introduction

The School Entrant Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) is a parent report instrument that records parent’s concerns and observations about their child’s health and wellbeing. The parents of children beginning primary school in Victoria are asked to complete the SEHQ.1 The questionnaire was developed and piloted in 1996–97 as part of the Victorian School Nursing Redevelopment Program and has been distributed to parents and guardians of preparatory (Prep) grade children in Victorian primary schools since mid-1997.

The intention of the questionnaire is to assist parents and school nurses in identifying health concerns; and to assist nurses as part of the Victorian School Nursing Program to assess the

health and wellbeing of each Prep grade child by providing detailed information on parental concerns. Findings and recommendations from SEHQ data analysis inform planning and service delivery of the Program.

The data collected from the questionnaire enables a population view of parental concerns about their children as they enter school, capturing parent perceptions about the health and wellbeing of children in this particular age cohort. In addition, the data analysis provides government and service providers with valuable information on how well children are faring at the point of school entry, informing policy, planning and service delivery.

1. Not all schools participate in the Victorian Schools Nursing Program; only parents of children attending a school that participates in the Victorian School Nursing Program complete the SEHQ.



2 Purpose

Data collected from the SEHQ capture parent perceptions about the health and wellbeing of children as they enter school. The purpose of this report is to present findings from the 2008 SEHQ on parental responses to questions about their child’s health and development. The SEHQ reflects parents’ perceptions; it does NOT report medical diagnoses or opinions of health professionals. This report aims to detail how Victorian children generally, and ‘at risk’ population groups, are faring as they enter school; and to provide government and service providers with valuable information to inform forward planning and service delivery at the state, regional and local level.

Data are presented around the following themes:

• demographics

• general health

• oral health

• speech/language

• service use

• general development

• behaviour and emotional wellbeing

• family stress.

2.1 Complementary resources

In addition to this report, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) has developed the following SEHQ data resources to support local planning:

• Regional summary sheets

• Local Government Area summary sheets.

Readers are encouraged to consider data from SEHQ as part of a suite of information on outcomes for children that is available to support planning in Victoria. At a state level, users can refer to the following:

• Annual State of Victoria’s children reports2

• The Victorian Child and Adolescent Monitoring System (VCAMS)3

Victorian government schools and DEECD users can access the following via DataZone on the DEECD intranet:

• Early childhood community profiles

• Aboriginal early childhood community profiles

Readers are also encouraged to consider the Victorian reports4 derived from the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI)5. The AEDI is a population measure of children’s development in communities across Australia. The cohort of children involved in the AEDI collection is the same as the SEHQ cohort: children entering their first year of schooling.

• Victorian Results for the Australian Early Development Index 2009

• Victorian Results for the Australian Early Development Index 2009 - Statistical local area mapping supplement

• Victorian AEDI 2009 - Data User guide

• Australian Early Development Index - Local Government Area summary sheets

• Australian Early Development Index - Regional summary sheets

2. www.education.vic.gov.au/about/directions/children/annualreports.htm3. www.education.vic.gov.au/about/directions/children/vcams/default.htm4. www.education.vic.gov.au/aedi/5. www.aedi.org.au/

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The 2008 SEHQ comprised 36 questions asked of parents or guardians of children entering Prep in Victoria for the first time in 2008, across all school sectors. The number of questionnaires completed totalled 54,602.

3 Methodology

6. www.abs.gov.au7. www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/2905.0.55.001 Postal Area to Statistical

Local Area 2006 concordance.8. n=53,8659. An invalid postcode may be a postcode with less than 4 four digits, interstate

postcodes, or postcodes with no ABS concordance ratio10. Information taken from www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/mf/2033.0.55.001

3.1 Geographically allocated data

The following report shows outcomes of the 2008 SEHQ at a state and a population group level. Analysis is generally based on data extracted from all questionnaires returned. However, in order to analyse data for a rural/regional or metropolitan area; or at the socio-economic level; geographic concordances need to be applied using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) system. This system provides a common framework of geography to enable comparable statistics6.

In order for ASGC concordance ratios to be applied, a valid postcode (in this case, for the residence of the child) is necessary7. As not all questionnaires returned included a valid postcode, two categories of data were identified after ASGC concordance ratios were applied:

• Geographically allocated data (returns with a valid postcode); for the 2008 SEHQ, this totalled 98.7 per cent of the original dataset8

• Geographically unallocated data (returns with an invalid postcode)9

For total cohort analysis, both of the above categories of data were analysed; for the population groups in rural/regional and metropolitan areas and areas of most and least disadvantage, geographically allocated data were analysed. These population groups will therefore not sum to the total cohort analysis.

3.2 Missing or invalid data

Individual categories in this report may not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data. For example, the sum of boys and girls will not total to ‘all children’, as there is missing or invalid data for the sex variable. Analysis will identify missing data in circumstances where the amount of missing data is significant and could have an effect on the outcome.

3.3 Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSED) SEIFA scores

In order to understand findings from the SEHQ at a socio-economic level, the Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSED) has been used.10 The IRSED is one of four summary measures, known collectively as the Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA), created by the ABS from 2006 census information. These indices can be used to explore socio-economic conditions by geographical areas. For each of these indices, every geographical area is given a SEIFA score, which shows how that area compares with other areas. Each index summarises a different set of social and economic information. The IRSED focuses primarily on disadvantage, and is derived from Census variables, including low income, low educational attainment, unemployment, and dwellings without motor vehicles.



Once geographical allocation has been applied to the residential postcode of the SEHQ dataset, IRSED SEIFA index scores can also be applied (see 3.1). While actual IRSED SEIFA scores have not been used in this report, socio-economic disadvantage is shown using IRSED quintiles, by ordering IRSED SEIFA scores from lowest to highest, with the lowest fifth of scores referred to as quintile 1, and the highest fifth as quintile 5. For children living in an area with an IRSED quintile of 1, it means the area they live in has an IRSED SEIFA score in the lowest 20 per cent of all areas. Children living in an area with an IRSED quintile of 5 means the area they live in has an IRSED SEIFA score in the highest 20 per cent of all areas.

Important note: While an IRSED index score represents an average of all people living in an area, it does not represent the individual situation of each person. Larger areas are more likely to have greater diversity of people and households.

3.4 Population groups at risk

A number of reports on child outcomes in Victoria provide evidence that particular population groups are at risk of poorer health and wellbeing outcomes than children generally.11 Children are acknowledged as being in a population group ‘at risk’ if they:

• have a language background other than English

• are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin

• are in family with one parent

• live in an area of most socio-economic disadvantage

These population groups were determined by parents responding ‘no’ when asked if English was the main language spoken at home; parents responding ‘yes’ when asked if their child was of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres-Strait Islander origin; parents responding ‘mother only’ or ‘father only’ when asked who the child lived with;12 and those children identified as living in areas allocated a SEIFA IRSED quintile of 1 (see section 3.3).

11. The State of Victoria’s children report 2006 (Victorian Government Department of Human Services, October, 2006); School Entrant Health Questionnaire: Longitudinal Analysis 1998 to 2004. (Assessment Research Centre, University of Melbourne, March, 2006).

12. Mother only= 11.7 per cent; Father only= 0.6 per cent

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4 Demographic profile of children at school entry

4.1 Child and family characteristicsThere were 54,602 responses to the 2008 SEHQ; 84.4 per cent of the total Prep enrolments for 2008.13 Table 4.1 shows some of the demographics of these children as reported by parents.14

Table 4.1: Demographic profile of children beginning school, Victoria, 2008Profile Number of

childrenPer cent

Total children surveyed 54,602

Age of child at 30 April 2008

5 years 42,213 77.3

6 years 10,984 20.1

Sex

Boys 26,971 49.4

Girls 25,582 46.9

Born outside Australia 3,661 6.7

Lives in a rural or regional area ^ 15,978 29.3

Lives in a metropolitan area ^ 37,887 69.4

Diagnosed by a doctor as having an intellectual disability, developmental delay or a learning disability

2,073 3.8

One-parent families* 6,750 12.4

With a language background other than English* 6,836 12.5

Aboriginal or Torres-Strait Islander origins* 819 1.5

Lives in an area of most IRSED disadvantage^* 10,626 19.5

Lives in an area of least IRSED disadvantage^ 12,715 23.3

^ Geographically allocated data. See section 3.1* Population groups at risk. See section 3.4

13. Prep enrolments 2008=64,702. Data provided by Data, Outcomes and Evaluation Division, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

14. In all cases, ‘parent’ refers to the person completing the survey. This may be a guardian, carer, grandparent, etc.



4.2 Distribution across DEECD RegionsTable 4.2 shows the distribution of children by DEECD regions. In the 2008 SEHQ count, just over one-in-five children live within the Southern Metropolitan Region, and just under one-in-five live within the Eastern Metropolitan Region

Table 4.2: Distribution of children across DEECD Regions, Victoria, 2008DEECD Region Number of

childrenPer cent

Grampians 2,529 4.6

Gippsland 2,617 4.8

Hume 3,081 5.6

Loddon Mallee 3,673 6.7

Barwon-South Western 4,078 7.5

Western Metropolitan 7,750 14.2

Northern Metropolitan 8,906 16.3

Eastern Metropolitan 9,934 18.2

Southern Metropolitan 11,290 20.7

Geographically unallocated 745 1.4

Total Victoria 54,602 100.0

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4.3 DisadvantageApproximately one-fifth of children in the 2008 SEHQ count live in each of the IRSED quintiles (see section 3.3), with 19.5 per cent living in areas of most disadvantage (quintile 1) and 23.3 per cent living in areas of least disadvantage (quintile 5). However, as shown at table 4.3, there is a significant difference between these proportions in rural/region and metropolitan areas:

• The thirty per cent of children who live in rural areas are twice as likely to live in an area designated as most disadvantaged compared with children in metropolitan areas

• The seventy per cent of children who live in metropolitan areas are 6.7 times more likely to live in an area designated as least disadvantaged compared with children in rural/regional areas

Within the population groups at risk, children with a language background other than English and Aboriginal or Torres-Strait Islander children are twice as likely as children generally to live in an area designated as most disadvantaged; children in one-parent families are 1.5 times more likely.

Table 4.3: Distribution of children across IRSED SEIFA quintiles, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group IRSED quintile 1 IRSED quintile 2 IRSED quintile 3 IRSED quintile 4 IRSED quintile 5 Missing/unallocated

Number of

children

Per cent Number of

children

Per cent Number of

children

Per cent Number of

children

Per cent Number of

children

Per cent Number of

children

Per cent

All children 10626 19.5 9426 17.3 9178 16.8 11944 21.9 12715 23.3 713 1.3

Language background other than English

2,686 39.3 1,022 15.0 972 14.2 1,024 15.0 1,062 15.5 70 1.0

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

339 41.4 205 25.0 115 14.0 104 12.7 41 5.0 15 1.8

One-parent family 2,099 31.1 1,405 20.8 1,194 17.7 1,122 16.6 833 12.3 97 1.4

Rural/Regional areas^ 4682 29.3 4964 31.1 2536 15.9 3051 19.1 746 4.7

Metropolitan areas^ 5926 15.6 4454 11.8 6637 17.5 8893 23.5 11969 31.6

^Data geographically allocated (see section 3 1), will not total to 100 percent of the SEHQ dataset



5 General health

5.1 Generally healthyWhen questioned about the general health of their child, 91.3 per cent of parents reported either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.15 Of the population groups, those considered at risk (see section 3.4) were less likely to report their child as having excellent or very good health than parents generally, as shown in table 5.1. This was especially true for children with a language background other than English. Children in areas of least disadvantage were most likely to be reported as being in excellent/very good health. There was little difference between the reported health of boys and girls, or between children in rural/regional and metropolitan areas.

Table 5.1: Parental perception of child’s health, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Excellent/very good Good Fair/poor

Number of children

Per cent Number of children


Per cent

All children 49872 91.3 3,892 7.1 333 0.6

Language background other than English 5426 79.4 1,243 18.2 102 1.5

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 693 84.6 105 12.8 15 1.8

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 9301 87.5 1083 10.2 101 1.0

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 11,888 93.5 691 5.4 51 0.4

One-parent family 5882 87.1 721 10.7 75 1.1

Boys 24469 90.7 2084 7.7 197 0.7

Girls 23619 92.3 1645 6.4 120 0.5

Rural/Regional areas 14,821 92.8 942 5.9 94 0.6

Metropolitan areas 34,389 90.8 2,894 7.6 233 0.6

Note:Categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data

15. The figures were 55.6 and 35.7 per cent respectively

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5.2 Healthy weight, overweight and underweightTable 5.2 shows parent’s perception of the weight of their child. Parents reported their child’s weight as ‘healthy’ in 92.2 per cent of cases. Within population groups, children least likely to be reported as being a healthy weight were children with a language background other than English and those most likely to be reported as being a healthy weight were children living in the least disadvantaged IRSED quintiles.

Table 5.2 also shows that 1.9 per cent of parents consider their child to be overweight – one child in 50. This figure contrasts with findings from analysis of health data of Victorian children showing weight status (as determined using International Obesity Taskforce definitions) which showed the prevalence of overweight or obesity among 3.5-year-olds in Victoria was 15.1 per cent – one child in 7.16

In the SEHQ population, the group most likely to be reported as overweight were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children, followed by children in one-parent families. Girls were more likely than boys to be reported as overweight and boys more likely than girls to be reported as underweight. Parents of children with a language background other than English children were twice as likely as children generally to report their child as underweight.

Table 5.2: Parental perception of child’s weight, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Healthy weight Underweight Overweight

Number of children



Per cent

All children 50339 92.2 2653 4.9 1056 1.9

Language background other than English 5891 86.2 682 10.0 157 2.3



Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 11,876 93.4 559 4.4 201 1.6

One-parent family 6,093 90.3 395 5.9 191 2.8

Boys 24,715 91.6 1,591 5.9 456 1.7

Girls 23,796 93.0 1,010 3.9 561 2.2

Rural/Regional areas 14951 93.6 617 3.9 289 1.8

Metropolitan areas 34724 91.7 2036 5.4 747 2.0

Note:Categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data

16. Data based on 34,810 cases. For more information, see the State of Victoria’s children report, 2008, p. 48, at www.education.vic.gov.au/about/directions/children/annualreports.htm



5.3 Asthma and asthma action planAnalysis of the SEHQ data shows one-in-seven children were reported to have been diagnosed with asthma; almost 40 per cent of these children reported having an asthma action plan at school. Table 5.3 shows the percentages of children with asthma by population groups and the proportion of those with an asthma action plan at school.

Boys were more likely than girls to have been diagnosed with asthma; Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children were the most likely population group to have been diagnosed with asthma; children with a language background other than English were the least likely. There was no major difference between children’s rate of asthma in areas of advantage and disadvantage, or between rural/regional areas and metropolitan areas.

Of those children with asthma who also have an asthma action plan at school, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children were the least likely of the population groups to have an action plan; children living in areas of least disadvantage the most likely. There were no differences in the proportions of children with an asthma action plan in rural/regional areas and metropolitan areas.

Table 5.3: Children diagnosed with asthma and with an asthma action plan, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group With asthma Proportion of these with an asthma action plan at school

Number of children


Per cent

All children 7,847 14.4 3134 39.9

Language background other than English 785 11.5 316 40.3

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 152 18.6 45 29.6

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 1,608 15.1 605 37.6

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 1,699 13.4 794 46.7

One-parent family 1,192 17.7 431 36.2

Boys 4,618 17.1 1923 41.6

Girls 2,922 11.4 1085 37.1

Rural/Regional areas 2,375 14.9 928 39.1

Metropolitan areas 5,382 14.2 2169 40.3

Note: Categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data

5.4 Allergies Parents reported that one-in-nine children have allergies; one-third of these children have an allergy action plan at school.17 There were no major differences between population groups.

17. 11.3 per cent of children were reported as having allergies. Of these, 33.1 per cent had an allergy action plan at school.

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6 Oral health

Table 6.1 shows that almost one-in-seven parents had concerns about their child’s oral health (teeth or gums). This was higher for each of the population groups at risk, with one-in-three parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children reporting concern, and one-in-four parents of children with a language background other than English. Parents of children living in the most disadvantaged areas were concerned about oral health at twice the rate of those living in the least disadvantage areas. There was slightly more concern in rural/regional areas than metropolitan areas; there was little difference in the levels of concern between boys and girls .18

Table 6.1: Parents concerned about their child’s oral health, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Oral health concerns

Number of children

Per cent

All children 8,310 15.2

Language background other than English 1,716 25.1

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 271 33.1

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 2,254 21.2

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 1,440 11.3

One-parent family 1,575 23.3

Boys 4,180 15.5

Girls 3,823 14.9

Rural/Regional areas 2,650 16.6

Metropolitan areas 5,538 14.6


18. Information about attendance at dental services was not collected in the 2008 SEHQ; however, this data will be reported in the SEHQ from 2009 onwards.



7 Speech and language

7.1 Children with speech or language difficultiesTable 7.1 shows one-in-seven parents reported their child as having difficulties with speech or language. One-in-five of these children were boys; one-in-ten were girls. Parents in the population groups at risk, with the exception of children from a language background other than English, reported their child having difficulties with speech or language at higher rates than children generally; the highest rate (one-in-just-over-four) was for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children. The proportion of children in metropolitan areas who were having difficulties with their speech or language was slightly lower than for children in rural/regional areas.

Of children having difficulties with speech or language, one-in-just-over-four were seeing a speech pathologist. Children in the population groups at risk were seeing a speech pathologist at lower rates than children generally, especially among Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children and children in one-parent-families. Boys were slightly more likely to be seeing a speech pathologist than girls; there was no difference in the proportions of children seeing a speech pathologist in rural/regional and metropolitan areas.

Table 7.1: Children reported to have difficulties with speech and language and seeing a speech pathologist, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Difficulties with speech and language

Proportion of these seeing a speech pathologist

Number of children


Per cent

All children 7,996 14.6 1,773 22.2



Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 1,702 16.0 327 19.2

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 1,626 12.8 434 26.7

One-parent family 1,185 17.6 176 14.9

Boys 5,159 19.1 1,206 23.4

Girls 2,549 10.0 492 19.3

Rural/Regional areas 2,648 16.6 596 22.5

Metropolitan areas 5,219 13.8 1,142 21.9


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7.2 Types of speech or language concernsParents were asked to indicate, from a list of nine, all speech and languages concerns that were applicable to their child. The following shows proportions of parents with one concern or more, including parents who did not indicate their child had speech or language difficulties, but still selected specific areas of speech or language concern.

• 13 per cent had at least one concern

• 7.3 per cent had at least two concerns

• 4.2 per cent had at least three concerns

• 2.7 per cent had at least four concerns

Table 7.2 shows specific areas of difficulty by proportion of children, from most reported to least reported concern.

Table 7.2: Types of speech and language concerns reported by parents, Victoria, 2008

Area of concern Speech and langauge concerns

Number of children

Per cent

Speech not clear to others 4,597 8.4

Difficulty putting words together 2,706 5.0

Difficulty finding words 2,676 4.9

Speech not clear to the family 1,998 3.7

Stutters or stammers 1,540 2.8

Reluctant to speak 1,320 2.4

Doesn't understand others when they speak 929 1.7

Voice sounds unusual 885 1.6

Doesn't understand you when you speak 852 1.6



8 Service use

8.1 Maternal and Child Health CentresThe proportion of parents reporting their child attended a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Centre for their 3.5-year-old check was 71.4 per cent.19 As shown in table 8.1, parents in each of the population groups at risk reported attending the MCHC at a lower rate than children generally, with the lowest attendance rate reported among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Children in the least disadvantaged areas attended at a higher rate than children in the most disadvantaged areas. There was no difference between children attending in rural/regional and metropolitan areas or between boys and girls.

Table 8.1: Children reported to have attended a Maternal and Child Health Centre for their 3.5 year-old-check, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Attended 3.5 year old MCH check

Number of children

Per cent







Boys 19,355 71.8

Girls 18,252 71.3




19. This figure differs from the 58.0 per cent reported by MCH nurses in 2005-06 (when the majority of children from the 2008 SEHQ would have been 3.5 years), which is based on attendance records. This difference may be due to parental interpretation of the question; also, not all children are represented in the SEHQ (see section 4 1). Online report available at www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/matchildhealth/annualdata/archive.htm

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8.2 KindergartenParents reported that their child attended a kindergarten program led by a qualified teacher at a rate of almost 95 per cent.20 This figure differs slightly to the 91.8 per cent official kindergarten participation rate based on funded kindergarten enrolments as a percentage of eligible population.21 This difference may be due to parental interpretation of the question; also, not all children are represented in the SEHQ (see section 4.1).

Table 8.2 shows that parents of children in the population groups at risk all reported their child attended kindergarten at a lower rate than children generally, with the lowest proportion among Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children. Children in the least disadvantaged areas were more likely to attend kindergarten than children in the most disadvantaged areas. There were no differences between children attending kindergarten in rural/regional and metropolitan areas, or between boys and girls.

Table 8.2: Children attending kindergarten, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Attended kindergarten

Number of children

Per cent







Boys 25,610 95.0

Girls 24,294 95.0


Metropolitan areas 35,825 94.6 Note: individual categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data

20. Defined as attending in the 12 months prior to the child entering Prep.21. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Legislation and Regulation

reform Branch of Office for Children, 2009, Statewide Overview Report



8.3 Hearing servicesTable 8.3 shows that one-in-sixteen parents reported concern about their child’s hearing. There was little difference in rates of concern among population groups, with the exception of parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children who were more than twice as likely to be concerned as parents generally. Of parents concerned about their child’s hearing, just under one-in-three reported their child had attended a hearing service in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Children in population groups at risk were less likely to have attended a hearing service than children generally, with language background other than English children attending at half the rate. Children in areas of least disadvantage and metropolitan areas were more likely to attend a hearing service than children in areas of most disadvantage and rural/regional areas.

Table 8.3: Parents concerned about their child’s hearing, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Concerns about child's hearing

Proportion of these who attended a hearing service

Number of children


Per cent

All children 3,247 5.9 1,008 31.0



Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 680 6.4 165 24.3

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 687 5.4 243 35.4

One-parent family 538 8.0 144 26.8

Boys 1,726 6.4 529 30.6

Girls 1,390 5.4 442 31.8

Rural/Regional areas 971 6.1 275 28.3

Metropolitan areas 2,229 5.9 717 32.2

Note: Categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid dataNote: data in section 12.14 show the proportion of children attending a hearing service, regardless of whether their parent was concerned about their hearing.

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8.4 Vision services One-in-fifteen parents reported concern about their child’s vision, with just under half of those children attending a vision service in the 12 months prior to the survey. Table 8.4 shows that one-in-eight parents of children with a language background other than English had concerns; almost twice the rate of parents generally; with one-third of those children attending a vision service. One-in-ten parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait children were concerned about their child’s vision, with just under one-in-three attending a vision service.

Table 8.4: Parents concerned about their child’s eyesight, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Concerns about child's eyesight

Proportion of these who attended a vision service

Number of children


Per cent

All children 3,484 6.4 1,546 44.4



Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 831 7.8 311 37.4

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 724 5.7 363 50.1

One-parent family 519 7.7 192 37.0

Boys 1,693 6.3 730 43.1

Girls 1,648 6.4 758 46.0

Rural/Regional areas 878 5.5 410 46.7


Note: individual categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid dataNote: data at section 12 15 show the proportion of children attending an eye specialist, regardless of whether their parent was concerned about their eyesight.



9 General development

9.1 Children at risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems

The General Development section of the SEHQ asks a series of questions known as the Parental Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and provides a parental report of child development.22 It is a means to detect developmental and behavioural problems in children from birth to 8 years. It can be used as a development screening test, or as an informal means to elicit and respond to parental concerns, thus engaging them more collaboratively in seeking available services and increasing the likelihood that families will follow up with professionals’ recommendations. Table 9.1 shows the proportion of children at high and moderate risk of developmental and behavioural problems.

Table 9.1: Proportion of children at risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems, by population groups, 2008

Population group High risk Moderate risk

Number of children


Per cent

All children 3,929 7.2 8,998 16.5

Language background other than English 766 11.2 1,053 15.4


Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 956 9.0 1,854 17.4

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 682 5.4 1,902 15.0

One-parent family 742 11.0 1,275 18.9

Boys 2,501 9.3 5,253 19.5

Girls 1,245 4.9 3,413 13.3

Rural/Regional areas 1,137 7.1 2,830 17.7



22. www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/ccch/PEDSwodonga.pdf

26


9.2 Children at high riskChildren identified as having two or more significant concerns are considered to be at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems, and are 20 times more likely to have difficulties than those children whose parents have no concerns.23 Responses to the PEDS shows that one child in fourteen is in this high risk group. Of these, one-in-eleven are boys; one in twenty are girls. Children in population groups at risk are represented at a higher rate than children generally, with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children represented at twice the rate. In areas of least disadvantage, children are at high risk at a rate of 5.4 per cent, almost half that of children in the most disadvantaged areas, at 9.0 per cent. There are no differences between children in rural/regional and metropolitan areas.

9.3 Children at moderate riskChildren identified as having one significant concern are considered to be at moderate risk of development and/or behavioural problems. They are eight times more likely to have difficulties than those children whose parents have no concerns, with further testing needed to determine which children need referral and which do not.24 Responses to the PEDS shows that one-child-in-six is in this category; of these, one-in-seven are girls, and one-in-five are boys. There is little deviation from the state average by population group, with the exception of children Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children; almost 22 per cent of these children are in this category, or just over one-child-in-five.

23 + 24. www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/ccch/PEDSwodonga.pdf



10 Behaviour and emotional wellbeing

10.1 Child behaviour Almost one-in-eight parents reported that they had some level of concern about the behaviour of their child. Table 10.1 shows the levels of concern among parents within the population groups and with parents generally. Twice the proportion of parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children was concerned about their child’s behaviour than parents generally; one-parent families also had higher levels of concern; parents in areas of most disadvantage were one-and-a-half times more likely to have concerns than parents in areas of least disadvantage; parents of boys had concerns at 1.7 times the rate of parents of girls; there was no differences in levels of concern between children in rural/regional areas and metropolitan areas.

Table 10.1: Parents concerned about their child’s behaviour, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Concerned about child's behaviour

Number of children

Per cent


Language background other than English 918 13.4





Boys 4,495 16.7

Girls 2,533 9.9




28


10.2 Emotional wellbeing Table 10.2 shows parental responses to a series of questions about their child’s behaviour and emotional wellbeing; parents were asked to select all behaviours that were applicable to their child; only ‘usually/often’ responses are shown.25 Within population groups, parents of girls; those who live in metropolitan areas; and those who live in areas of least disadvantage were, overall, less likely to report problems than parents generally. Parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children; children who live in areas of most disadvantage; and children who live in one parent families were, overall, more likely to report problems than parents of children generally.

Table 10.2: Parental responses about their child’s specific behaviour and wellbeing, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Has trouble paying

attention or completing an activity

Has temper tantrums

Displays aggressive behaviour

Resists or refuses to go

to school

Plays well with other children

Is generally happy

Sleeps well

All children 3.2 3.3 1.6 1.9 89.6 95.8 89.0

Language background other than English 3.9 2.5 1.6 2.7 83.2 91.0 89.3

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 7.9 9.0 6.8 4.8 78.9 89.1 82.4

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 4.4 4.6 2.5 2.4 85.1 92.8 86.0

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 2.0 2.0 0.8 1.3 92.5 97.6 91.4

One-parent family 6.1 6.7 3.8 2.7 84.7 92.3 83.4

Boys 6.0 3.6 2.1 2.1 89.0 95.9 89.6

Girls 2.1 2.9 1.0 1.6 90.6 96.0 88.8

Rural/Regional areas 3.6 4.2 2.1 1.9 89.5 95.9 88.2

Metropolitan areas 3.0 2.8 1.4 1.8 89.7 95.8 89.4

25. Responses also included ‘sometimes’ or ‘rarely/never’.



11 Family stress and stressors

11.1 Stress levels Parents were asked to rate their family’s perceived stress level during the month previous to the survey on a five-point scale from ‘almost more than I can bear’, to ‘little or no stress’. Nearly one-in-ten families indicated experiencing highest/high stress levels in the past month. Table 11.1 shows population groups by highest and high stress levels, and by highest/high combined.26

Table 11.1: Families reporting high stress, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population group Highest stress High stress Highest/high stress combined

Number of children



Per cent

All children 731 1.3 4,025 7.4 4,756 8.7

Language background other than English 100 1.5 329 4.8 429 6.3



Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 104 0.8 948 7.5 1,052 8.3

One-parent family 248 3.7 864 12.8 1,112 16.5

Boys 374 1.4 2,001 7.4 2,375 8.8

Girls 328 1.3 1,874 7.3 2,202 8.6

Rural/Regional areas 247 1.5 1,283 8.0 1,530 9.6

Metropolitan areas 465 1.2 2,683 7.1 3,148 8.3

Note: individual categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data

Compared with families generally, one-parent families and families with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children were three times more likely to report highest stress levels, and families in areas of least disadvantage were almost half as likely. There were little differences between the other population groups.

Compared with families generally, one-parent families and families with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children were more likely to report high stress levels, and parents of children with a language background other than English were less likely to report high stress. There were no major differences between the other population groups.

Most likely to report highest/high stress levels were families with one-parent or with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children; least likely to report highest/high stress were families with a language background other than English; there was little variation among other population groups in reporting highest/high stress.

26. ‘Medium, low and lowest’ not shown.

30


11.2 Stressors Parents were asked to indicate if their child had been affected by any factors from a list of known stressors. Table 11.2 shows these stressors by population groups. The data suggests that

• children in rural/regional areas are affected at higher rates than children in metropolitan areas, although the differences are marginal in most cases

• children in areas of most disadvantage are affected at higher rates than children in areas of least disadvantage although the differences are marginal in most cases

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children and those in one-parent families are more likely, and in some cases over 4 times more likely, to be affected by these stressors than children generally

• children with a language background other than English are generally less likely to be affected by stressors than all children, although the differences are marginal in most cases.

Table 11.2: Proportion of children affected by types of stressors, by population groups, Victoria, 2008

Population groupSeparation/divorce

Death of friend or

relative

Move to a new

house

Parent(s) change of job

Parent(s) loss of job

New

baby

Parents(s) rem

arriage

Serious illness of

parent(s)

Serious illness of

sibling(s)

History of abuse to

parent

History of abuse to child

Alcohold or drug related

problems in fam

ily

History of m

ental illness of parent

Child witness to violence

Parent w

itness to violence

Gam

bling problem in

family

All children 8.5 8.9 15.8 6.9 1.7 10.2 1.3 2.4 1.4 2.1 0.9 1.9 2.6 2.5 1.4 0.6

Language background other than English

5.2 3.7 12.6 4.2 1.9 8.5 1.4 2.1 1.4 1.6 1.2 1.4 1.3 2.0 1.6 1.1

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

19.2 15.3 24.9 6.3 2.4 14.5 1.7 5.1 2.0 8.8 4.0 10.3 8.1 11.0 6.5 1.7

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1)

10.5 8.9 15.1 5.8 1.8 10.6 1.5 2.7 1.6 3.2 1.5 2.7 3.2 3.7 2.2 0.9

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5)

6.0 8.1 16.5 7.3 1.5 9.9 1.0 2.1 1.3 1.2 0.5 1.1 1.8 1.3 0.8 0.5

One-parent family 43.3 12.8 28.2 7.9 2.3 7.5 2.5 4.1 1.5 9.2 2.7 6.4 6.2 10.4 4.9 1.6

Boys 8.4 8.4 16.0 6.9 1.7 10.0 1.3 2.3 1.4 2.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 2.4 1.3 0.6

Girls 8.4 9.4 15.6 6.9 1.7 10.3 1.3 2.5 1.4 2.1 1.0 1.9 2.6 2.5 1.5 0.7

Rural/Regional areas 9.9 10.1 18.4 8.5 1.7 10.6 1.4 2.6 1.4 2.8 1.2 2.5 3.4 3.3 1.8 0.6

Metropolitan areas 7.8 8.4 14.6 6.2 1.6 10.0 1.3 2.3 1.4 1.8 0.8 1.6 2.3 2.2 1.2 0.7



12 Local findings from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire

12.1 Introduction to mapping This section presents key findings from the 2008 SEHQ for Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Victoria.27 Statistical Local Area boundaries are formally defined by the ABS in Australian Standard Geographical Classification 2006 (ASGC).28 There are currently 209 SLAs in Victoria that align with the 79 local government areas under the ASGC.

The boundary of each of the SLAs is shown via two maps of Victoria: figure 12.1 shows those in rural/regional areas, and figure 12.2 shows those in metropolitan areas. Each SLA has been given a number which refers to the name of the SLA on the key in table 12.1.

12.2 How to read the maps Quintiles showing the data intervals for each map have been determined by natural breaks that reflect the shape of the distribution; that is, each quintile represents one-fifth (20 per cent) of the distribution and therefore, the range for each quintile will vary from domain to domain. In map legends, coloured squares each represent 20 per cent of the data. The white square indicates that data for that SLA are suppressed as the cohort of children is less than five. The middle quintile represents the distribution of data closest to the state average; exceptions to this include when a large proportion of the data are suppressed.

Important note: Maps for each outcome are shown for the rural/regional area and for the metropolitan area. The map commentary excludes SLAs without data or with data suppressed due to small numbers, and should be interpreted alongside the number of children surveyed in each SLA. This information is shown in table 12.1.

27. All SLA data are geographically allocated. See section 3.4 28. Australian Standard Geographical Classification 2006 (ABS cat. no. 1216.0).

32


Table 12.1: SLA key – list of statistical local areas – alphabetical

Key SLA Children surveyed

1 Alpine (S) - East 60

2 Alpine (S) - West 49

3 Ararat (RC) 122

4 Ballarat (C) - Central 387

5 Ballarat (C) - Inner North 325

6 Ballarat (C) - North 11

7 Ballarat (C) - South 309

8 Banyule (C) - Heidelberg 636

9 Banyule (C) - North 560

10 Bass Coast (S) - Phillip Is. 85

11 Bass Coast (S) Bal 210

12 Bass Strait Islands no data

13 Baw Baw (S) - Pt A 46

14 Baw Baw (S) - Pt B East 45

15 Baw Baw (S) - Pt B West 360

16 Bayside (C) - Brighton 337

17 Bayside (C) - South 552

18 Bellarine - Inner 287

19 Benalla (RC) - Benalla 122

20 Benalla (RC) Bal 28

21 Boroondara (C) - Camberwell N. 490

22 Boroondara (C) - Camberwell S. 537

23 Boroondara (C) - Hawthorn 241

24 Boroondara (C) - Kew 256

25 Brimbank (C) - Keilor 1105

26 Brimbank (C) - Sunshine 1015

27 Buloke (S) - North 43

28 Buloke (S) - South 30

29 C. Goldfields (S) - M’borough 75

30 C. Goldfields (S) Bal 63

31 Campaspe (S) - Echuca 159

32 Campaspe (S) - Kyabram 148

33 Campaspe (S) - Rochester 101

34 Campaspe (S) - South 33

35 Cardinia (S) - North 308


36 Cardinia (S) - Pakenham 446

37 Cardinia (S) - South 44

38 Casey (C) - Berwick 1219

39 Casey (C) - Cranbourne 905

40 Casey (C) - Hallam 433

41 Casey (C) - South 183

42 Colac-Otway (S) - Colac 142

43 Colac-Otway (S) - North 83

44 Colac-Otway (S) - South 39

45 Corangamite (S) - North 112

46 Corangamite (S) - South 90

47 Corio - Inner 666

48 Darebin (C) - Northcote 470

49 Darebin (C) - Preston 812

50 E. Gippsland (S) - Bairnsdale 169

51 E. Gippsland (S) - Orbost 87

52 E. Gippsland (S) - South-West 29

53 E. Gippsland (S) Bal 22

54 Falls Creek Alpine Resort no data

55 Frankston (C) - East 536

56 Frankston (C) - West 671

57 French Island no data

58 Gannawarra (S) 132

59 Geelong 122

60 Geelong West 125

61 Glen Eira (C) - Caulfield 566

62 Glen Eira (C) - South 510

63 Glenelg (S) - Heywood 71

64 Glenelg (S) - North 28

65 Glenelg (S) - Portland 141

66 Golden Plains (S) - North-West 105

67 Golden Plains (S) - South-East 152

68 Gr. Bendigo (C) - Central 200

69 Gr. Bendigo (C) - Eaglehawk 101

70 Gr. Bendigo (C) - Inner East 260


71 Gr. Bendigo (C) - Inner North 124

72 Gr. Bendigo (C) - Inner West 196

73 Gr. Bendigo (C) - Pt B 123

74 Gr. Bendigo (C) - S’saye 94

75 Gr. Dandenong (C) - Dandenong 369

76 Gr. Dandenong (C) Bal 479

77 Gr. Shepparton (C) - Pt A 621

78 Gr. Shepparton (C) - Pt B East 44

79 Gr. Shepparton (C) - Pt B West 100

80 Greater Geelong (C) - Pt B 371

81 Greater Geelong (C) - Pt C 39

82 Hepburn (S) - East 86

83 Hepburn (S) - West 72

84 Hindmarsh (S) 73

85 Hobsons Bay (C) - Altona 514

86 Hobsons Bay (C) - Williamstown 352

87 Horsham (RC) - Central 180

88 Horsham (RC) Bal 35

89 Hume (C) - Broadmeadows 861

90 Hume (C) - Craigieburn 900

91 Hume (C) - Sunbury 434

92 Indigo (S) - Pt A 96

93 Indigo (S) - Pt B 49

94 Kingston (C) - North 846

95 Kingston (C) - South 448

96 Knox (C) - North-East 697

97 Knox (C) - North-West 395

98 Knox (C) - South 530

99 Lady Julia Percy Island no data

100 Lake Mountain Alpine Resort no data

101 Latrobe (C) - Moe 227

102 Latrobe (C) - Morwell 243

103 Latrobe (C) - Traralgon 411

104 Latrobe (C) Bal 31

105 Loddon (S) - North 26




106 Loddon (S) - South 59

107 Macedon Ranges (S) - Kyneton 110

108 Macedon Ranges (S) - Romsey 200

109 Macedon Ranges (S) Bal 292

110 Manningham (C) - East 186

111 Manningham (C) - West 870

112 Mansfield (S) 67

113 Maribyrnong (C) 635

114 Maroondah (C) - Croydon 615

115 Maroondah (C) - Ringwood 499

116 Melbourne (C) - Inner 11

117 Melbourne (C) - Remainder 222

118 Melbourne (C) - S’bank-D’lands 15

119 Melton (S) - East 667

120 Melton (S) Bal 522

121 Mildura (RC) - Pt A 599

122 Mildura (RC) - Pt B 49

123 Mitchell (S) - North 131

124 Mitchell (S) - South 330

125 Moira (S) - East 106

126 Moira (S) - West 223

127 Monash (C) - South-West 377

128 Monash (C) - Waverley East 462

129 Monash (C) - Waverley West 560

130 Moonee Valley (C) - Essendon 671

131 Moonee Valley (C) - West 363

132 Moorabool (S) - Bacchus Marsh 224

133 Moorabool (S) - Ballan 83

134 Moorabool (S) - West 42

135 Moreland (C) - Brunswick 283

136 Moreland (C) - Coburg 529

137 Moreland (C) - North 534

138 Mornington P’sula (S) - East 411

139 Mornington P’sula (S) - South 404

140 Mornington P’sula (S) - West 591


141 Mount Alexander (S) - C’maine 90

142 Mount Alexander (S) Bal 115

143 Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort no data

144 Mount Buller Alpine Resort no data

145 Mount Hotham Alpine Resort no data

146 Mount Stirling Alpine Resort no data

147 Moyne (S) - North-East 30

148 Moyne (S) - North-West 28

149 Moyne (S) - South 104

150 Murrindindi (S) - East 67

151 Murrindindi (S) - West 102

152 N. Grampians (S) - St Arnaud 34

153 N. Grampians (S) - Stawell 93

154 Newtown 95

155 Nillumbik (S) - South 332

156 Nillumbik (S) - South-West 298

157 Nillumbik (S) Bal 131

158 Port Phillip (C) - St Kilda 238

159 Port Phillip (C) - West 216

160 Pyrenees (S) - North 26

161 Pyrenees (S) - South 36

162 Queenscliffe (B) 31

163 S. Grampians (S) - Hamilton 102

164 S. Grampians (S) - Wannon 28

165 S. Grampians (S) Bal 69

166 South Barwon - Inner 574

167 South Gippsland (S) - Central 132

168 South Gippsland (S) - East 57

169 South Gippsland (S) - West 102

170 Stonnington (C) - Malvern 406

171 Stonnington (C) - Prahran 173

172 Strathbogie (S) 85

173 Surf Coast (S) - East 219

174 Surf Coast (S) - West 104

175 Swan Hill (RC) - Central 140


176 Swan Hill (RC) - Robinvale 45

177 Swan Hill (RC) Bal 65

178 Towong (S) - Pt A 35

179 Towong (S) - Pt B 18

180 Wangaratta (RC) - Central 228

181 Wangaratta (RC) - North 48

182 Wangaratta (RC) - South 68

183 Warrnambool (C) 376

184 Wellington (S) - Alberton 50

185 Wellington (S) - Avon 22

186 Wellington (S) - Maffra 69

187 Wellington (S) - Rosedale 77

188 Wellington (S) - Sale 145

189 West Wimmera (S) 53

190 Whitehorse (C) - Box Hill 531

191 Whitehorse (C) - Nunawading E. 458

192 Whitehorse (C) - Nunawading W. 582

193 Whittlesea (C) - North 460

194 Whittlesea (C) - South-East 517

195 Whittlesea (C) - South-West 639

196 Wodonga (RC) 404

197 Wyndham (C) - North 1067

198 Wyndham (C) - South 247

199 Wyndham (C) - West 350

200 Yarra (C) - North 375

201 Yarra (C) - Richmond 137

202 Yarra Ranges (S) - Central 184

203 Yarra Ranges (S) - Dandenongs 323

204 Yarra Ranges (S) - Lilydale 803

205 Yarra Ranges (S) - North 149

206 Yarra Ranges (S) - Pt B <5

207 Yarra Ranges (S) - Seville 184

208 Yarriambiack (S) - North 24

209 Yarriambiack (S) - South 56

34


Figure 12.1: SLA key – rural and regional Victoria

121

84

836

5

66

67

42 174

42 4 7

173

51

33

34

32

126

125

93

181

18019

175

20

150151

92

196 178

179

53

1

2

182

145

54

185

52

50

187

143

100188

14180 15

16911

57

10184

168

167

14

104

103102

10113

186

112

146

144

77 7879

172

123

108124

107

142

82

109

132

73

81

47

166

59, 60, 154

18

162

134

133

208

176

177

27

209

153

3

147

4644

45

161

160

152

28

58

105

106

30

183

88

164

165

148

149

163 87

29

65

122

189

64

63

72, 69, 71, 74, 70, 68



Figure 12.2: SLA key – metropolitan Victoria

36


12.3 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children

The proportions of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 1.5 per cent of children were identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children was Mildura – Pt A (9.0 per cent), followed by E. Gippsland (8.9 per cent), Glenelg – Heywood (8.5 per cent), Benalla – Benalla (8.2 per cent) and E. Gippsland – Orbost (8.0 per cent).

Map 12.3a: Proportion of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008 Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.

N



Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest proportion of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children was Yarra Ranges (S) - North (40 per cent) followed by Gr. Dandenong – Bal (2.9 per cent), followed by Darebin – Preston (2.6 per cent), Whittlesea – South-West (2.5 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong and Frankston – West (both 2.2 per cent).

Map 12.3b: Proportion of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


N


12.4 Children born outside AustraliaThe proportions of children born outside Australia within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 6.7 per cent of children were not born in Australia.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children born outside Australia was Latrobe – Traralgon (5.8 per cent), followed by Greater Shepparton – Pt A (5.5 per cent), South Gippsland - West, Southern Grampians - Hamilton (both 4.9 per cent), South Barwon - Inner and Macedon Ranges - Romsey (both 4.5 per cent).

Map 12.4a: Children born outside Australia within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.

N



Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children born outside Australia was Melbourne – S’bank-D’lands (60.0 per cent), followed by Melbourne – Inner (45.5 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong (21.1 per cent), Stonnington – Prahran (16.8 per cent) and Melbourne – Remainder (16.2 per cent).

Map 12.4b: Children born outside Australia within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


N

40


12.5 Children with a language background other than English

The proportions of children with a language background other than English within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 12.6 per cent of children have a language background other than English.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children with a language background other than English was Swan Hill – Robinvale (31.1 per cent), followed by Gr. Shepparton – Pt A (10.6 per cent), Corio – Inner (6.8 per cent), Latrobe – Traralgon (5.1 per cent) and Gr. Shepparton – Pt B West (5.0 per cent).

Map 12.5a: Children with a language background other than English within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


N



Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children with a language background other than English was Brimbank – Sunshine (50.5 per cent), followed by Hume – Broadmeadows (49.7 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Bal (49.5 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong (46.6 per cent) and Whittlesea – South-West (39.3 per cent).

Map 12.5b: Children with a language background other than English within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


N

42


12.6 Children living in one-parent familiesThe proportions of children living with one parent (father only or mother only) within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 12.3 per cent of children live with one parent.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest proportion of children who live with one parent was C.Goldfields – M’borough (28.0 per cent), followed by Latrobe – Morwell (25.1 per cent), Yarriambiack – North (25 per cent), Latrobe – Moe (24.7 per cent) and Benalla – Benalla (24.6 per cent).

Map 12.6a: Children living in one-parent families within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


N



Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children who live with one parent was Cardinia – South (27.3 per cent), followed by Frankston – West (23.5 per cent), Melton – Bal (21.8 per cent), Brimbank – Sunshine (21.2 per cent) and Mornington P’sula – South (19.1 per cent).

Map 12.6b: Children living in one-parent families within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


N

44


12.7 Children in excellent or very good healthThe proportions of children reported by their parents to have ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ health within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 91.4 per cent of children were reported to have ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ health.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have excellent or very good health was Ballarat – North, followed by E. Gippsland – Bal, Loddon – North, South Gippsland – East, Towong – Pt B and Wellington – Avon (all 100 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Yarriambiack – North (83.3 per cent), Swan Hill – Robinvale (86.7 per cent), Campaspe – South (87.9 per cent), Newtown (88.4 per cent) and Latrobe – Moe (88.5 per cent).

Map 12.7a: Children reported to have excellent or very good health within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


N



Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentages of children reported to have excellent or very good health was Melbourne – Inner (100 per cent), followed by Pt Phillip (c)- West (96.8 per cent) Bayside - South (96.4 per cent), and Nillumbik - Bal and Manningham - East (both 96.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Yarra – Richmond (79.6 per cent), Melbourne – S’bank-D’lands (80.0 per cent), Gr.Dandenong – Bal (80.8 per cent), Gr.Dandenong – Dandenong (82.4 per cent) and Brimbank – Sunshine (82.9 per cent).

Map 12.7b: Children reported to have excellent or very good health within each SLA in metropolitan Melbourne, 2008


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12.8 Children reported to have asthmaThe proportions of children reported to have been told by a doctor they have asthma within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 14.4 per cent of children were reported to have been told by a doctor that they have asthma.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have been told by a doctor they have asthma was Towong – Pt B (27.8 per cent), followed by Moorabool – Ballan (27.7 per cent), Hepburn – East (26.7 per cent), Baw Baw – Pt B East (24.4 per cent) and Pyrenees – South (22.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Bass Coast – Philip Is. (8.2 per cent), Colac-Otway – North (8.4 per cent), Loddon – South (8.5 per cent), Mount Alexander – C’maine (8.9 per cent), Benalla and Mansfield, – Benalla and Murrindindi - East (each 9.0 per cent).

Map 12.8a: Children told by a doctor they have asthma within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have been told by a doctor they have asthma was Gr. Dandenong – Bal (20.7 per cent), followed by Cardinia – South (20.5 per cent), Casey – Cranbourne (18.8 per cent), Yarra Ranges – Lilydale (18.3 per cent) and Frankston – West (18.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Melbourne – Inner and Melbourne – S’bank-D’lands (both 0 per cent), Port Phillip – West (7.9 per cent), Melbourne – Remainder (9.9 per cent) and Stonnington – Prahran (10.4 per cent).

Map 12.8b: Children told by a doctor they have asthma within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.9 Children with asthma who have an asthma action plan at school

Of those children told by a doctor that they have asthma (see maps 12.8a and b), the proportions within the SLA who have an asthma action plan at school are shown on maps a and b. On average, less than half of Victorian children (39.9 per cent) with asthma have an asthma action plan at school.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children with asthma who have an asthma action plan at school was South Gippsland (73.3 per cent), followed by Colac-Otway – North (71.4 per cent), Gr. Bendigo – Pt B (63.2 per cent), Gr. Bendigo – S’saye (61.5 per cent) and S. Grampians – Bal (58.3 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Gr. Bendigo – Eaglehawk, Yarriambiack – South (both 0 per cent), Campaspe – Echuca, Horsham – Central Surf Coast East and Latrobe – Traralgon (all 25.0 per cent).

Map 12.9a: Children with asthma who have an asthma action plan at school within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.These data only include those children reported to have been told by a doctor that they have asthma.

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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children with asthma who have an asthma plan at school was Yarra Ranges – North (65.2 per cent), followed by Yarra Ranges – Central (57.7 per cent), Monash – South-West (56.9 per cent), Stonnington – Prahran (55.6 per cent), Whitehorse – Box Hill and Moreland – Coburg (both 55.4 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Mornington P’sula – South (17.6 per cent), Kingston – South (25.0 per cent), Melton – Bal (25.8 per cent), Whittlesea – North (28.1 per cent) and Nillumbik – Bal (29.4 per cent).

Map 12.9b: Children with asthma who have an asthma action plan at school within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.These data only include those children reported to have been told by a doctor that they have asthma.

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12.10 Parents concerned about the oral health of their children

The proportions of parents who reported concern about their child’s oral health (e.g. teeth or gums) within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 15.2 per cent of parents reported concerns about their child’s oral health.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of parents concerned about their child’s oral health was Wellington – Maffra (29.0), followed by Towong – Pt B (27.8 per cent), Swan Hill – Robinvale (26.7 per cent), E. Gippsland – South-West (24.1 per cent) and Wellington – Alberton (24.0 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Newtown (8.4 per cent), Campaspe – Rochester (8.9 per cent), Murrindindi – East (9.0 per cent), Surf Coast – West (9.6 per cent) and Wangaratta – South (10.3 per cent).

Map 12.10a: Parental concern about the oral health of their child within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of parents concerned about their child’s oral health was Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong (26.8 per cent), followed by Hobsons Bay – Altona and Gr. Dandenong – Bal (both 23.2 per cent), Moreland – North (23.0 per cent), Hume – Broadmeadows and Brimbank – Sunshine (both 22.4 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Nillumbik – South-West (7.0 per cent), Boroondara – Hawthorn (7.9 per cent), Stonnington – Malvern (8.1 per cent), Mornington P’sula – South , Mooronda Croydon (both 8.9 per cent), Bayside – South and Boroondara – Camberwell S. (both 9.1 per cent).

Map 12.10b: Parental concern about the oral health of their child within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.11 Children with reported speech and language difficulties

The proportions of children reported by their parents to have speech or language difficulties within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 14.6 per cent of children were reported to have difficulties with speech or language.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have speech or language difficulties was Loddon – North (30.8 per cent), followed by N. Grampians – St Arnaud (29.4 per cent), E. Gippsland – Bal (27.3 per cent), West Wimmera (26.4 per cent) and Horsham – Bal (25.7 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Wellington – Sale (8.3 per cent), Moira – East (8.5 per cent), Hepburn – East (9.3 per cent), Glenelg – Heywood and Glenelg – Portland (both 9.9 per cent).

Map 12.11a: Children reported to have speech and language difficulties within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.These data only include those children whose parents reported their child has speech or language difficulties.

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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have speech or language difficulties was Melton – Bal (19.0 per cent), followed by Casey – Hallam (18.2 per cent), Yarra Ranges – Dandenongs (17.6 per cent), Frankston – West (17.4 per cent) and Mornington Peninsular - South (17.3 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Melbourne – Remainder (7.2 per cent), Port Phillip – St Kilda (7.6 per cent), Boroondara – Hawthorn (9.1 per cent), Yarra – North (9.3 per cent), Boroondara – Kew and Moreland – Coburg (both 9.8 per cent).

Map 12.11b: Percentage of children reported to have speech and language difficulties within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.12 Children being seen by a speech pathologist

Of those children reported to have speech or language difficulties (see previous maps 12.10 a and b), the proportions who have seen a speech pathologist within each SLA in Victoria are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 50.1 per cent of children reported to have speech or language difficulties have seen a speech pathologist.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have speech or language difficulties and who have seen a speech pathologist was Corangamite – South (91.7 per cent), followed by Yarriambiack – South (90.9 per cent), Loddon – North (87.5 per cent), Colac-Otway – Colac (86.4 per cent), Swan Hill – Bal, South Gippsland – East and Buloke – North (all 85.7 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Hepburn-West (33.3 per cent), Ballarat- South (33.9 per cent), Latrobe - Morwell, (36.6 per cent), Moorabool - Ballan (40.0 per cent) and Macedon Ranges - Romsey (40.9 per cent).

Map 12.12a: Children reported to have speech and language difficulties who have seen a speech pathologist within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have speech or language difficulties and who have seen a speech pathologist was Manningham – East (76.2 per cent). This was followed by Yarra Ranges – North (66.7 per cent), Whitehorse – Nunawading E. (62.9 per cent), Mornington P’sula – West (62.3 per cent) and Port Phillip – St Kilda (61.1 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong (24.6 per cent), Hume – Broadmeadows (30.6 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Bal (33.8 per cent), Melton – Bal (34.3 per cent) and Hume – Craigieburn (36.2 per cent).

Map 12.12b Children reported to have speech and language difficulties who have seen a speech pathologist within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.13 Children reported to have attended their 3.5-year Maternal and Child Health check

The proportions of children reported to have attended a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Centre for their 3.5-year-old check within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 71.5 per cent of children were reported to have attended their 3.5-year MCH check. However, it should be noted that these data differ from those regularly reported by MCH nurses, which are based on attendance records.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have attended an MCH Centre for their 3.5 year-old check was S. Grampians – Wannon (96.4 per cent), followed by Glenelg – North (89.3 per cent), Towong – Pt B (88.9 per cent), Hindmarsh (87.7 per cent) and N. Grampians – Stawell (87.1 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Moorabool – Ballan (55.4 per cent), Swan Hill – Robinvale (57.8 per cent), Wellington – Maffra (58.0 per cent), Warnambool (58.5 per cent) and Moorabool – Bacchus Marsh (59.4 per cent).

Map 12.13a Children reported to have attended their 3.5-year MCH check within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children reported to have attended a Maternal and Child Health Centre for their 3.5 year-old check was Whittlesea – North (86.5 per cent), followed by Bayside – South (85.0 per cent), Whittlesea – South-East (84.7 per cent), Bayside – Brighton (82.2 per cent) and Melbourne – Inner (81.8 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Cardinia – South (52.3 per cent), Casey – Cranbourne (53.4 per cent), Casey – Hallam (56.4 per cent), Casey – Berwick (56.6 per cent) and Wyndham – North (58.4 per cent).

Map 12.13b: Children reported to have attended their 3.5-year MCH check within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.14 Children who have attended hearing services in the past 12 months

The proportions of children reported to have attended a hearing service (an ENT specialist or an audiologist) in the 12 months prior to the SEHQ collection within each SLA is shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 8.5 per cent of children have attended a hearing service in the year prior to the SEHQ collection.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children who have attended a hearing service in the past year was West Wimmera (24.5 per cent), followed by Loddon – North (23.1 per cent), Yarriambiack – South (17.9 per cent), Moyne – North-East (16.7 per cent) and Wangaratta – North (14.6 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Benalla – Bal, Glenelg – North, Towong – Pt B (all 0 per cent), Greater Geelong – Pt B (2.4 per cent) and Mitchell – North (3.8 per cent).

Map 12.14a: Children who have attended a hearing service in the past year within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008

Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.These data refer to all children attending a hearing service. Data at section 8.3 show the proportion of children attending a hearing service whose parents were concerned about their hearing.

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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children who have attended a hearing service in the past year was Yarra Ranges – Dandenongs (16.4 per cent), followed by Yarra Ranges – North (14.8 per cent), Whitehorse – Box Hill (14.1 per cent), Manningham – East, Knox – North-East and Hume – Sunbury (all 12.9 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Cardinia – South, Melbourne – Inner (both 0 per cent), Whittlesea – North (4.3 per cent), Melbourne – Remainder (4.5 per cent) and Whittlesea – South-West (4.7 per cent).

Map 12.14b: Children who have attended a hearing service in the past year within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.15 Children reported to have attended a vision service in the last 12 months

The proportions of children who have attended a vision service (an ophthalmologist, an optometrist or an orthopotist) in the 12 months prior to the SEHQ collection within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 13.6 per cent of children have attended vision services in the 12 months prior to the SEHQ collection.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children who have attended a vision service in the past year was Wellington – Maffra (31.9 per cent). This was followed by Wellington – Avon (31.8 per cent), Wangaratta – Central (30.7 per cent), Wangaratta – North (27.1 per cent) and Wangaratta – South (26.5 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Bass Coast – Phillip Is. (5.9 per cent), Benalla – Benalla (6.6 per cent), Gr. Shepparton – Pt B West, Hepburn – East (both 7.0 per cent) and Strathbogie (7.1 per cent).

Map 12.15a: Children who have attended a vision service in the past year within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.These data refer to all children attending an eye specialist. Data in section 8.2 on optometry services show the proportion of children attending an eye specialist whose parents were concerned about their eyesight.

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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children who have attended a vision service in the past year was Boroondara – Camberwell N. (24.7 per cent), followed by Brimbank – Keilor (21.3 per cent), Hume – Sunbury (18.7 per cent), Manningham – West (18.5 per cent) and Cardinia – South (18.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Port Phillip – West (7.9 per cent), Stonnington – Prahran, Yarra Ranges – North (both 8.1 per cent), Nillumbik – Bal (8.4 per cent) and Whittlesea – South-West (9.2 per cent).

Map 12.15b: Children have attended a vision service in the past year within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008

Source: SEHQ 2008Note: data are suppressed when the cohort of children for that SLA is less than five.These data refer to all children attending an eye specialist. Data at section 8.2 on optometry services show the proportion of children attending an eye specialist whose parents were concerned about their eyesight.

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12.16 Children at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems

The proportions of children reported as being at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 7.2 per cent of children were deemed to be at high risk of developmental or behavioural problems. These data are derived from a set of questions embedded in the SEHQ known as the Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) (see section 1 for more information).

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems was Swan Hill – Bal (13.8 per cent), followed by Horsham (12.2 per cent), Baw Baw – Pt B West (11.9 per cent), Mitchell – North (11.5 per cent) and West Wimmera (11.3 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Wellington - Rosedale, Buloke - South, Glenelg - North, Ballarat - North, Southern Grampians - Wannon and Moyne - North West (all 0 per cent).

Map 12.16a: Children at high risk of developmental or behavioural problems within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children at high risk of developmental or behavioural problems was Brimbank – Sunshine (11.9 per cent), followed by Casey – Hallam (11.8 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Bal (11.1 per cent), Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong (10.8 per cent) and Casey – Cranbourne (10.7 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Melbourne – S’bank-D’lands (0 per cent), Darebin – Northcote, Manningham – East (both 3.2 per cent), Yarra Ranges – Seville (3.8 per cent) and Borrondara - Camberwell (3.9 per cent).

Map 12.16b: Children at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.17 Children at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems

The proportions of children reported to be at moderate or high risk of developmental and/0r behavioural problems within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 23.6 per cent of children were reported to be at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems. These data are derived from a set of questions embedded in the SEHQ known as the Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) (see section 1 for more information).

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems was E. Gippsland – Bal (54.5 per cent), followed by Mildura – Pt B (38.8 per cent), Loddon – North (38.5 per cent), Hindmarsh (38.4 per cent) and Wellington – Alberton (38.0 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Mansfield (10.4 per cent), Colac-Otway – South (15.7 per cent), South Gippsland – East (15.8 per cent), Moorabool – West and Moyne – North-East (both 16.7 per cent).

Map 12.17a: Children at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of children at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems was Melbourne – S’bank-D’lands (33.3 per cent), followed by Melton – Bal (31.4 per cent), Casey – Hallam (30.5 per cent), Casey – Cranbourne (29.6 per cent) and Gr. Dandenong – Dandenong (28.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Bayside - South (15.2 per cent), Darebin – Northcote (15.7 per cent), Boroondara – Kew (16.0 per cent), Port Phillip – St Kilda (16.4 per cent), Port Phillip – West (16.7 per cent).

Map 12.17b: Children at moderate or high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.18 Parents concerned about their child’s behaviour

The proportions of parents who reported being concerned about their child’s behaviour within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, 13.4 per cent of parents expressed concerns about their child’s behaviour.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of parents concerned about the behaviour of their child was Yarriambiack – South (25.0 per cent), followed by Buloke – South (23.3 per cent), Mitchell – North (21.4 per cent), Hindmarsh (20.5 per cent) and Latrobe – Moe (20.3 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Newtown (6.3 per cent), Colac-Otway – North, S. Grampians – Bal (both 7.2 per cent), Macedon Ranges – Romsey (8.0 per cent) and South Gippsland – East (8.8 per cent).

Map 12.18a: Parents concerned about the behaviour of their child within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of parents concerned about the behaviour of their child was in Moreland - Brunswick (19.1 per cent), Melton - Bal (18.0 per cent), Maroondah - Croydon (17.7 per cent), Casey - Hallam, (17.3 per cent) and Maroondah - Ringwood (17.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Melbourne – Inner (0 per cent), Stonnington – Malvern (6.4 per cent), Darebin – Northcote (7.0 per cent), Moonee Valley – West (7.2 per cent) and Nillumbik – Bal (7.6 per cent).

Map 12.18b: Parents concerned about the behaviour of their child within each SLA in metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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12.19 Family stressThe proportions of children from families reported to be experiencing high levels of stress within each SLA are shown in maps a and b. Across Victoria, is 8.7 per cent of families reported experiencing high levels of stress.

Rural and regional VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of families reported to be experiencing high levels of stress was Pyrenees – South (19.4 per cent), followed by Alpine – East (18.3 per cent), Baw Baw – Pt B East (17.8 per cent), Hepburn – East (17.4 per cent) and E. Gippsland – South (17.2 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Wellington – Sale (3.4 per cent), Ganawarra (4.5 per cent), Moyne – South (4.8 per cent), Corangamite – South (5.6 per cent) and S. Grampians – Hamilton (5.9 per cent).

Map 12.19a: Families reported to be experiencing high levels of stress within each SLA in rural and regional Victoria, 2008


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Metropolitan VictoriaThe SLA with the highest percentage of families reported to be experiencing high levels of stress was Yarra Ranges – North (12.8 per cent), followed by Melton – Bal (11.7 per cent), Cardinia – North (11.4 per cent), Wyndham – South, Knox – North-East and Frankston – West (all 11.3 per cent). The lowest percentages were recorded in Boroondara – Kew (4.7 per cent), Melbourne – Remainder (5.4 per cent), Yarra – North (5.6 per cent), Kingston and Whitehorse – Nunawading W. (both 6.0 per cent).

Map 12.19b: Families reported to be experiencing high levels of stress within each SLA in Metropolitan Victoria, 2008


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Outcomes for Victorian children at school entry...Victorian Results from the School Entrant Health...

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