Western Australia is home to 656,987 children and young people, making up 21.7 per cent of the state’s population. The newly released Profile of Children and Young People in WA 2026 paints a detailed picture of their lives, highlighting strengths, emerging trends, and areas of concern, as well as providing insights into potential and future areas of intersection with the law.
Population and family trends
WA’s population of children continues to grow, with the 12-17 age group expanding fastest. In contrast, the 0-5 age group has shrunk, reflecting declining birth rates in WA, which have reduced to 1.43 births per woman in 2024, from 1.9 in 2014.
Other key trends:
- Most children (84.9 per cent) were born in Australia.
- 48,121 (7.32 per cent) children are Aboriginal.
- Disability affects 11.6 per cent of WA children, and ADHD medication use has risen sharply nationwide, especially among girls.
- 26 per cent of families are single‑parent households.
Learning and participation
The report presents a mixed picture regarding education. In WA, early childhood development has declined faster than nationally, with WA AEDC results falling in 2024 after remaining largely flat since 2021. The report suggests that this may be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
School participation remains strong across 1,153 WA schools, with 508,990 students enrolled. Government schools educate the majority (65.6 per cent) of students, though the proportion of children attending non‑government schools tends to grow as students get older.
Other key trends include:
- Childcare attendance has grown from 31 per cent (2015) to 42 per cent (2024).
- Home‑schooling has nearly tripled since 2015.
- School exclusions have risen dramatically, from 8 students in 2017 to 185 in 2025.
- Between 60-70 per cent of Year 3 and Year 9 students achieved “strong” NAPLAN results, but Aboriginal students remain half as likely to meet these benchmarks.
Health and wellbeing
While 90-97 per cent of babies receive their first recommended health check, attendance drops sharply by age two, with less than one‑third of metropolitan children receiving their 2‑year‑old check.
Other health findings include:
- One-quarter of children aged 5-17 are overweight or obese, a rate essentially unchanged for more than a decade.
- Parents report rising emotional and behavioural concerns, affecting 34.5 per cent of 10-15‑year‑olds.
- Girls report significantly lower wellbeing: only 58.8 per cent of high school girls feel good about themselves, compared with 79.3 per cent of boys.
- Life satisfaction averages 6.8/10, with younger children and boys reporting higher scores.
Safety and youth detention
Most children (79.2 per cent) say their families get along well, though this declines with age. However, the report highlights serious concerns about the safety of children in WA:
- 4,649 children were subjects of substantiated abuse or neglect in 2023-24.
- 13 per cent of children witness family and domestic violence (FDV), and boys are nearly twice as likely to be victims.
- FDV is the leading reason families seek homelessness support.
- Food insecurity affects 6.3 per cent of all students and 12 per cent of Aboriginal students.
- Children aged 10-17 make up 15 per cent of WA offenders, with boys twice as likely to offend.
- Detention rates are falling overall, but Aboriginal children remain vastly over‑represented, and most detained children are unsentenced.
Key areas of concern
The report identifies five critical issues requiring urgent, coordinated action:
- Early childhood development
Developmental vulnerability is rising, especially in social and emotional domains. Aboriginal children and those in very remote areas face the highest risks.
2. Unhealthy weight
One-quarter of children are overweight or obese, driven by poor diet, low physical activity, and excessive screen time. The report recommends stronger early childhood policies and greater support for families with young children.
3. Mental health
Children and young people, particularly high school girls, report high levels of insecurity. The report recommends early intervention for children with communication, social or emotional developmental support needs.
4. Safety and security
FDV exposure is widespread, but services for affected children are limited and often adult‑focused.
5. Youth detention
Children as young as 10 are detained, often without sentence. The report stresses that detention should be a last resort, calling for earlier, family‑centred support.
Conclusion
The report shows that while most children in WA are doing well, significant inequities persist, particularly for Aboriginal children, those in regional and remote areas, and young people experiencing disadvantage. The report calls for early intervention, stronger family supports, and systemic reform to ensure every child in WA can thrive.
