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A whole-school approach to technological literacy: mobile learning and the iPhone
Robin Pascoe, Susan McKenzie, Jan Herrington | Murdoch University
24 April, 2012

Mobile learning is not pervasive in higher education and yet its potential is enormous. This paper describes a project to instigate mobile learning in a School of Education using a whole-of- school approach to technological literacy and professional learning among academic staff.

Investing in Children reports launched in the UK
The Social Research Unit at Dartington, UK
24 April, 2012

One of the first Investing in Children reports, published by the Social Research Unit in the UK, will cover youth justice issues and look at programs that have demonstrated success.

The impact of media on vulnerable children and adolescents
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
18 April, 2012

Identifying the many positive benefits of media for children, but recognising that there are also areas of concern, this position statement discusses a broad range of potential psychological impacts of media on young people.

Is resilience still a useful concept when working with children and young people?
Cathryn Hunter
Australian Institute of Family Studies
11 April 2012

This paper reviews some of the complexities and issues surrounding the concept of resilience in order to ascertain its usefulness for practitioners working with children.

Over recent years there has been a shift in research and service delivery from a deficits-based approach, which focuses on factors related to psychopathology and maladaptive functioning, to an approach that highlights strengths and resources that may enable adaptive functioning and positive outcomes. This focus on strengths-based approaches has led to a rise in research on resilience.

The paper offers a brief history of the research as well as an investigation of how resilience is defined, measured and used in practice.

Social and emotional wellbeing: development of a children's headline indicator
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
10 April 2012

A child's social and emotional wellbeing is integral to their overall health, development and wellbeing. Children with high levels of social and emotional wellbeing are more likely to successfully negotiate physical, intellectual and social challenges during childhood and adolescence. This report describes the process of developing a Children's Headline Indicator to measure social and emotional wellbeing. It presents research evidence on the links between social and emotional wellbeing and children's health, development and wellbeing outcomes; assesses potential indicators and data sources; and recommends an indicator of social and emotional wellbeing for Australian children.

Youth disability in Australia: Face the facts briefing
Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies
04 April 2012

This briefing highlights the key statistics, policy problems and development opportunities relevant to youth and disability today. This is a particularly topical issue given current efforts to establish a national organisation to represent young people with disability, and the Australian Government’s recent decision to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Approaches to supporting young people not in education, employment or training
National Foundation for Educational Research in England and Wales
02 April 2012

This UK report explores what the best available research tells us about successful approaches to tackling the NEET (not in education, employment or training) problem at a general level as well for specific subgroups.

Verdict on UK riots: people need a 'stake in society', says report
The Guardian
28 March 2012

An English review panel concludes that last year's riots were fuelled by a lack of opportunities for young people, poor parenting and suspicion of the police. Could Australia face similar problems in future?

The final report of the Riots Communities and Victims Panel
The Riots Communities and Victims Panel, 2012

Safe and supportive families and communities for children: A synopsis and critique of Australian research
Child Family Community Australia
March 2012

The first ever CFCA publication reviews the research on building safe and supportive families and communities for children in Australia. Based on assessments of 22 research and evaluation reports, it examines the evidence base in the areas of: community attitudes and awareness of child safety; parenting and family support; and child-friendly communities.

Active travel to school: 2012 Survey Findings
The National Heart Foundation in collaboration with the Cycling Promotion Fund
February 2012

Main Findings

• The vast majority of parents surveyed have a bicycle in their household, whilst just under six in ten had cycled in the last year.
• Parents associate children riding a bike to school with a range of advantages, from the positive impact that it can have on their child’s health, to the role it can play in promoting their child’s independence.
• Nine in ten parents agreed that cycling is a good way to get fit, and that it is important for children to learn to ride a bike.
• Whilst seven in ten parents surveyed think it is important for children to be able to independently ride a bike, close to half do not believe that it is safe for children to ride a bike to school.
• There are some clear barriers to children riding a bike to school. Eight in ten parents surveyed agreed that there is too much traffic on the roads and there are not enough bike paths for children to cycle safely to school.
• Close to 60% of parents surveyed drive their children to school.
• Whilst nine in ten parents surveyed indicated that their child knows how to ride a bike, just over one in ten children are currently riding a bike to school.
• The reasons parents do not allow their children to ride a bike to school are centered around safety and the dangers posed by traffic and other road users.
• Parents surveyed indicated that they would be more likely to let their children ride a bike to school if safety, and the dangers posed by traffic and other road users was changed or improved.
• In spite of the relatively high proportion of parents surveyed who felt confident about teaching their child to ride a bike, 45% believe it is important that children receive formal cycle training.
• Close to a quarter of parents surveyed believe their child’s school encourages children to ride a bike to school.
• In general, parents surveyed agreed that the Federal Government should be doing more to encourage children to ride to school.

Millennials will benefit and suffer due to their hyperconnected lives
Lee Rainie, Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project
Janna Quitney Anderson, Elon University
29 February 2012

Analysts generally believe many young people growing up in today’s networked world and counting on the internet as their external brain will be nimble analysts and decision-makers who will do well. But these experts also expect that constantly connected teens and young adults will thirst for instant gratification and often make quick, shallow choices. Where will that leave us in 2020? These survey respondents urge major education reform to emphasize new skills and literacies.

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