Acting early, changing lives: how prevention and early action saves money and improves wellbeing

Abstract

The Benevolent Society has released a report to mark its 200th Anniversary that sounds a serious warning about the wellbeing of Australia’s children, and unsustainable future costs to fix social problems which can be prevented by more investment in support for families during children’s early years. “In dealing with increasing problems such as crime, obesity, anti-social behaviour, child abuse and mental illness, our governments are stuck in a cycle of reacting too late when it’s more costly and less effective,” said The Benevolent Society CEO Anne Hollonds. The report, Acting Early, Changing Lives: How prevention and early action saves money and improves wellbeing was commissioned by The Benevolent Society, Australia’s first and longest running not-for-profit organisation, and prepared by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. “In our 200th year we see the need for stronger commitment and better coordination of support for families with young children by all State and Federal governments,” said Anne Hollonds. “All the evidence shows us that investment in the early years of life is much more effective and brings greater economic returns to the community. This is when the foundations of mental and physical health and development are laid. “Failing to invest in prevention and early action is like signing a blank cheque now for much higher future costs,” she said. The report lists worrying trends affecting many children in Australia today: • One in seven Australian children is affected by a behavioural or emotional problem; • Less than half of our kids who need professional help for a mental health issue receive the help they need; • One in six children live below the poverty line and Australia has the fourth highest rate of children living in jobless families in the OECD [15%]; • One in five Australian children are vulnerable in one or more developmental domains when they start school. Children who experience these disadvantages are likely to suffer lifelong negative consequences. The report shows how children who in their first five years have a home environment where they experience poverty, abuse, neglect, poor health and nutrition, mental health or behaviour problems, are at greater risk in later life of unemployment, low income, depression, anxiety, drug abuse and anti-social and criminal behaviour, leaving school early, emotional problems and ongoing health problems. This report shows that the solution is acting early, especially by providing parenting support and early learning for children under five. It highlights solid benefits of the world’s most effective early intervention programs: • children did better in school and employment; • they grew up to have better mental and overall health; • their parents had better parenting skills which created a more supportive nurturing home life, and • there were serious reductions in rates of risky behaviour, criminality and notifications of child abuse and neglect. Written for The Benevolent Society by The Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne