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While the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is designed to
make it easier for individuals to access support services, a range of issues
have been raised about the implementation of the scheme in respect of
children.8 Also, many people with disability, including children, do not
meet the NDIS eligibility criteria.9
A hearing service stream for children newly diagnosed with hearing loss,10
established in 2018, only applies to children who attend Hearing Australia
for the first time post-2018. A significant proportion of children are not
covered.11
Legislation in Australia still permits the non-therapeutic sterilisation of
children with disability.
Surveys of children, young people and their families show that mental health
problems are a significant concern to them. While services such as Kids Helpline
and Headspace provide valuable mental health support, there is a shortage of
mental health services. In 2017, suicide was the leading cause of death of
Australian children aged 5–17, with an increased number of deaths of children
due to suicide from 2016. Between 2007 and 2017 there were 35,997
hospitalisations of children aged 3–17 years for intentional self-harm. While we
have some understanding about suicide and intentional self-harm, there is still
much that we do not know.
The lack of accurate information about the incidence and prevalence of Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a serious impediment to developing effective
health and policy responses.
In 2017–18, one in four (25%) children aged 2–17 were overweight or obese—
equating to approximately 1.2 million children and adolescents.12
The percentage children on the Australian Immunisation Register fully
immunised at one year of age is slightly less than most OECD countries.13
Although 90% of Australian mothers initiate breastfeeding, only 15% of infants
are exclusively breastfed for the six-month period recommended by the World
Health Organisation (WHO).14
There is domestic and international concern about involuntary surgery on
infants born with variations in sex characteristics.15 Decision-making about
medical interventions for intersex children should be guided by children’s right
to have their best interests taken as a primary consideration, their right to the
highest attainable standard of health and their right to have due weight given to
their views.
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