Addressing disadvantage to optimise children's development in Australia

The Changing Children’s Chances project aimed to identify patterns in children’s experiences of disadvantage over time and quantify the long-lasting impact of disadvantage. It used four lenses related to social determinants – sociodemographic factors, geographic environments, health conditions, and risk factors – to measure children’s exposure to disadvantage and identify its impact on important aspects of children’s development (social-emotional, cognitive, and physical functioning). This study helps to reveal the extent and impact of disadvantage on children’s development. The findings indicate that some aspects of disadvantage are particularly relevant for some developmental outcomes, which may inform targeted strategies for reducing exposure to disadvantage.