Schools often manage problem behaviours by enacting exclusionary school discipline policies that remove students via suspension or expulsion. This study characterises exclusionary school discipline practices in a representative, longitudinal, population-based cohort of 71,955 students attending New South Wales public schools in Australia. The findings indicate that suspending and expelling children does not address problem behaviour.

This study compares adolescent smoking trends in Australia before and after the emergence of e-cigarettes in about 2010, to evaluate the potential impacts of adolescent vaping on smoking prevalence. It finds that Australia’s remarkable progress in reducing adolescent smoking has slowed since the emergence of vaping, underscoring the need for integrated tobacco and vaping control...

The objective of this study was to determine the child protection and developmental trajectories of children who entered care as infants and whether meeting developmental needs through service provision improves trajectories and outcomes for these children. The findings suggest that children who entered care as infants predominantly remained in the care system and had a...

The Life Chances Study followed 167 infants from two inner-Melbourne suburbs from birth until early 2024. Over the course of the study, researchers have identified multiple and intersecting social policy, infrastructure and service improvements that could make a difference to the life chances of those living with economic insecurity and disadvantage. This report provides a...

Over the past two decades, homelessness has become an entrenched feature on Australia’s social landscape. Initial Assessment and Planning (IAP) services are at the front end of Victoria’s homelessness service system. The data presented in this report shows that IAPs are at, or near, full capacity and have been for some time. Further, the complexity...