About
The Nest
Childhood wellbeing
The Nest is a national action plan to mobilise, align and enable the efforts of those working to improve the wellbeing of children and youth in Australia (0–24 years). It’s a way of thinking about the whole child in the context of their daily lives, viewing wellbeing in a way that brings together the different elements a child or young person needs to thrive. The Nest conceptualises wellbeing as six interconnected domains that support each other to help children reach their potential.
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We have adopted the ARACY Nest model so that we can foster a collective and co-ordinated approach towards achieving positive change and improving outcomes for children and young people.
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How
Using the Nest domains
at Logan Together
To have optimal wellbeing, a child or young person needs
to be adequately resourced in all six domains.
The six domains are:
Children are
loved and safe
Being valued, loved, and safe means having loving, trusting relationships with family and friends. It involves a child feeling valued by teachers and other adults in their life and knowing that they are important to others and that others are caring and supportive of them. It involves feeling safe at home, in the community and online. Safety also means feeling safe about their future, which includes the knowledge that the environment and climate are a priority and are being protected.
Children are
learning
Children learn through a variety of experiences within the classroom, the home and the community in which they live. Their individual learning needs are addressed to allow them to realise their full learning potential. Families are engaged in their child’s learning. Children and young people are supported and encouraged to learn in a wide variety of settings, including formal education. They have opportunities to participate in a breadth of experiences where their learning is valued and supported by their family and in the wider community.
Children are
healthy
Healthy children have their physical, mental, and emotional health needs met. All of their developmental health needs are provided for in a timely way. They receive appropriate health services, including preventative measures to address potential or emerging physical, emotional and mental health concerns.
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Children have a strong sense of culture and pride
Having a positive sense of identity and culture is central to the wellbeing of all children. This is important for all, regardless of background, but in Australia, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. It encompasses having spiritual needs met, a sense of cultural connectedness, belonging and acceptance at home and in the community – and confidence that their identity, culture and community is respected and valued.
It involves feeling safe and supported in expressing one’s identity, regardless of gender, sexuality, culture or language.
Children have
material basics
Children who have material basics have the things they need. They live in suitable, secure, stable housing, with appropriate clothing, nutritious food, clean water and clean air. They have access to transport, to required local services (e.g. plumbing) and to open spaces in nature. Their family has enough money for necessities. They have the material items needed to develop as an active member of society such as school supplies, suitable technology or sporting equipment.
Children are
participating
Participating is about children having a voice, being listened to, and taken seriously within their family and community. It means having a say in decisions that impact them. It is being empowered to speak out and express themselves. Participating includes involvement with peers and groups through a variety of activities, including online communities. Participating means being an active member of society.
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We use the ARACY Nest model as a guide to drive positive change in several ways:
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Engaging stakeholders: Communities can bring together key stakeholders, such as parents, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers, to develop a shared vision for the well-being of children and young people.
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Leveraging evidence: Communities can use the latest research and evidence to inform decision-making, design effective programs, and advocate for evidence-based policies and practices.
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Building partnerships: Collaborating with local organisations, businesses, and government agencies can help combine efforts and resources to address complex issues comprehensively.
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Advocating for effective systems: Communities can advocate for well-functioning systems and services that support the needs of children and young people, such as accessible healthcare, quality education, and social support.
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Monitoring progress: Establishing mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions allows communities to make data-informed decisions, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate successes.