WA Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS)

The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) was the largest and most comprehensive survery ever undertaken into the health, wellbeing and development of Western Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The survey was designed to build the knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

The WAACHS is a collaborative effort encompassing the Telethon Institute, the Kulunga Research Network and Curtin University through the Centre for Developmental Health.

Initial funding was secured from the Australian and WA Governments and several corporate sponsors.

Survey findings

• Vol 1: The health of Aboriginal children and young people
• Vol 2: The social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people
• Vol 3: Improving the educational experiences of Aboriginal children and young people
• Vol 4: Strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal children, families and communities

Technical papers

• Measuring the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Children and the Intergenerational Effects of Forced Separation (PDF)
• Testing the Reliability of a Measure of Aboriginal Children's Mental Health