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How can we measure disadvantage beyond income, and what do these measures show about Australian children?

The problem:

Child social exclusion (CSE) captures the social and material disadvantages that prevent children from fully participating and feeling connected. The CSE Index maps how children experience multiple forms of disadvantage across different areas in Australia (SA2 level).

Our research:

• We developed the Child Social Exclusion (CSE) Index for children under 15, drawing on Census, administrative, and microsimulation data across six domains: socio-economic, education, connectedness, housing, health and community, and environment.
• We compared CSE Index results over time (2016 and 2021) and against child poverty rates in 2021 to understand changing patterns of disadvantage.

Our impact:

• Our research identified areas where many children are at risk of social exclusion, giving service providers and policymakers valuable insights for targeting support.
• The index has informed advocacy by UnitingCare Australia and been used by government agencies such as the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the Victorian Department of Education, the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, and the New South Wales Parliamentary Research Service.

Our research identified the areas where a large proportion of children are at risk of social exclusion, providing an invaluable insight to service providers and policymakers.