What We Do
Future Healthy Countdown 2030
The Future Healthy Countdown 2030: A Movement for Australia’s Youth
Future Healthy Countdown 2030 Webinar
The Future Healthy Countdown 2030 is here—a call to action that challenges Australia to rise to the needs of its children and young people by 2030. Published in Australia’s leading medical journal, the Medical Journal of Australia, this annual report brings together the voices of experts and young Australians alike, mapping out the urgent policies needed to improve young lives and holding leaders accountable each step of the way.
Young people face distinct challenges to their mental health, climate stability, economic security and overall wellbeing—challenges they deserve a voice in shaping.
Despite Australia’s wealth, we’re facing a crisis. Far too many children and young people experience poverty, mental health struggles, a lack of equitable education, and inaction on climate change. The Countdown lays out eight essential policy actions to make a difference. From poverty alleviation to Indigenous-led early learning and even lowering the voting age to 16, each recommendation offers a concrete, actionable step that can be put in motion right now.
In the Northern Territory 10-year-olds are now considered old enough to be held criminally responsible. By this logic, 16-year-olds being able to vote feels like a no-brainer. Yet reducing the voting age to 16 would certainly put politicians on notice as young people are far more impressed with fairness and principles than power play.
A Blueprint for Change: Why 2030 Matters
The Countdown addresses the six domains of The Nest as well as creating a new domain specifically about the natural environment (The Nest incorporates Environment within the Valued, Loved and Safe Domain).
Each year, this public report will track how well we’re supporting children and young people, spotlighting successes and areas where we fall short. In a democracy, we all benefit when children and young people can grow up safe, healthy, and empowered. These actions aren’t optional—they’re the minimum required for a better future.
Highlights from This Year’s Report:
- Include Young Voices in Democracy: Extend the voting age to 16 to giving young people a direct say in the policies shaping their future.
- Empower Future Generations: Establish a Federal Future Generations Commission to advocate for youth wellbeing.
- End Poverty in Early Childhood: Increase financial support to families, especially in a child’s first 1,000 days.
- Support Indigenous-Led Futures: Invest in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations for culturally aligned early learning services.
In the Lead-Up to the Federal Election, the Question is Clear:
Why aren’t these policy actions on the table? The Countdown 2030 is more than a framework; it’s a national mission to secure a future where every young Australian has the opportunity to thrive.
Join these organisations in supporting the core policy action. This is extending the voting age to 16 – to empower young people, and strengthen Australia’s political system to tackle inequalities. This is a modest but powerful opportunity to more formally engage and empower young people in the civic agenda.
If you would like to list your organisation here to show your support for lowering the voting age, please contact fhc2030@mcri.edu.au
WHAT WE DO
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Search through our extensive Resource Library including Research papers, Submissions, Reports and much more.
What else we do
Right@home
right@home is a relationship-based nurse home visiting program for Australian families, delivered by trained professionals within the universal health service. It empowers parents to create a safe, nurturing environment that supports early child development.
Early Years Strategy
The Australian Government’s Early Years Strategy, developed with input from ARACY, outlines a vision to support children and families by prioritising child-centered policies and targeted investment in early years services over the next 10 years, recognising the crucial role early development plays in lifelong success.
Established in 2006, ARACY’s Longitudinal Studies Collaborative (LSC) fosters collaboration between Australian and New Zealand studies focused on children and youth. The LSC promotes data sharing, supports new and ongoing studies, advocates for longitudinal research, and disseminates findings to a broad audience.
Maximising the Middle
‘Maximising the Middle’ is a unique initiative based in Campbelltown and Penrith that aims to see middle years children and young people (MYC&YP), aged 8-14 years, thrive. It is a collaborative project initiated by Uniting NSW.ACT, ARACY and the Stronger Smarter Institute (SSI).
ARACY's The Nest
What's in The Nest?
With six connected areas, The Nest ensures young Australians have everything they need for the best start in life, helping them reach their highest potential.
Our Nest projects
Using The Nest, has helped ARACY to be at the forefront of disease prevention and the promotion of holistic health for young Australians.
The Nest initiatives
Here you’ll see some examples of how The Nest has been used in organisations outside of ARACY across Australia.
