ARACY’s 2026–27 Budget Submission amplifies young people’s voices, urging the Australian Government to embed child and youth wellbeing across education, health, justice and social policy through nationally coordinated, prevention-focused reform.

ARACY’s 2026–27 Budget Submission is grounded in what young people say is shaping their lives now. Insights from ARACY’s Young and Wise post–Federal Budget roundtable highlight rising living costs, housing insecurity, mental distress and ineffective, tokenistic approaches to wellbeing in schools. Young people are calling for a shift from crisis-driven responses to systems that prioritise prevention, partnership and their rights as active contributors to decision-making.

The submission calls on the Australian Government to embed wellbeing across education, health, justice and social policy through nationally coordinated leadership. Key priorities include resourcing student-centred wellbeing in schools using The Nest framework; strengthening national governance for children through dedicated ministerial leadership and a National Plan for Child Safety and Wellbeing; rebalancing mental health investment towards prevention; reframing youth justice as a child wellbeing issue; and ensuring early, inclusive support for children through the Thriving Kids initiative.

Together, these reforms aim to prevent harm before it occurs and improve long-term outcomes for children and young people across Australia.*