A snapshot of family life.

In addition to looking at health, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's report, A picture of Australia's children, also considered other issues that affect children, including homelessness, violence and parental health and disability. The report states that Australia has 3.9 million children--2 million boys and 1.9 million girls. They make up 20% of the population, but declining fertility rates and a 'greying' population mean they are likely to comprise only 18% by 2011. Almost three-quarters of children live in intact families, while one in five live in sole-parent households. In 2003, in 94% of couple households where the youngest child was under 15, at least one parent worked; however, in lone mother families, 55% of parents were jobless. The report also found that about 12,000 children were victims of assault, with the largest group being boys aged 10 to 14 (Sydney Morning Herald, 3/5/05, p.2; Herald Sun, 3/5/05, p.6).