MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 5 May 2009
NEW REPORT RANKS AUSTRALIA GREAT FOR MUMS, BUT NOT FOR KIDS
Australia is the third best place in the world to be a mother, a new global report that rates the wellbeing
of mothers and children has found. But the research from Save the Children revealed a less rosy picture
for children, whose wellbeing was ranked 27th out of the 43 developed countries surveyed across the
globe.
Sweden ranked number one for mothers in contrast to Niger, which was rated last among the overall 158
countries surveyed in the 10th annual State of the World’s Mothers 2009 report. The United States
remained in 27th place for the second year, with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the
industrial world.
Early childhood development rated poorly in Australia, meeting only two of the ten benchmarks
considered necessary to give children the best start to life. All but two of the 25 countries surveyed for the
report’s Early Childhood Development Report Card - Australia and the United States - currently provide
paid parental leave following the birth of a child.
‘’Mother’s Day this Sunday is a timely reminder of the important role mothers play in their child’s
development,’’ said Suzanne Dvorak, Chief Executive of Save the Children Australia. ‘’Save the Children
Australia urges the Federal Government to introduce a universal paid maternity leave scheme when it
hands down the Federal Budget on May 12. In addition to this, significant increases in public investment
in early childhood services are needed to boost the wellbeing of children.’’
Other key findings in the State of the World’s Mothers 2009 ®eport include:
The wellbeing of Australian mums jumped from sixth place last year to three this year, underpinned
by a strong performance on the women’s index.
Australian women were ranked first on the women’s index, up from fourth place last year,
because on average, they spend more than 20 years in formal education, have one of the
smallest wage gaps between men and women and have a life expectancy of 84 years.
Australia was ranked 27th on the children’s index, unchanged from the previous year’s
performance.
Australia does not meet the minimum standards related to child poverty and the availability and
quality of early education services and children’s health care.
Less than two-thirds of four-year-olds are enrolled in pre-school compared to nearly all children in
Belgium, France, Italy and Spain.
Australia spends only about 0.4 percent of GDP on child care and preschool education.
Young Australian children are twice as likely to die before the age of five, than children in Sweden
and Iceland.
Worldwide, at least 75 million children are not in primary school.
Each additional year of primary education increases a person’s future productivity by 10 to 30 per
cent.
Poverty, poor health, care and nutrition means 40 per cent of 200 million children worldwide fail to
meet their cognitive potential.
‘’The report highlights a proven link between early childhood development and child wellbeing,
achievement and productivity,’’ Ms Dvorak said. ‘’When children don’t get the right start in life, they
never reach their full potential. Investing in quality early learning programs is one of the most effective
ways to improve children’s success in school.’’
About Save the Children: Save the Children is the world’s largest independent child rights organisation
working in more than 100 countries around the globe. Save the Children Australia manages programs in
Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, and
supports development programs through its Alliance partners in Asia, Africa and South America. For more
Media enquiries: Annie Lawson - 0437 355 096
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