At ARACY, we’re proud to see how communities across Australia are using The Nest, our national wellbeing framework for children and young people, to guide their work and amplify their impact. A standout example comes from Greater Shepparton, where three key local organisations—Greater Shepparton Best Start, Greater Shepparton Communities for Children, and  Greater Shepparton Lighthouse—have come together to deliver a new way of tracking the wellbeing of local children.

In 2024, these partners launched a fully interactive online dashboard as the latest iteration of the State of Greater Shepparton’s Children Report. This evolution from static hardcopy reports to a dynamic digital platform means that the data can now be regularly updated, expanded, and used more easily by the whole community. To structure and present this data, the partners chose to use The Nest, recognising its value as a nationally recognised, evidence-informed framework for child and youth wellbeing.

The Nest’s six interconnected domains—Being Loved and Safe, Being Healthy, Learning, Participating, Having Material Basics, and Having a Positive Sense of Identity and Culture—are now used as the core organising structure for the dashboard. This approach makes it easier to see not only where children and young people in Greater Shepparton are doing well, but also where there may be data gaps or areas needing further investment or attention. The online format allows for deeper exploration, with each domain linking users to relevant data, insights, and trends—all in one accessible place.

This project is a powerful example of how communities can use The Nest to support collaboration, inform local decision-making, and build a shared understanding of what children need to thrive. We commend the Greater Shepparton team for their leadership and thank them for their thoughtful application of The Nest to strengthen outcomes for children and young people in their region.