Middle Years

The middle years are the ages 9-14 years. This is a critical developmental stage as children go through the onset of puberty, increased independence and the transition from primary to secondary school.

Positive experiences and interventions in the middle years can offset the effects of early adversity and provide an opportunity for developmental foundational skills to achieve positive outcomes in later adolescence and adulthood.

What is Communities doing?

The Department for Communities is leading a collaborative approach to policy and practice development in the middle years. The approach will ensure initiatives in the middle years are grounded in an understanding of the holistic continuum from early childhood through the various developmental stages leading to adolescence and transition into adulthood.

Communities initiatives include the:

• Middle Years Strategic Directions for 2012-2014
• Middle Years Email Network across WA
• Middle Years Services and Information in WA
• Profile of the Middle Years
• Parents’ Guide to Sexualisation of Children and Young People in the Media
• Partnering with the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth to host the 2012 Middle Years Program and the
  2011 Middle Years Forum
• Parenting Guides 
• Parents and Cyber Safety policy paper