TEENAGE pregnancy rates in Moorabool are more than double the state average.
A Moorabool Agencies and Schools Together (MAST) report seen by the Weekly also reveals there are alarming rates of self-harm, bullying and poor self-esteem among the region’s youth.
Citing data published by the Education Department in 2011, the report found Moorabool had higher rates for each category than the state average, with 21.4 births per 1000 to females aged 15-19 compared with 10.6 statewide.
Moorabool also had almost double the absentee rate in government schools and was ranked 71 out of 79 local government areas in terms of year 12 attainment rates in 2009.
Data for 2009-10 showed 54.5 adolescents among 1000 were alleged committers of crime, with 18.1 per cent of the 193 offences involving assault.
Moorabool chief executive Rob Croxford said tackling issues such as absentee rates and teenage pregnancy required a “whole of government and community approach”.
“Society needs to support young people, both those doing well and those not so well.
“Where young people aren’t doing well, society needs to ensure services are in place to assist them and their families.”
Council programs include ACTIVE8, a secondary school transition program, and a Moorabool Young Parents Group.
Latest government data shows bullying and teenage pregnancy rates in Melton (14.1 per cent of 1000 women aged 15-19 in 2008) were above the state average, but not significantly so.
