What is Resilience?
Resilience is the ability to flexibly cope with the demands of life and bounce back after times of adversity. Building resilience is about developing individual character strengths and relationships with others, as resources to draw upon when required.
The more of these resilience strengths a young person has, the more they will develop and fulfill their potential in school and life. They are also less likely to engage in risk taking behaviours.
About the Resilience Survey
City of Greater Dandenong’s Resilience Program utilises a survey (administered by Resilient Youth Australia) to measure the resilience of children and young people from Grade 3 to Year 12.
The Resilience Survey is based on three scientifically validated, reliable and internationally accepted measures:
- Developmental Assets Profile (DAP)
- General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12)
- Children’s Hope Scale
The survey reports on more than 80 indicators of resilience, across ten wellbeing domains including empowerment, belonging, hope, healthy mind and healthy body, educational engagement and positive identity.
These indicators are the qualities, opportunities and conditions that characterise high levels of resilience. They act as assets or protective factors in a young person’s life.
Survey Results
The survey was conducted in partnership with local primary and secondary schools. It was administered on a biennial cycle in 2015, 2017 and 2019 to build a profile of the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Greater Dandenong over time.
The biennial cycle (across 6 years) allowed for the comparison of results and monitoring of emerging trends over time.
The third round of the Resilience Survey was conducted in 2019, and captured over 4,600 responses across Grade 3 to Year 12.
A summary of the results for each age group is provided below.
Snap shot of Resilience in the City of Greater Dandenong - Years 3 and 4 - 470MB
Snap shot of Resilience in the City of Greater Dandenong - Years 5 and 6 - 480MB
Snap shot of Resilience in the City of Greater Dandenong - Years 7 and 8 - 467MB
Snap shot of Resilience in the City of Greater Dandenong - Years 9 and 10 - 470MB
Snap shot of Resilience in the City of Greater Dandenong - Years 11 and 12 - 470MB
A summary of the changes observed across the three survey rounds (2015, 2017 and 2019) can be found below.
Snap shot of Resilience in the City of Greater Dandenong - 2015 to 2019 - 468MB