Taylor Nelms life at 15 youthhealth conf paper 2006

Abstract

Life chances at 15 Resilience and engagement Paper presented at the Australian & New Zealand Adolescent Health Conference 13 to 15 November 2006, Sydney Olympic Park

Janet Taylor and Lucy Nelms Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne November 2006

Life chances at 15

Introduction The paper draws on stage 7 of the Brotherhood of St Laurences Life Chances Study to look at issues of resilience and school engagement for young people. Resilience refers to the capacity to do well in spite of adverse circumstances (Gilligan 2000) and is seen as an alternative and positive approach to the focus on the risks and problems that young people face. The Life Chances study has followed the lives of children growing up in the adverse circumstances of low-income families over many years. Resilience is seen as having both individual aspects but also a social component.