The book presented here describes an outstanding attempt, not only to include children's views but to partner with children to develop the concept of well-being and to study the phenomenon as the children understand it. The authors do this by placing the concept of children's well-being within the existing discourses on the topic and by developing their unique theoretical approach to the concept. Then, and based on what children told them, the authors identify different domains and dimensions of children's well-being and touch upon its multifaceted nature. The book concludes with drawing research and policy implications from an integrated summary of the study's findings and lists indicator concepts that present an alternative framework and conceptualisation of well-being from a child standpoint.

The book presented here describes an outstanding attempt, not only to include children's views but to partner with children to develop the concept of well-being and to study the phenomenon as the children understand it. The authors do this by placing the concept of children's well-being within the existing discourses on the topic and by developing their unique theoretical approach to the concept. Then, and based on what children told them, the authors identify different domains and dimensions of children's well-being and touch upon its multifaceted nature. The book concludes with drawing research and policy implications from an integrated summary of the study's findings and lists indicator concepts that present an alternative framework and conceptualisation of well-being from a child standpoint.

This edited book is the result of collaboration between five countries in the Asia Pacific Region. It is auspiced by Childwatch International, a global research network. It explores the socio-cultural context of children's participation in the five countries, in response to the obligations on these countries, as signatories to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. While the legal mandating of participation has significant implications for children's lives and adult-child relations, research in this area has been limited, particularly cross culturally.

This book is an important addition to the growing literature which addresses the issue of Australia's policies towards people seeking asylum. In the early stages of the Tampa crisis, the government dominated discussions around Australian refugee policy. Australians would decide who would live amongst us. Such decisions were was when asylum seekers were depicted as non-law abiding, unruly and inhumane 'others' who were very different from us. Slowly other voices have been added to this discussion and in different forums we have begun to hear from some of those people who sough asylum and who describe horrors, fears and terrors which made remaining where they were, unthinkable. These stories began to challenge the idea that these refugees were different from us. Still, the Australian hardline policies have continued. This volume broadens the debate by adding to the voices of some of those seeking asylum, the voices of people who have been working directly with refugees, as well as those of experts able to comment on the impact of the laws created around the refugees.