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This discussion paper was commissioned by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) to help clarify the problem of youth disengagement-its nature, magnitude, issues and trends-with a strong focus on including the voices and perceptions of young people. The paper includes a comprehensive literature review, an analysis of individual and social pathways to youth disengagement, and an analysis of'what works best'across five case studies: substance abuse; community violence; school disengagement; civic participation; and youth mental health reform.