Concerns among young Australians about the issue that worries them most are growing as fast as the issue itself: the cost of living.
It’s the first time cost of living has featured at the top of Mission Australia’s annual youth survey report, which surveyed 17,400 young people aged 15 to 19.
The percentage of young people concerned about this issue has more than doubled in the past two years – and it is by far their biggest concern, according to the survey.
Australia’s largest survey of young people found the top national issues were the cost of living (56 per cent), climate change and the environment (27 per cent), violence, safety and crime (25 percent) and mental health (23 percent).
Mission Australia said the category “economic and financial issues” had been renamed “cost of living” to better reflect the responses received.
Old issues of national interest, such as the environment, lost importance when people struggled to make ends meet, Mission Australia chief executive Sharon Callister said.
This reflects the need for increased financial support to help alleviate financial hardship, such as increasing rates of job search, Youth Allowance and Commonwealth Rental Assistance, she said .
“While climate change remains an important issue for young people, ranking second this year, it is currently taking a back seat to the pressing financial challenges many face due to Australia’s cost of living crisis,” she declared.
“This threatens the future of young people”
Evie Evans, 15, a student from Cairns, said the cost of living was not an issue for her family, “but I think it’s a major issue facing Australia today.”
“I noticed my friends were struggling with it. I noticed people at school were struggling with it, and I think it’s going to get worse over the next few years and threatens the future young people in Australia,” she said. said.
Findings from the annual youth survey are shared with parents, educators, policy makers, community services and those who support young people.
More than one in five young people (22%) experienced high psychological distress and one in five considered mental health their biggest personal challenge in the past year.
Nearly one in three people (30 percent) felt concerned or extremely concerned about managing stress, while one in five (21 percent) felt lonely most or all of the time.
“It is deeply concerning that so many young people are suffering from stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression,” Callister said.
“This harsh reality highlights the urgent need for increased mental health support and increased mental health awareness.”
Violence, security and crime (25 percent) was the other big driver of third place, up from 18 percent in 2023 and 10 percent in 2022.
Housing and homelessness (17 percent) continue to rank high among the top 10 national issues.
“Young people know that Australia faces a housing and homelessness emergency. That’s why we need much greater investment in social and affordable housing, more attention to homelessness prevention and more housing options for young people like Youth Foyers,” Callister said.
