The 2024 Youth Survey by Mission Australia has found that 55 per cent of Australia’s young people recognise the cost of living as the greatest issue for people today. Photo: Mission Australia.
According to Mission Australia’s latest youth survey, NSW’s young people have rated the cost of living, mental health and climate change as the greatest issues impacting the future of Australia.
More than 3500 people between the ages of 15 and 19 took part in the survey with the results finding that the cost of living has overtaken mental health to become the most important issue for the first time ever.
Fifty-five per cent of those surveyed rated the cost of living as their biggest worry, a 20 per cent increase from last year’s survey.
After the cost of living, young people from NSW said mental health (28 per cent) and climate change and the environment (24 per cent) were the next most important issues in Australia today.
Mission Australia State Director NSW Di Kapera said that like many in the community, young people were feeling the impact of inflation and the high cost of housing.
“It’s distressing that there are families across NSW struggling to pay their rent and afford necessities like groceries,” Ms Kapera said.
“There’s a clear need for the Federal Government to raise the rate of income support payments, including Jobseeker and Youth Allowance and lift Commonwealth Rent Assistance to help young people and families who are doing it tough.
“Continued investment in social and affordable housing, including youth-specific options such as youth foyers will also help young people who are navigating an increasingly unaffordable rental market.”
Mental health was the second most important issue in Australia according to NSW young people and 20 per cent of respondents identified it as one of the biggest personal challenges they faced. More than one in five NSW respondents (22 per cent) were found to have a high level of psychological distress and around the same number said they felt lonely all or most of the time in the past four weeks.
“Young people are dealing with stress, anxiety and loneliness, and we must ensure they can access affordable mental health support as they navigate what can be a challenging period,” Ms Kapera said.
“Supporting young people at an early age can help set them up for a bright future.”
Nationally, responses from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people revealed that 42 per cent had experienced discrimination compared with 29 per cent of non-Indigenous respondents.
“There is clearly much more we can do as a society to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are supported and have equal access to opportunities,” Ms Kapera said.
“Mission Australia is committed to this ongoing work across our programs and services.”
NSW young people also expressed concern about the impact of alcohol and other drugs, with 53 per cent of respondents saying they strongly agree or agree that alcohol is a problem in Australia and 63 per cent saying the same for drugs.
“Young people are clearly worried about the impact of alcohol and other drugs on our society,” Ms Kapera said.
“We must make sure that if they do need support in their own lives, they can access youth-specific rehabilitation services,” she added.
“There is a huge need for these services in regional and rural NSW.”
The 23rd annual Mission Australia Youth Survey was conducted between April and August with results shared with schools, community services, councils, policymakers and those who support young people.
Original Article published by Jarryd Rowley on Region Riverina.
