Youth pressures in Australia under microscope

Findings from the 2024 Australian Youth Barometer and an evaluation report from the Raise Foundation reveals the issues faced by young people in Australia and the positive impacts a mentor can provide.

The 2024 Australian Youth Barometer: Understanding Young People in Australia Today, and the Independent Evaluation of the Raise Mentoring Program: Final Outcome Evaluation Report outline the experiences of Australian youth and provide solutions to offer support.

The Australian Youth Barometer is developed by the Monash Center for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP), in the Faculty of Education at Monash University and examines interconnected dimensions of young people's lives.

The key themes covered in the barometer include; the economy, work, education, well-being, relationships with family, friends and partners, the impact of technology and social media and young people's civic participation in society, including experiences of belonging and exclusion.

The comprehensive national study, which has been conducted every year since 2021, examined the views of more than 600 young Australians aged 18–24 and found:

• 98% of young Australians reported having at least one feeling of anxiety or pessimism
• 86% of young Australians experienced financial difficulties in the last 12 months, with just over a quarter (26%) reporting they did so often
• Only half of the respondents (53%) think that it is likely that they will achieve financial security in the future
• A majority (62%) think they will be financially worse off than their parents
• In the last 12 months, only 56% of young Australians often felt like they belonged when they spent time with friends.

Director of CYPEP and lead author of the Australian Youth Barometer, Professor Lucas Walsh, said, "The results reported by young Australians are staggering. We've consistently found that each year the findings have been troubling, but what is emerging from four years of data are persistent feelings of anxiety, isolation, pessimism and mental health. Young people need our help now."

Most young people saw affordable housing options (73%) and employment opportunities (52%) as needing immediate action.

While 52% of young Australians experienced underemployment at some point in the last 12 months, a high salary (78%), location (72%) and long-term contract or being in a secure job (71%) were important characteristics of work.

Co author, Dr. Zihong Deng said, "Although the proportion of young people experiencing financial difficulties decreased from 2023 to 2024, the overwhelming majority of them still experienced financial difficulties. Without financial support from parents, many young people would have an even more difficult life."

The Independent Evaluation of the Raise Mentoring Program: Final Outcome Evaluation Report was conducted by the University of Melbourne and found that:

• When compared with a matched cohort of like students, Raise students improved in their ability to seek help, resilience, hope for the future and school engagement—as well as school attendance.
• Compared with like students in the same school, Raise mentees have better outcomes after six months of mentoring. This includes consistent growth in all measures of help-seeking, socio-emotional well-being and school engagement.
• For every $1 invested in Raise mentoring, $4.37 is returned in avoided costs to the health and welfare system and in benefits to the tax system.

The main goal of the Raise Mentoring Program is to improve outcomes in resilience, school belonging, hope for the future and help-seeking for young people at risk of disengagement from education or poor well-being.

Professor Walsh said, "Raise's evaluation shows results in improving outcomes in resilience, school belonging, and hope for the future. Programs such as these need not only the support of governments throughout Australia, but also of older Australians supporting young people in direct ways."

Lucy Snowball, Data and Youth Insights Director at Raise said some young people are not satisfied with the current educational system, but they also think that without good educational achievement, it is hard for them to enter certain careers.

"Young people are more likely to seek help when they need it and build positive connections and engagement with school after six months of Raise Youth Mentoring. At a time when rates of loneliness and mental ill health in young people are at a crisis, we know that Raise is a key part of the solution for parents and schools," said Ms. Snowball.

Both the 2024 Australian Youth Barometer and Independent Evaluation of the Raise Mentoring Program: Final Outcome Evaluation Report, highlight an opportunity for decision makers, economists, journalists and educators, to better understand young people and the societal challenges they're currently facing.

More information:
Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP) et al, The 2024 Australian Youth Barometer, Monash University (2024). DOI: 10.26180/26212346

Provided by Monash University