Doing an apprenticeship: What young people think
NCVER publication [2 October 2007]: Doing an apprenticeship: What young people think identifies the factors which explain why individuals enter or do not enter traditional trade apprenticeships.
Information from students and courses indicates that:
- The key drivers of apprenticeship uptake are intrinsic interest and academic ability.
- School students with higher academic ability are less interested in apprenticeships.
- In contrast, those who are part way through their apprenticeship are very positive about the experience, especially the enjoyment associated with learning new skills and future prospects for career progression and pay.
Download full report:
http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1797.html#Summary_information
[viewed 6/11/2007].
Source: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
http://www.ncver.edu.au/index.html
Report: 'Generaton whY?'
AMP.NATSEM report, Generation whY? examines the social, spending and saving habits of Gen Y, drawing from a range of statistics that compare Gen Y in 2004 to their predecessors, Gen X, at the same age in 1989.
According to the report, Gen Y, those born between 1976 and 1991, are well-educated, child free, optimistic and still living at home.
The report findings show that:
- Gen Ys are delaying decisions on children and home ownership: only 16% of Gen Ys have children, compared to 21% at same age in 1989 and only 24% have managed to save more than $10,000 for a home deposit so far.
- Home ownership is also down: 38% of Gen Ys either own or are paying off a house, compared to 47% of Gen Xs at the same age.
- 35% of Gen Ys believe having children are important to them today but this jumps to 77% when asked if it will be important when they are 35.
- Most want to buy a house by age 30, but 67% are worried about achieving this dream.
- More than half are still living at home, with 19% of 25 to 29-year-olds still at home compared to 12% of Gen Xs at the same age in 1989.
- Almost 50% of full-time Gen Y students have a job compared to 37% of Gen Xs in 1989.
- Gen Y women are better qualified than Gen Y men (46% having post-school qualifications compared to 42% of male Gen Ys).
- Gen Y households are more careful with their money than many would expect, spending less on clothes, food and alcohol than their Gen X counterparts in 1989. Gen Ys' biggest expenses are housing costs at 21% and transport at 14%.
- In terms of the number of Gen Y households holding debt:
-
- 55% owe money on their credit cards
- 37% have home mortgages
- 23% have a HECS debt
Generation whY? is the 17th edition of the AMP.NATSEM Income and Wealth Report. AMP publishes these reports as a service to the community and its customers. The report is available from AMP's website: www.amp.com.au, by following the links from the home page. Alternatively, visit:
http://www.amp.com.au/retail/minisite/0,4819,CH40830%255FSI4305,00.html
Source: AMP.NATSEM Media release, 8 August 2007: Gen Y myths debunked in latest AMP.NATSEM report
[Link no longer available].
Children's fears, hopes and heroes – Modern Childhood in Australia
A report released in June 2007 by the Australian Childhood Foundation, has shown that Australian children are deeply concerned about the state of the environment and the impact of climate change. The online survey was undertaken by Quantum Market Research on behalf of the Foundation and the National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse at Monash University.
The survey of 600 10–14-year–olds across Australia, has revealed that:
- 52% are scared that there will not be enough water in the future
- 44% of children are worried about the impact of climate change
- 43% of children are worried about the pollution in the air and water
Summary of key findings
Broader global issues:
The report has also revealed that more than a third of children were anxious about terrorism, were worried about having to go to war and one in four believed that the world will end before they reach adulthood.
- 31% of children are worried they will have to fight in a war one day
- 27% of children fear being a victim of crime one day
Self confidence & body image:
- 46% do not feel confident about themselves
- 57% of children worry about what other people think of them
- 41% of children do not ever feel like they are doing well enough
Peer relationships & bullying:
- 57% of children concerned about being teased
- 54% concerned about not fitting in with friends
- 52% concerned about being bullied
Experiences of adults:
Children are beginning to feel that they are no longer welcome, even in public places, believing that adults have no respect for them.
- 51% feel like children their age aren't welcome in shops and cafes
- 41% of children believe that adults don't show respect for young people
- 36% of children believe that adults don't care about what young people think
Treatment by the media:
Companies and advertising make their money by selling children things that they don't necessarily need.
- 88% of children feel companies try to sell them things they don't need
- 85% feel there is a lot of pressure to buy things likes games, music and clothes
- 74% of children believe there should be less advertising aimed at children
Source: Media release, 11/06/07: New study shows children fear environmental disaster.
Study and work attitudes, 2007
A Newspoll survey was commissioned by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF), an independent public interest organisation, to provide insights into the study and work attitudes, opinions and experiences of 18- to 24-year-olds.
Based on a poll of 803 young Australians:
- 95% are satisfied with their life overall,
- 88% are confident that everything will "work out okay" for them in their working life and career in the years ahead, and
- 86% are confident they will be financially secure in the future – and believe they will achieve a standard of living as good as or better than their parents.
However, the report warns that beneath the confidence voiced by the majority, there are several fault lines pointing to future risks that need to be addressed in election-year policy debates.
- A young person's level of engagement is significantly affected by their own or their parents' level of educational attainment and the type of school attended:
-
- Only 42% of early school leavers are fully engaged, compared to 69% of those who have completed Year 12.
- 37% of early school leavers are not working or studying at all.
- Those who attended non-government schools for their final year have a higher level of engagement (73%) than those who attended a government school (58%).
- Levels of full engagement are also higher than average among those with at least one parent having completed a postsecondary qualification.
- There is a disparity between those working or studying fulltime and those engaged on a part-time basis:
-
- 37% of those not fully engaged are dissatisfied with their financial situation.
- Full-time students are much more positive about their study experience.
- About half of those not fully engaged are dissatisfied with their employment situation.
- 36% of part-time or casual workers are dissatisfied with their financial situation with few seeing their current job as directly in line with their chosen occupation.
The survey What young people are thinking complements DSF's comprehensive annual report, How young people are faring.
A full version of What young people are thinking can be downloaded from Dusseldorp Skills Forum's website: http://www.dsf.org.au
Source: Dusseldorp Skills Forum, media release, 30/4/2007: Doing it for themselves: Young Australians very confident about education and work.
http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/195.htm
National Youth Survey 2006: the main concerns of young Australians
Mission Australia has surveyed 14,700 young people across the country, aged 11–24, as part of its fifth National Youth Survey. The survey reviewed their concerns, what they valued and how they sought advice/ support.
Key results include:
- Family/relationships were ranked by 72.3% of respondents as one of the top three things they most valued. This was followed by friendships at 66.8% and being independent at 35.2%.
- More females ranked friendships of importance (71.8%) than males did (58.5%). While males ranked financial security (20.9%) higher than females did (13.5%).
- Just over 30% of males, compared with around 14% of females, valued getting a job highly.
- A much higher proportion of males than females are significantly concerned about alcohol and other drugs: 34.2%, compared to 24.7%.
- Physical/sexual abuse was a major concern for 30.8% of females compared to 23% of males.
- Two in five 20- to 24-year-olds are significantly concerned about depression, while two out of five identified discrimination as a major issue.
- In terms of whom young people turn to when they need advice and support, the three most popular mentions were for friend/s (86.4%), parent/s (74.2%) and relative/family friend (64%). The Internet ranked fourth at 16.8%.
- The internet was an important source of advice for 13.1% of 11- to 14-year-old respondents, 18.9% of 15- to 19-year-olds and 26.0% of 20- to 24-year-olds.
- More than 3,000 young people (21.4% of total respondents) were involved in volunteering activities. Volunteering increases significantly among 20- to 24-year-olds (36.6%); however, this same age group has a relatively poor level of participation in sport (42.4%) compared to 11- to 14-year-olds (77.4%).
- Percentage of Indigenous respondents who highly valued getting a job: 33.1%, compared to 19.4% among non-Indigenous.
- Environmental issues were valued highly by only 8.9% of respondents.
Download full report.
Source: Mission Australia, media release The main concerns of young Australians: National Survey, 25 October 2006 [link no longer available].
Fearless and Flexible: Views of Gen Y
The Dusseldorp Skills Forum commissioned research from Irving Saulwick and Denis Muller and from Newspoll to find out what young people – those aged 16 to 24 – were thinking about education, work and the future.
The focus-group research showed Gen Y:
- have grown up understanding and accepting that the future of work is all about mobility, adaptability and change;
- have little or no expectations of a "job for life", and think it is a form of imprisonment;
- have not a trace of awareness about the convulsive social and economic changes wrought by globalisation and the information revolution over the past 20 years;
- regard the changed social and economic landscape as completely normal;
- have no fear of an economic downturn;
- believe their future is in their own hands.
Generation Y have adjusted fully to the globalised world. In that way they are dramatically different from their parents, and represent a point of change in Australian social and economic history.
Download Fearless and Flexible: Views of Gen Y [viewed 28/11/2006].
Source: Dusseldorp Skills Forum, media release, 30 September 2006 : Fearless and Flexible: Gen Y talks about their generation, http://www.dsf.org.au/fearless.html [viewed 28/11/2006].
Australian children's concerns and attitudes about childhood
A report released in July by the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) examines the concerns and attitudes of Australian children and young people relating to their experiences of childhood and their attitudes towards the future. The report Every child needs a hero: A report tracking Australian children's concerns and attitudes about childhood analysed data from a Quantum Market Research survey of a nationally representative sample of 986 10–17-year-olds (50% female).
ACF chief executive Dr Joe Tucci said that the adult nature of the concerns and attitudes expressed by the young people surveyed challenges the 'traditional idea that childhood is a carefree time focused on having fun in the here and now'.
Some key findings from the report:
Growing up today
- 76% of respondents agreed with the statement that 'kids are growing up faster than they used to'.
- 44% were 'unsure whether their generation will be better off than their parents'.
- 25% agreed that they are sometimes faced with too many choices.
- Over 20% strongly agreed with the statement that too much change is imposed upon them.
The future
- 49% of respondents worried about contracting cancer in the future.
- 39% worried about 'facing terrorism in the future'.
- 31% worried about 'being a victim of crime in the future'.
- 27% were concerned that the world would end before they were old.
Common emotions
- While 84% of respondents reported feeling happy in the last month, high proportions of respondents also reported feeling angry (64%), worried (53%), stressed (50%) and sad (45%) in the last month.
- 35% said that they 'would like to feel less stressed'.
- Almost 25% said that they never felt like they were 'doing well enough'.
Attitudes towards others
- 87% of respondents agreed that family was the most important thing in their lives.
- 26% said that they would like to spend more time with their parents.
- 93% said that they were able to get help from their family when needed.
- Approximately two-thirds of respondents said that they had great confidence in their parents and the advice they gave, while 64% had confidence in doctors, 57% had confidence in police and 49% had confidence in their teachers.
- 53% consulted their parents for news and current affairs information.
- 45% consulted their parents for health information, while 39% consulted their parents for information about relationships and their body.
Other findings
- 42% of respondents named their mother as the person whom they most admire, followed by their father (31%), a friend (13%) a sibling (12%) and a grandparent (9%)
- 53% perceived a need for 'more help lines and crisis centres for kids in trouble'.
The full report is available at the ACF website: http://www.childhood.org.au
Source: Tucci, J., Mitchell, J. & Goddard, C. 2006, Every child needs a hero: A report tracking Australian children's concerns and attitudes about childhood, Australian Childhood Foundation, Ringwood, Victoria [viewed 28/11/2006].
Sunday Mail, 6/8/06, p.21.
Kids Help Line data show concerns of children and young people
In 2005, Kids Help Line received 674,530 contacts from children and young people (643,102 telephone contacts, 31,428 online contacts) and were able to respond to 332,820 (49%) of these contacts (313,183 telephone contacts and 19,637 online contacts). While just over 60% of telephone contacts and 25% of online contacts responded to by counsellors did not require counselling or support, Kids Help Line provided 44,817 telephone counselling sessions and 9,094 webcounselling sessions to children and young people in 2005.
The Kids Help Line report 2005 Overview – What is concerning children and young people in Australia? is based on information gathered from the 44,817 telephone counselling sessions and the 12,411 web and email counselling sessions conducted with children and young people in 2005. (While Kids Help Line counsellors record non-identifying client information at the end of each session, only 9 of the 32 different information fields are mandatory: date, time, length of session, main problem, problem severity, outcome, whether session related to suicide, whether client engages in deliberate self-injury. All statistical information reported is therefore based only on those instances for which relevant fields have been completed.)
Age and sex of callers
| Age (years) | Proportion of online contacts (n= 11,452) | Proportion of telephone contacts (n= 41,699) |
| 5–9 years | <1% | 4% |
| 10–14 years | 30% | 36% |
| 15–18 years | 69% | 53% |
| 19–25 years | 1% | 7% |
- Males made 24% of telephone calls and 10% of online contacts.
Concerns most frequently recorded:
15 most frequent concerns: Telephone counselling
| Family relationships | 17.7% |
| Peer relationships | 13.4% |
| Partner relationships | 10.0% |
| Emotional/behavioural management | 7.1% |
| Mental health | 6.9% |
| Bullying | 5.8% |
| Child abuse | 4.9% |
| Leaving home/homelessness | 4.0% |
| Pregnancy | 3.0% |
| Drug or alcohol use | 2.7% |
| Grief and loss | 2.4% |
| Suicide | 2.2% |
| Sexual activity | 2.1% |
| Study issues | 1.9% |
| Developmental issues | 1.8% |
15 most frequent concerns: Online counselling
| Mental health | 19.2% |
| Peer relationships | 13.3% |
| Family relationships | 13.0% |
| Emotional/behavioural management | 11.5% |
| Partner relationships | 7.3% |
| Suicide | 4.4% |
| Child abuse | 4.0% |
| Eating behaviours | 3.8% |
| Grief and loss | 3.1% |
| Self image | 2.9% |
| Bullying | 2.2% |
| Sexual assault | 1.9% |
| Study issues | 1.9% |
| Pregnancy | 1.6% |
| Loneliness | 1.3% |
10 most frequent concerns by age group and sex (10–25 years)
| Females | Males |
| 1. Family relationships | 1. Family relationships |
| 2. Peer relationships | 2. Bullying |
| 3. Bullying | 3. Peer relationships |
| 4. Emotional/behavioural management | 4. Child abuse |
| 5. Child abuse | 5. Emotional/behavioural management |
| 6. Mental health | 6. Partner relationships |
| 7. Partner relationships | 7. Homeless or leaving home |
| 8. Grief and loss | 8. Grief and loss |
| 9. Pregnancy | 9. School authority |
| 10. Developmental issues | 10. Sexual orientation |
| Females | Males |
| 1. Mental health | 1. Partner relationships |
| 2. Family relationships | 2. Family relationships |
| 3. Partner relationships | 3. Peer relationships |
| 4. Peer relationships | 4. Mental health |
| 5. Emotional/behavioural management | 5. Emotional/behavioural management |
| 6. Child abuse | 6. Homeless or leaving home |
| 7. Homeless or leaving home | 7. Sexual orientation |
| 8. Pregnancy | 8. Drug or alcohol abuse |
| 9. Suicide | 9. Sexual activity |
| 10. Eating or weight concerns | 10. Suicide |
| Females | Males |
| 1. Partner relationships | 1. Partner relationships |
| 2. Mental health | 2. Mental health |
| 3. Family relationships | 3. Emotional/behavioural management |
| 4. Emotional/behavioural management | 4. Drug or alcohol use |
| 5. Peer relationships | 5. Homeless or leaving home |
| 6. Homeless or leaving home | 6. Family relationships |
| 7. Child abuse | 7. Suicide |
| 8. Suicide | 8. Peer relationships |
| 9. Grief and loss | 9. Legal issues |
| 10. Eating and weight concerns | 10. Grief and loss |
The full report can be downloaded from the Kids Help Line website. http://www.kidshelp.com.au
Source: Kids Help Line 2006, 2005 Overview – What is concerning children and young people in Australia?, Kids Help Line, Milton, QLD [viewed 28/11/2006].
Kids Help Line 2006, Families vital to Aussie kids, media release, April 2006 [viewed 28/11/2006].
Issues of concern for young people: 1996–98/2003–05 comparison
The report, 'What's the problem: Issues of concern for young people', conducted by the NSW-based Peer Support Foundation, compares student concerns measured in 1996–98, with concerns in 2003–05, with the intention of reflecting on any noticeable changes in issues expressed by students.
Summary of the comparative data:
Issues of concern 1996–1998
| Pressure | 26.0% |
| Lifestyle | 17.2% |
| Relationships | 17.1% |
| Family | 9.2% |
| Future | 6.9% |
| School | 5.1% |
| Mental health | 4.1% |
| Societal issues | 2.7% |
| Attitudes | 2.3% |
| Special | 8.8% |
Issues of concern 2003–2005
| Relationships | 22.1% |
| Image | 15.4% |
| Drugs and alcohol | 11.1% |
| School/Future | 8.7% |
| Family | 8.5% |
| Sexuality | 7.5% |
| Abuse | 5.5% |
| Gender | 4.9% |
| Life threatening | 4.8% |
| Bullying/Teasing | 4.6% |
| Lifestyle | 3.6% |
| Culture | 3.3% |
Source: Education Review, v.16 n.03, May 17, 2006, p.15.
Connecting Kids: http://www.connectingkids.org.au/
Present and future issues of importance to Australian adolescents
The Australian Institute of Family Studies published data from Wave 4 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey 2004 as part of its Snapshots of Australian Families with Adolescents publication in May 2006. One component of this survey was to ask young Australians aged 15–18 to rank 12 issues according to how important they were in their lives now, and how important they anticipate the same issues will be when they are 35 years old.
Current issues of importance:
- The most important current issue for both male and female respondents were keeping fit, getting more education and having lots of friends, although females, unlike males, considered getting more education to be more important than keeping fit.
- Male respondents were more likely than female respondents to 'attach high importance to the things that would help them to get ahead in life, such as having a successful career, making a lot of money, and saving and investing.'
- Male respondents than female respondents viewed engaging in sports and hobbies as important (69% compared to 49%), while more female respondents than male respondents viewed travelling overseas as important (33% compared with 24%)
Adolescents aged 15-18 years: Proportion of boys and girls who attached importance to various issues
*
* 'Importance' refers to ratings of 8-10 on a scale ranging from 0 'Not at all important' to 10 'Very important'.
Anticipated issues of importance at age 35:
- Both male and female respondents anticipated that a successful career, saving and investing, and making money would be important issues for them at age 35.
- More male respondents than female respondents thought that living with someone in a long-term relationship would be important to them at age 35 (76% compared with 65%).
- Approximately 60% of male and female respondents believed that having children would be important to them by age 35.
- 69% of both male and female respondents anticipated keeping fit would be important to them at age 35.
Adolescents aged 15-18 years: Proportion of boys and girls who believed they would attach importance to various life issues when they were 35 years old
*
* 'Importance' refers to ratings of 8-10 on a scale ranging from 0 'Not at all important' to 10 'Very important'.
Australian Institute of Family Studies: http://www.aifs.gov.au
Sources:
Australian Institute of Family Studies 2006, Snapshots of Australian Families with Adolescents, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne [viewed 15/07/2008.
The Australian, 18/5/06, p.7.
National Youth Survey 2005: Key and emerging issues
(Fourth annual survey of young Australians by Mission Australia)
A national survey, by Mission Australia, of more than 11,000 young people aged 11 to 24, found suicide and self-harm were among the top three concerns of 41.3% of respondents (up 7.6% from 2004).
The 2005 survey included a new question that asked whether respondents identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Out of a total of approximately 10,800 responses to this question, 607 (5.6%) identified as Indigenous.
The results of the 2005 survey reveal that:
- Young people are facing a number of significant and challenging issues.
- Suicide continues to be a significant concern, particularly for females and those aged 11 to 19 years.
- Depression is the major concern for young adults.
- Physical and sexual abuse is a more significant issue this year, particularly for females.
- Concern about alcohol and other drugs has declined significantly since 2004, but it remains an important issue, particularly for males and younger respondents.
- Emerging concerns are discrimination and sexuality, particularly for males and older respondents.
Priority issues:
1. Mental health issues including depression, suicide and coping with stress – two in five young people were significantly concerned about suicide and one in three about depression.
2. Young people of all ages express concern about physical and sexual abuse.
3. One in five young people are concerned about discrimination indicating their concern about broad global issues.
4. Over 50% of young adults state that they do not have enough information on issues that concern them.
5. Financial security, getting a job and the environment were significantly more important for Indigenous respondents.
6. A quarter of males compared with just over 12% of females valued getting a job highly.
The primary purpose of the survey is to identify and clarify the key and emerging issues of young people.The survey was distributed nationally to secondary schools and other educational institutions, libraries, youth services and organisations and through a range of Mission Australia's corporate partners. It was also available on the Mission Australia web site.
Download full report [viewed 15/07/2008].
Source: The Australian, 8/12/2005, p.6.
Mission Australia: http://www.mission.com.au
Youth, political engagement and voting
A national survey of 800 teenagers across 16 electorates has found the next generation of voters are less likely to join a university or political protest than they were 20 years ago.
Some findings:
- Young women are more likely to be politically active than boys, despite findings that young men are more likely to engage in violent protest action or occupy buildings.
- Kids from higher socio economic areas are more likely to be politically active and more likely to vote.
- Politically, students are more conservative than they were before the 1990s.
When asked what protest movement they were most likely to join:
- 47.1% antiwar movement
- 29.7% green/environmentalist movement
- 28.1% free asylum-seeker/refugee groups
- 25.8% Aboriginal land rights movement
- 21.7% anti-globalisation movement
- 21.1% pro-Abortion movement
- 20% gay-lesbian rights movement
- 14.5% anti-abortion movement
Percentage of students who have, or would engage in various activist events:
- 55.5% have signed a petition (44% would do)
- 21.2% have collected signatures for a petition (52.1% would do)
- 15% have taken part in a rally/demonstration (46.2% would do)
- 5% have occupied buildings as a protest (35.7% would do)
- 6.5% have damaged things as a protest, like breaking windows (23.9% would do)
- 5.5% have used violence like fighting with the police (21.6% would do)
- 7.9% have written to or contacted the Prime Minister (50.1% would do)
- 9.9% have written to or contacted a politician (50.7% would do)
- 11.8% have written or contacted a newspaper, TV or radio station (56.7% would do)
Source: The Weekend Australian, 15/10/2005, p.14.
'The Youth Electoral Study: Youth, Political Engagement and Voting' [viewed 15/07/2008].
Snapshot of young Australians, 2005
Some findings from the Australian Democrats Youth Poll 2005, aimed at 15- to 20-year-olds, and distributed to schools, TAFEs, universities, youth and church groups, and welfare, charity and community organisations in every State and Territory.
Of the 1,013 students surveyed:
- 64% view family as a very important issue, 9% view health as the second-most important issue, followed by education, relationships and money (7%)
- 94% are in education or training, 50% are unemployed students and 44% are employed students
- 62% rely on their parents or family for income, 28% derive their primary form of income from employment and 7% Youth Allowance. 1% rely on other social security benefits
- 57% reported knowing a young person who has attempted or committed suicide (55% in 2004)
- 35% support the decriminalisation of marijuana
- 95% are in some form of education or training, 87% are in secondary school, TAFE 6%, university study 5% and 1% doing apprenticeships
- Half the respondents believe the Youth Allowance age of independence should be 16 years of age, 18 years: 22%, 17 years: 8%, 21 years: 6%
- 60% do not support the mandatory detention of asylum seekers (42% in 2004)
- 71% believe the Government should enter into a treaty with Indigenous Australians
- 55% wholly support same-sex marriage
- 59% expressed support for Australia becoming a Republic
- 75% do not believe the voting age should be lowered to 16
- 87% of respondents aged 18 years or older report that they are on the electoral role.
Australian Democrats Youth Poll 2005: Full report
[viewed 28/11/2006].
Source: Australian Democrats: http://www.democrats.org.au
Campus Review, 17 August 2005, p.1.
Mission Australia survey: Issues of concern, 2004
Mission Australia received 8,500 responses from young people aged 11 to 24 to its 2004 survey. A total of 56% of responses were from females and 44% from males.
Issues of concern most frequently ranked as important by respondents:
Suicide/self harm, 2004: 33.7%
… Depression/suicide, 2003: 55.8%
… 2002: 52.6%
Alcohol & other drug issues, 2004: 43.5%
… Alcohol & other drugs, 2003: 43.3%
… 2002: 39.0%
Physical/sexual abuse, 2004: 29.7%
… Abuse/sexual assault, 2003: 41.7%
… 2002: 39.0%
Family conflict, 2004: 32.2%
… 2003: 37.9%
… Family issues, 2002: 39.1%
Sexuality, 2004: 19.2%
Relationships/sexuality, 2003: 30.9%
… 2002: 26.2%
Bullying/emotional abuse, 2004: 36.3%
Bullying, 2003: 27.5%
… 2002: 21.8%
School or study problems, 2004: 28.2%
School issues, 2003: 24.2%
… 2002: 24.0%
Coping with stress, 2004: 35.1%
… 2003: 24.9%
… 2002: 22.8%
Source: Mission Australia 2004, 2004 Mission Australia Youth Survey Results. PDF report available online [viewed 15/07/2008] .
Issues of importance to young people 2004, NSW
A new resource has been published by the NSW Commission for Children and Young People. Ask the children: Kids' Issues details the responses of 430 young people who were asked to identify issues important to them in four key areas of their lives -- family, school, work and their local community.
The Commission found that many young people:
- Recognised that it is vital to have their family for love and support
- Want to be liked and respected by their teachers.
- Were concerned about working conditions for young people.
- Want safer parks and public spaces.
The resource also details issues young people feel are the most important and what they want done about them.
'Things to do and places to hang out' was identified most commonly as the issue young people wanted something done about, with many saying that there was a lack of entertainment and activities for kids in their area.
Issues to do with school such as workloads and HSC stress were highlighted, along with underage use of drugs, alcohol and smoking and safety in the community.
Resource [viewed 20/11/2006]: NSW Commission for Children and Young People
Source: AICAFMHA News, Issue #4.17, 23/10/2004
[viewed 15/07/2008].
Attitudes of Australia's young people to voting, 2004
According to the first report from the Youth Electoral Study (YES), released December 2004, over 4 out of 5 young Australians nearing 18 years of age believe they will vote when they become eligible, but less would do so if voting were non-compulsory.
Interviews with 17- to 25-year-olds in 16 electoral divisions, and a national survey of 4,600 Year 12 students from government, Catholic and independent schools across all states and territories, form the basis of the YES data to date.
Some key preliminary findings:
- Awareness of the option of provisional enrolment at 17 years of age is low.
- Females express a significantly greater intention to enrol than males, but their actual enrolment rate is just marginally higher than that of males.
- Young people's intention to vote at age 18 is 83% for males and 90% for females.
- 82% believe it is important to vote.
- Young people do not generally perceive themselves as having a sufficient understanding of politics.
- Parents are their main source of information about voting.
- The link between turning 18 years of age and being able to vote is not exciting.
The YES (sponsored by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the University of Sydney, and the Australian National University), commenced in May 2003 and will run nationally for four years. The purpose of the study is to uncover why Australia's young people do or do not enrol and vote, their attitudes to the enrolment and voting process, and what motivates them to participate. The students interviewed in 2003 have been tracked and were interviewed again in 2004. They will be re-interviewed in 2005 and 2006 to collect further responses and any attitudinal and behavioural changes over that time will be analysed.
Full report [viewed 20/11/2006].
Source: Youthgas, 20 December 2004 (via Youth Network of Tasmania).
National Youth Survey 2004
The third survey conducted by Mission Australia, of around 8,500 young people, aged 11 to 24, (99% aged under 20) asked young people to rank, in level of importance, what issues were of concern to them. The survey, which was conducted online and through schools and colleges around Australia, found that 'alcohol and drugs', 'bullying/emotional abuse' and 'coping with stress' are the three issues of most concern.
In the previous two surveys, 'depression and suicide' were of most concern to respondents (55.8% in 2003, 52.6% in 2002) however, the the 2004 survey, this single category was divided in two -- 'suicide/self-harm' (which ranked 33.7%) and 'depression' (which ranked 29.9%).
How respondents ranked the top three issues of concern:
- Alcohol and drugs -- 43.5% (43.4% in 2003 survey)
- Bullying/emotional abuse -- 36.5$ (27.5% in 2003 survey)
- Coping with stress -- 35.1% (24.2% in 2003 survey)
Other key results include:
- 46.2% of males ranked alcohol/drugs as an important issue, compared with 41.5% of females.
- 80.2% of respondents ranked 'friendships/relationships' of chief importance, followed at 46% with 'being independent' and 45.1% 'feeling needed/valued'.
- 51% of females placed a high value on 'feeling needed/valued' compared to 37.5% of males.
For further information: http://www.missionaustralia.com.au
Source: Mission Australia media release, 16 November 2004 -- National Youth Survey.
Racial tolerance
According to a study on racial tolerance, soon to be released by the Australian Multicultural Foundation, older male teenagers and young men are more likely to hold and voice prejudiced views than other young people:- From 374 students from schools, universities and TAFEs in Victoria, boys aged 15 and 16 were those least accepting of differences.
Ages of tolerance:
- Children (aged 11 and 12) more tolerant than other age groups -- young adolescents (14 and 15) and young adults (16 to 22).
- Females more tolerant overall. Males in older groups least tolerant. Boys aged 15 and 16 least tolerant of all.
- The 14 and 15 age group (70%) most influenced by a sense of fairness.
- Up to 10% of 11 and 12-year-olds used freedom of speech to justify intolerance, as did 25-30% of 15 and 16-year-olds and 49.4% of 18- to 22-year-olds.
Love Thy Neighbours: Racial tolerance among young Australians -- a report by the Australian Multicultural Foundation
Results from a national survey, 2002/2003
What is important to young people?
The following issues were the most important to 687 young Australians surveyed in 2003. The proportions who found them very important or important were:
- 91% Money
- 90.9% Relationship
- 90.1% Education
- 89.5% Employment
- 85.2% Youth suicide
The following issues were the most important to 68 young Indigenous Australians surveyed in 2003. The proportions who found them very important or important were:
98.5% Aboriginal reconciliation
97.1% Education
94.1% Family relations
86.8% Crime and personal safety
83.6% Youth suicide
Decisions affecting young people
The proportion of 687 young people surveyed who felt affected a great deal by decisions made by:
Educational institutions 77.9%
Family 68.2%
Entertainment media 60.5%
News media 58.1%
Employment sector 57.2%
Young Australian's thoughts on politics
The most trusted sources of political information for 687 young people surveyed in 2003 were:
teachers (75%)
family (73%)
The least trustworthy were:
media (36%)
politicians (33%)
Decisions affecting young Indigenous people
The proportion of 68 young Indigenous people surveyed who felt affected a great deal by decisions made by:
Family 82.1%
Educational institutions 60.3%
Local government 52.3%
Police and justice system 50.0%
Entertainment media 48.5%
Young people's influence on decisions
The proportion of 687 young people surveyed who felt they greatly affected decisions made by the following institutions:
Family 41.2%
Entertainment media 23.0%
Educational institutions 19.4%
Local community 11.8%
News media 11.0%
Young Indigenous people's influence on decisions
The proportion of 68 young Indigenous people surveyed who felt they greatly affected decisions made by the following institutions:
Family 48.5%
Educational institutions 36.8%
Police and justice system 35.3%
Religious groups/churches 30.3%
Local community 29.4%
Source: Manning, B. & Ryan, R.2004, Youth and citizenship: A report for NYARS, National Youth Affairs Research Scheme, Canberra [viewed 20/11/2006] at FaCSIA web site.
Australian Labor Party survey, 2004
Top priorities for young voters in the lead-up to the 2004 federal election: education, health and family issues.
Interviews with 1,000 people aged 18-25 formed the basis of the survey. Young voters make up 12.4% of all voters.
In the survey, 43% approved of Mr Latham's performance as Opposition Leader, compared with 14% who approved of Mr Howard as Prime Minister.
Other opinions:
- 90% said that attending university was too expensive.
- 93% said that Medicare should be protected.
- More than 60% disagreed with the Prime Minister's suggestion that some public schools are values-neutral.
- Two-thirds said that Australia had made a mistake in going to war in Iraq.
- Two-thirds said that Australia's relationship with the USA was too close.
- 86% wanted the government to do more to help the work'family balance.
- Almost 90% believed that politicians would rather talk to older, wealthier people than younger people.
Survey respondents rated their priority issues as follows:
- Education 25%
- Health 19%
- Family 14%
- Wages and work 9%
- Environment 7%
- Civil rights 5%
- Economy 4%
- Iraq 4%
- Asylum seekers 3%
- Child care 3%
- Globalisation 2%
- Republic 1%
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 30/03/04, p.4.
Mission Australia survey: Issues of Concern, 2003
Mission Australia received 1,500 responses from young people aged 13-24 to its 2003 survey, with most of the respondents aged 14-17.
Issues of concern most frequently ranked as important by respondents:
Depression/suicide, 2003: 55.8%
- 2002 52.6%
Alcohol & other drugs, 2003: 43.3%
- 2002: 39.0%
Abuse/sexual assault, 2003: 41.7%
- 2002: 39.0%
Family conflict, 2003: 37.9%
- Family issues, 2002: 39.1%
Relationships/sexuality, 2003: 30.9%
- 2002: 26.2%
Bullying, 2003: 27.5%
- 2002: 21.8%
School issues, 2003: 24.2%
- 2002: 24.0%
Coping with stress, 2003: 24.9%
- 2002: 22.8%
For the second year in a row, depression/suicide received the highest rating as the issue that most commonly concerns young people. 61% of females ranked depression and suicide as their major concern compared to 47% of males.
Abuse and sexual assault and alcohol and other drug issues, were also ranked highly. Abuse & sexual assault is an important concern for 45% of females, compared with 36% of males.
Bullying increased in the importance in 2003 and is a much greater issue for females (65% of females rank bullying as important, more than double the 32% figure for males).
Just over 200 young people offered comments on other issues that are important to young people. The most commonly mentioned issues relate to peer pressure, friendships/relationships and pregnancy. Other issues that were cited included: body image and eating disorders; self-esteem; coping with stress and also religion, racism and discrimination.
Overwhelmingly, friends were identified as the connections that young people turn to if and when they need advice and support, followed by parents and family friends or relatives. These rankings were similar across all age groups and reflect the 2002 results. 91% of females rank friends as important sources of assistance, compared to 84% of males. 78% of males are comfortable to ask their parents for help, compared to 67% of females.
The 2003 survey confirms the 2002 findings that community agencies, teachers, doctors/ministers are less likely to be sources of advice and support for young people, and that the internet and magazines are ranked more highly in importance than the professional agencies.
Approximately 20% of young people indicated they would like to receive more information on issues that concern them. The suggestions most commonly mentioned included depression/suicide, abuse/sexual assault and alcohol and other drugs. There was no significant difference between the 2003 and 2002 responses.
Other requests for more information in the 2003 survey related to: families and family conflict; sexuality and sex education; relationships with friends and the opposite sex and managing stress.
The 2003 year survey asked for the first time about language(s) spoken at home. 92% of young people reported that English was the only language spoken. The remaining 8% of young people identified another 50 other languages, with Italian and Chinese being the most commonly spoken.
Source: Mission Australia 2003, 2003 Mission Australia Youth Survey Results, Mission Australia. PDF no longer available online.
AMR Interactive survey, 2004
In a recent survey of 2,076 people aged 15-24, 42% of respondents said they were not interest in brands when shopping. Older teenagers and people in their 20s were less likely to be interested in brands, while younger respondents bought brands their friends favoured.
*One-fifth of respondents said they were more likely to buy a brand if it was on sale.
*Kmart, Target and BigW were favourite shops.
*Favourite brands included Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Billabong and Rip Curl.
*Given $100 to spend, 58% of young women would spend it on clothes, compared with 32% of young men.
*Almost half of the respondents watched more than two hours of television a day. 60% said Channel 10 was their favourite station. 80% said that watching DVDs at home was their favourite activity.
*Three-quarters said television advertising influenced their purchasing decisions, followed by magazine advertising and editorial, newspaper ads and ads on the Internet. One-third of respondents went online several times a day, and more than a third said they sent advertising links to friends.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 11/03/04, p.32.
Parents' time versus money:
Money can't buy me love: Young Australian's views on parental work, time, guilt and their own consumption
Researchers at The Australia Institute interviewed young people in Years 6 and 11, in 21 focus groups, about their attitudes to money and time with parents. Their report concluded that most young people want more time with their parents rather than more money through more parental work. The preference for more time is just as strong in households with a mother at home as in households where both parents work. It concludes that having mum at home does not substitute for an absent dad. It also reports that kids recognise that many parents feel guilty about their work and absence from the home.
Source: The Australia Institute 2004, Money can't buy me love: Young Australian's views on parental work, time, guilt and their own consumption, TAI, Canberra. Download PDF document [viewed 15/07/2008].
The results of all youth polls conducted by the Australian Democrats political party in the period, 2000 to 2007, are at: http://natashastottdespoja.com/aspx/youthpoll_07.aspx
[viewed 27 November 2007].
Australian Democrats' Youth Poll, 2003
Figures from the Australian Democrats' Youth Poll conducted in 2003 show that:
- 76% of respondents believe the Government is not doing enough to protect the environment.
- 93% of South Australian respondents believe that nuclear waste should not be dumped in their State.
- 87% believe education should be publicly funded and a majority of respondents (62%) think the current levels of student assistance are inadequate.
- 59% of young Australians support a Republic.
- 63% support a treaty with Indigenous Australians.
- 62% want condom vending machines in school and 97% want sex education in schools.
According to respondents, the most important issue is family (63%), then education (56%), and health (53%).
Source: Press release on the Australian Democrats' web site [viewed 20/11 2006].