National Survey of Young Australians 2007: Key and emerging issues
Mission Australia released their report National Survey of Young Australians 2007: Key and emerging issues on 4 December 2007. It's their 6th consecutive annual survey of young Australians aged 11 to 24 years and seeks to identify the important and emerging issues of young people.
The survey's areas of focus include: what young people value; what concerns them; where they turn for advice and support; their engagement in community activities; and whom they admire.
Priority issues that emerged from the report are:
- Body image:
The level of concern regarding body image, including for both genders and across all age groups, highlights the need for multi-layered responses and the involvement of many organisations and individuals, including families, schools, governments, community organisations and the advertising and media industries.
- The environment:
The survey highlights that this is clearly a significant issue of concern for many young people.
- Mental health issues:
These continue to be prominent issues of concern in particular for young adults, with the need for strategies to help them cope with stress as well as their concern about depression. Related to this is the significant level of concern about bullying/emotional abuse shown by younger respondents, especially those aged 11 to 14 years, and the need for strategies to help them deal with this issue.
- Alcohol and physical/sexual abuse:
The level of concern from young males regarding alcohol suggests the need for ongoing education and programs regarding this issue. Similarly, strategies that help young women deal with physical/sexual abuse are required given their significant level of concern regarding this issue. Both of these areas may well require gender-specific program and policy responses.
The report contains an Executive Summary as well as summaries at the national level and for each state/territory. A separate chapter on the Australian Capital Territory has been included for the first time in 2007. There is also a chapter which compares responses from Indigenous and non-Indigenous respondents. Each of the chapters contains a breakdown of the key data by age and gender and some comparison with results from previous years.
You can download the report as a PDF file or request free copies of the report in hard copy, or ask for further information from Mission Australia's Anne Hampshire (National Manager, Research and Social Policy)
Level 7, 580 George St Sydney
GPO Box 3515, Sydney NSW 2001
Email: hampshirea[at]missionaustralia.com.au
Ph: (02) 9217 1059
Fax: (02) 9212 1116