Key facts
- Nearly 75% of young Australians surveyed are concerned about affording a home.
- Housing affordability is a greater anxiety than climate change (41%) or job prospects (40%).
- Only 15% of respondents expressed significant trust in politicians and political parties.
- Trust in news from social media was reported at 15%, and traditional media at 18%.
- Hospitals (86%), scientists (75%), and police (66%) were the most trusted institutions.
- Over 80% of respondents signed an online petition in the past five years.
A significant study on young Australians has revealed that housing affordability is the foremost anxiety for this demographic, surpassing concerns about climate change and employment. The 'Growing Up in Australia' study, which tracks approximately 10,000 children and families, found that nearly three-quarters of respondents aged 19-24 expressed significant worry about their ability to purchase a home.
Global economic issues and climate change followed as major concerns, with 42% and 41% of respondents, respectively, reporting high levels of concern. Finding a job in their chosen field worried just under 40% of the cohort.
The survey also highlighted a deep distrust in political institutions and the media among young people. Only 15% of respondents reported having 'a lot of trust' or 'some trust' in politicians and political parties, with similar levels of trust expressed for news from social media. Traditional news media fared only slightly better at 18% trust. In contrast, institutions like hospitals (86%), scientists (75%), and police (66%) enjoyed much higher levels of trust.
Furthermore, only 11% of young Australians felt that the political system adequately allowed for meaningful input into government decisions, while 38% found politics too complex to understand. Despite this skepticism, the study indicated that Gen Z is not disengaged from public life. More than 80% had signed an online petition, 31% had attended a protest, and a substantial number engaged with social media groups campaigning on political or social issues.
Dr. Ebony Biden, the lead author, stated that these findings challenge the stereotype of young people being disengaged, showing active involvement through various, sometimes non-traditional, pathways. The study's findings are seen as validating government efforts to address housing affordability, such as winding back property investor tax concessions.