Nearly half of Australians aged 18-24 often feel like they are missing out on being young, with cost-of-living pressures and balancing work and study dominating their time, a new report has found.
The study, by Researchers from the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP), analysed data from the 2022 Australian Youth Barometer which examined what it means to be young, and why young people are missing out.
Challenges identified by young people revolve around four key areas: finances, work, education, and long-term planning. These challenges are closely interconnected and linked to feelings of missing out on being young.
More than two-thirds (69%) of young people who often worried about having enough to eat often felt that they were missing out on being young, while 60% who often experienced financial difficulties often felt that they were missing out on being young.
Among those surveyed, 51% of the unemployed often felt they were missing out on being young. Similarly, 50% of individuals unlikely to remain in their current accommodation and 55% of those who believed they would not have children in the future shared this sentiment.
“This report has captured the constantly changing and challenging dynamics young people must endure to survive, thrive and experience ‘being young’,” Youth Reference Group co-author, Andrew Leap, said.
“It exemplifies their resilience and optimism despite the lack of institutional support. But most importantly, it guides decision-makers to move forward and support future generations to prosper from the perspective of young people.”
Insufficient support was also associated with feelings of missing out, with more than half (56%) reporting that there is not enough or barely enough government support for mental health, and often felt that they were missing out on being young.
A similar number (55%) feel there is not enough or barely enough government support for education, and often felt that they were missing out on being young; and 51% reported there is not enough or barely enough government support for employment, and often felt that they were missing out on being young.
Co-author and Director of the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Professor Lucas Walsh said the report highlights how young people must be at the centre of this discussion about how they can be better supported.
“Young people, locked up during the pandemic, navigating a hostile employment environment and upended studies, have told us they have missed out on being young. They’ve been denied key life-experiences during a critical period of development in their lives,” Professor Walsh said.
“This report explores what missing out on being young means by asking young people themselves and what we need to better support the pandemic generation.”