Get involved in 2026
Each year, thousands of young people share their thoughts through our Youth Survey – the nation’s largest annual survey of its kind. Your input helps us understand the issues, challenges and opportunities that matter most to young people today and informs our advocacy for change.
If you’re a school, youth organisation, community group or local council, you can get involved by registering and encouraging participation.
What mattered to young people in 2025?
In the Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025, young people again named cost of living as the most important issue in Australia, with 64% citing it as their top concern – an all-time high. Mental health, climate change and the environment, and housing and homelessness were also seen as major national issues.
On a personal level, school or study, time management, and mental health are key stressors, yet many young people feel able to handle life’s challenges and remain hopeful about their futures.
Top concerns identified by young Australians in 2025
Over 17,000 young people aged 14 to 19 took part in the 2025 survey. They told us they thought the most important issues for Australia were:
64%
Cost of living
29%
Mental health
27%
Climate change and the environment