Australian Youth Facts and Stats
This site is a source for finding facts and statistics about Australia's youth: how many there are, what they do and what they're like. The site is for anyone needing quick access to data about young people, and helps you get to the facts fast. For "quick pick" data, try the Australian Youth Profile page.
To locate research and statistical data in brief form, select a topic and follow the links for more detailed information.
News Watch:
Australian Democrats 2008 Youth Poll
The 9th and final annual survey to be conducted by Australian Democrats, Youth Poll 2008 captures the perceptions of young people (15-20 years) about themselves, their place in society and the issues important to them. Family, health and education are at the top of their list. Details ... (updated 2008-07-19)
Statistics poster competition
This competition, run by academics from 7 universities and administered by the Australian Mathematics Trust, encourages students to experience learning and decision making through the collection and analysis of data. Details ... (updated 2008-07-19)
Sport & leisure, 2001-2007 information
Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Adolescent gambling in South Australia: SA Government Department of Education and Children's Services
A research project undertaken in 2007 in South Australian secondary schools found that the number of 13- to 17-year-olds gambling on a weekly basis decreased from 15% in 2001 to 6% in 2007. Of the 2,669 young people who took part in the study, 2.4% of respondents were found to be 'problem gamblers' and 6.4% were considered to be 'at risk' of becoming problem gamblers. Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Youth and gambling: 2001 information
Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Report: Adolescent Gambling in the ACT, 2003–04
Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Gambling problem among wealthy teens NSW, 2007
Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Canadian research on smoking and weight loss
Canadian researcy dispells a widely-held belief among girls that smoking keeps them slim. Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
2007 information on literacy/numeracy
Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
2003-2006 information on literacy/numeracy
Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Literacy and numeracy over two decades
A paper by the ANU's Research School of Social Sciences (How has school productivity changed in Australia?) shows that the literacy and numeracy skills of Australian teenagers (aged 13-14 years) have declined in comparison with those of their peers in the 1960s and 1970s. Details ... (updated 2008-07-16)
Public perceptions about alcohol
The ANCD commissioned Galaxy Research to conduct an online survey of public perceptions about alcohol. The report also found that 90% of respondents were concerned about underage binge drinking Details ... (updated 2008-07-08)
2008 items on alochol
Details ... (updated 2008-07-08)
Girl Guides 2008
In April 2008, Girl Guides Australia released the report National survey of Australian Girl Guides: Issues concerning Girl Guides, outlining results from their 2007 survey of the local, national and global concerns of their members. Close to 4,500 Girl Guides aged 5-17 years took part in the survey, which asked the question, 'What three issues in the world, in Australia and in your community do you care about?' Selected findings... Details ... (updated 2008-07-07)
2001-2007
Details ... (updated 2008-07-04)
2008
Details ... (updated 2008-07-04)
STIs in American teenage girls
Rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in American teenage girls: A nationally representative US study has found that one in four teenage girls has at least one sexually transmitted disease. Details ... (updated 2008-07-04)
CensusAtSchool: Improving students' statistical literacy
Details ... (updated 2008-02-23)
Sexual health
Details ... (updated 2007-02-14)
Unemployment
Details ... (updated 2006-12-05)
Other drugs: 2007 information and earlier
Details ... (updated 2006-11-30)
Mission Australia national youth survey 2007
Mission Australia released the 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. Priority issues that emerged from the report are: body image, the environment, mental health issues, and alcohol and physical/sexual abuse. Details ... (updated 2007-12-04)
2008
Details ... (updated 2007-11-25)
International views
Details ... (updated 2007-02-23)
More new content for the Facts and Stats website is in the pipeline.
The quality of our information
Material for the Australian Youth Facts and Stats website is located in one of two ways:- ACYS receives press clippings of all youth research-related news stories published in Australian national and capital city daily newspapers. We read each of these stories to see if the content seems relevant to the youth studies field and is based on a reputable source. If so, we then do an internet search for authoritative source material that supports the facts contained in the news story, such as online copies of the source documents (reports, studies, briefing papers) and/or their accompanying media release.
ACYS publishes items on the Australian Youth Facts and Stats website only if suitable supporting material is available online.
- ACYS regularly checks the websites of relevant government departments and research organisations (see our links section) for any newly published youth-related data suitable for inclusion on the Australian Youth Facts and Stats website.
In both cases, links to online source documents are contained at the end of each Australian Youth Facts and Stats item for reader reference and further information. Citations for newspaper articles are also included in items sourced from our press clippings.
While ACYS takes great care to ensure that the information published on Australian Youth Facts and Stats is accurate and up to date, site visitors should exercise their own skill and judgement prior to using the information. Any inaccuracies on the Australian Youth Facts and Stats site brought to the attention of ACYS will be corrected as soon as possible.