This report draws on Mission Australia’s 18th annual Youth Survey of young people aged 15 to 19 years to provide unique insight into the experiences of the 1,500 respondents who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We use quantitative and qualitative findings, drawn from the Youth Survey 2019, throughout this report to highlight the strengths, concerns, views and challenges identified by these young people.

The report contains four main sections: an introduction that outlines current knowledge about each of the topics covered by the survey; a summary of the key findings from the Youth Survey 2019; detailed data breakdowns of the survey results; and a discussion of a range of policy recommendations.

The report incorporates reflections from frontline Mission Australia staff who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Australia on a daily basis. It also provides case studies of successful programs working with young people in communities around Australia, including many run by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), with some of which Mission Australia is privileged to work in partnership.