The fourth annual Australian Youth Barometer surveyed over 620 young Australians aged 18–24, and interviewed 30 more, about their experiences with the economy, work, education, health and wellbeing, relationships and participation in civic life. Among these topics, themes emerge: the impact of technology and the role of social media, feelings of belonging and exclusion, financial security (including housing and food insecurity) and the need for governments to offer more support.

This year's report highlights the challenges faced by today's youth.

• More than 1 in 5 young people rate their mental health as poor or very poor.
• 98% of young Australians report having at least one feeling of anxiety or pessimism in the past 12 months.
• 86% of young Australians experienced financial difficulties in the last year.
• 62% think they’ll be financially worse off than their parents.
• Just under 1 in 3 young people believe that it’s likely they’ll be able to afford a comfortable place to live in the next year.

The report also identifies a growing sense among the nation's young that the government is failing to address their biggest concerns. 

• 39% of young people believe that there is not enough government support for housing.
• 26% believe there is not enough financial support from the government.
• 21% believe that not enough is being done in relation to mental health.

These tensions play out against a larger social discourse around intergenerational equality and social change.