The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index (AUWI) has monitored the subjective wellbeing of Australian adults (18+) for the past 24 years. Each year, the survey measures the subjective wellbeing of over 2,000 Australians aged 18+ against a series of national and personal life areas, including the economy, health, and community connectedness. This year, researchers also examined the areas of financial wellbeing, mental distress, loneliness, resilience, and relational support. 

Key findings

• Record low satisfaction with life in Australia: Australians’ overall satisfaction with their personal lives remained close to its lowest level recorded, while satisfaction with life in Australia reached its lowest level in the survey’s 24-year history. 
• Young adults are not alright: Adults aged 18-34 years reported the highest feelings of mental distress and loneliness and some of the lowest levels of personal wellbeing of any group across the adult lifespan. 
• Generational divides in financial wellbeing: One in two adults under 55 years old reported going without essential items because of money pressures and felt financially worse off than their parents were at their age. 
• Financial deprivation matters to personal wellbeing: Once again, those facing financial hardship, such as insecure housing, low incomes, or unemployment, reported some of the lowest levels of personal wellbeing.