This research snapshot from the Growing Up in Australia study shows that most young Australians hope to have children, but their family goals are linked to how much they trust public institutions and their worries about the environment. The report uses data collected in 2023–24 when participants were aged 19–20 and 23–24 years. The findings show that young people are thinking about parenthood in many different and equally valid ways.

Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) is an ongoing, nationally representative study that follows the lives of children and their families from all over Australia. 

Key findings

• Most young Australians hope to have children, but a notable minority do not or are unsure.
• Trust in institutions, such as hospitals and schools, was strongly linked to hopes for having children. 
• Economic concerns were common among young Australians.
• Concern about housing affordability was widespread (85%) but it was unrelated to young people’s family formation goals.  
• Environmental concern was widespread, and those who were most concerned were less likely to hope to have children. 
• Trans and gender diverse young people were more likely to say they did not hope to have children (32%) or hadn’t considered it (33%) compared to cisgender young men and women.

The report suggests that trust can be improved by:

• reducing financial stress
• improving transparency
• addressing systemic discrimination
• giving young people a say about the services that affect them.

The report is provided with supplementary materials.