Abstract: Independent mobility is a prominent theme in urban and transport research concerned with the wellbeing of children and young people in Australian cities. It is also important for children and young people themselves who, on the one hand, seek greater independence as they make their transition to adulthood but, on the other hand, express concerns about their personal safety and preferences for company when they travel. This paper presents findings from a grounded child/youth centred study exploring the issue of independent mobility through semi-structured interviews with children aged 9 to 12 years and young people aged 13 to 15 years living in five different neighbourhoods in Blacktown, Western Sydney. This qualitative research revealed a range of social factors that influence the degree of independent mobility utilised by children and young people in a contemporary Australian urban context. The participant responses enrich the prevailing discourse of independent mobility that tends to be focussed on physical aspects of the built environment of the residential neighbourhood. The findings suggest that independent mobility is not a singular attribute that is adult-bestowed and regulated but rather a process that is graduated over time and space, and contingent upon household circumstances, travel purpose and mode, among other factors. This more nuanced interpretation of children’s and young people’s independent mobility can help inform urban and transport planning and policy interventions to more effectively support children and young people to travel around their neighbourhoods and cities safely, actively and independently.