Listening to Victoria’s young people

Victoria’s young people at a glance

Young people are one of our state’s greatest assets. Young people have a clear vision for the future they want and a passion to effect change. In recent times we’ve seen young people use their voices and talents to make our country and our world a fairer place. This includes racial and gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights, economic fairness and climate justice.

This generation of young people live in a rapidly evolving world with new technologies and changes to industries and the job market. They are constantly finding new ways of communicating and engaging with friends, peers, families and the wider community on issues they are passionate about.

No two young people are the same. They represent a wide range of ages, identities, cultures, personalities, perspectives and communities. They have multiple experiences that influence their development and journey through life. The period from early adolescence to young adulthood is a time of significant change and growth. This generation of young people is exploring and embracing their individual identities and aspirations like never before.

Key statistics

  • 12 per cent of Victorian young people aged 18 to 24 identify as LGBTIQ+1
  • There are more than 125,300 international students who hold a student visa in Victoria2
  • Around 10 per cent of all Victorians aged 15 to 24 have a disability3
  • Victoria’s 1.2 million young people aged 12 to 25 years make up 18 per cent of the population4
  • 22 per cent of young people in Victoria live in rural or regional areas5
  • Around 9,900 children and young people aged under 18 in Victoria were living with carers in 20186
  • There are 71,600 young carers under the age of 25 in Victoria7
  • Young people aged between 12 and 17 use on average four different social media services8
  • 86 per cent of Victorian young people in the labour market are employed9
  • Young people are employed at a higher rate in regional Victoria–up to 4.5 per cent more than in Greater Melbourne10
  • More than 50 per cent of Victoria’s Aboriginal population is under 2511
  • More than 17,000 young Aboriginal people live in Victoria12
  • 48 per cent of Victoria’s young people were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas; and that number continues to increase13
  • 644,500 students are enrolled in government schools14
  • 431,300 in non-government schools in Victoria15

References

[1] Victorian Agency for Health Information 2020

[2] Department of Home Affairs, September 2020

[3] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019b

[4] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020

[5] Youth Affairs Council Victoria 2018

[6] Department of Health and Human Services 2018

[7] Victorian Government 2018

[8] eSafety Commisssioner 2021

[9] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021a

[10] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021a

[11] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019a

[12] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019c

[13] Centre for Multicultural Youth 2020a

[14] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021b

[15] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021b

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