Young people in Victoria

Victorian people aged between 18 and 30 across the state face particular problems as they confront the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis. Lower incomes, less secure employment, lower home ownership rates and a greater reliance on the private housing rental market all result in greater vulnerability.

While experiencing better overall health than the adult population as a whole, they have become far more susceptible to mental health risks. The higher incidence of mental ill-health amongst younger people has become further exacerbated. It has reached a point at which many now proclaim there is a ‘crisis’. The policy measures taken by different jurisdictions can seem ‘too little and too late.’

While the 2024–25 Victorian Government state budget mentioned intergenerational equity, it only made limited proposals. Younger people are likelier to have more negative views on parliaments and elections. However, they are engaged with politics and public policy in their own ways. Various youth consultation bodies exist, and the Parliament of Victoria and sections of the state government have developed engagement strategies. Gaps often exist between these bodies’ suggestions and what representative institutions implement; ignoring young people’s proposals for action risks further alienation and disenchantment.