LATEST FINDINGS

GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEY

Results from the General Social Survey, General Social Survey: Summary Results, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4159.0) were released 22 May 2007. This publication presents summary results on a range of social dimensions for people aged 18 years and over.

The age group 18–24 years is traditionally one where children move from being dependent on their parents to living independently. Topics covered in the survey include health, housing, education, work, income, financial stress, broad assets and liabilities, transport, social capital, voluntary work, family and community, and crime.

In 2006, there were 1,225,000 (8%) people in Australia who reported that their own children aged 18–24 years were living in another household. There were 689,000 (4.5%) people in Australia who provided support to their own children aged 18–24 years not living with them.

In 2006, 83% of 18–24 year olds had face to face contact with family or friends living outside their household in the last week. Family members (80%) and friends (80%) were the most common sources of support sought by 18–24 year olds in times of crisis.



Nearly one-quarter (24%) of 18–24 year olds were the victim of physical or threatened violence in past 12 months. This was higher than for all persons aged 18 years and over (11%). The proportion was higher for males (31%) than females (17%).

In addition, 23% of 18–24 year olds felt very unsafe or unsafe walking alone in the local area after dark. This was the highest of all age groups and compares to 18% for all persons aged 18 years and over.

VOLUNTARY WORK, AUSTRALIA

Voluntary Work, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4441.0) contains results from the national Voluntary Work Survey conducted throughout Australia as part of the General Social Survey (GSS). Results show that 574,000 (30%) 18–24 year olds had undertaken voluntary work in 2006. This compares to 34% of persons aged 18 years and over. Among 18–24 year olds, the volunteering rate was higher for people: Born in Australia (31%) compared with those born outside Australia (25%); Living in balance of state (34%) than capital cities (28%); Living in areas with the highest quintile of socioeconomic status (42%) compared with those in the lowest quintile (22%).

The most common reasons for 18–24 year olds volunteering were to help others/community (53%) and personal satisfaction (43%). Note that respondents could report more than one reason.