Survey shows teens stressed over family finances

Updated

A national snapshot of young people has found Australian teenagers are worried their parents will not be able to make ends meet and are increasingly trying to get work to help their parents pay the bills.

Mission Australia surveyed 15,000 15 to 19 year olds in its national Youth Survey, with the economy and financial issues topping the list of what worries them most.

Last year it was the environment, but this year it barely rates a mention.

Mission Australia's general manager of social policy and advocacy, Martin Thomas, says young people are "much less concerned about the environment" than previously.

"The polarised debate around the carbon tax and environment issues has really been a turn off for young people," he said.

Mr Thomas says this year's survey has revealed that Australian teenagers are stressed and anxious about their family's finances.

He says there were a lot of comments on the high cost of living and how that has spiralled out of control - even when in households where there are two breadwinners.

"Kids as young as 15 are going out looking for part-time work just to buy schoolbooks and help pay household bills like electricity," he said.

"We knew that the global financial crisis and job losses were going to bite but the extent of it [means] young people really think they've got to do something to help the family household."

Apprentice butcher Jessie Salas lives with his family in Sydney's north-west and says he tries to help with the bills.

"The standard rate for an apprentice isn't enough to live off," he said.

"You're trying to support yourself but at the same time the household in one. So some weeks I'll be able to have a little bit of money left over after paying bills but some weeks I won't have enough."

"I'm just really concerned about making it through each week, but it's extremely hard at the moment."

Lachie Smith, 17, says he works so that he can help his mum "so she can have a little bit of the stress taken off".

His 16-year-old sister Bonnie Smith says it is hard to find a job that pays more than $9.50 an hour.

"The biggest thing I'm concerned about is having my own money for the future and having a decent job, having a house to live in," she said.

Body image remains a major worry for just over one-in-three teenagers, and the survey found young girls were more likely to go to magazines for information, rather than their parents.

Almost one-in-five of those surveyed described their relationship with their family as less than positive.

One-in-ten said they did not feel safe in their own neighbourhood.

Topics: youth, community-and-society, family-and-children, children, family, australia

First posted