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Exclusive Insight: For most high school students, typical concerns revolve around acing their driver’s license test or preparing for the next math exam. However, a different kind of anxiety is taking root among teenagers today.
In an age where news of the housing crisis dominates the media, young Australians are paying close attention, and the impact is significant. It’s not just adults who are troubled by the escalating property market; teenagers are feeling the pressure too.
The latest UNICEF State of Australia’s Children report, released today, reveals a startling statistic: 43 percent of young Australians are already worried about housing and financial stability as they look ahead to 2025.
Chris, a high school student, shared with nine.com.au his and his peers’ growing concerns about the skyrocketing house prices in major Australian cities. “It feels impossible to break into the housing market,” Chris expressed, echoing a sentiment that is increasingly common among his generation.
“It’s impossible to get into the housing market at all,” Chris explained.
“Young people have to think about because if we’re putting in $10,000 each year to university how are we going to save up and still maintain the cost of living etc, while saving up for a house?
“Those things aren’t taught in schools. Life skills should be a part of the curriculum.”
Chris is a member of Generation Z, known colloquially as Gen Z.
Recent research from the e61 Institute claims Gen Z – born between 1997 and 2012 – will likely end up being richer than their parents.
But there is a catch: this wealth will come much later in life via inheritance and wages.
UNICEF’s report found a staggering 62 per cent of children agree they will be “worse off” than their parents.
“Housing is just so much less accessible, there was more land… more ability to buy a house near the CBD,” Chris added.
He and his schoolmates believe they won’t be able to afford to live anywhere near their families.
In Brisbane, where Chris lives, the median house price is forecast to hit $1.185 million by the end of 2026.
Young Australians are being raised in suburbs they will later be priced out of – until they can inherit those homes.
“They might say all young people have it easy,” Chris said of the government and the older generations.
“That notion that young people need to work hard to get what they want is not really reflective of what the circumstances are now for young people.”
UNICEF’s report, which includes responses from over 2000 Australian kids, also found only less than a third of teens feel very “excited or hopeful” about the next five years.
Chris the sobering statistic resonates with him.
He’s not feeling too positive about the decisions the government is making about his future.
“I feel like my sentiment is reflective of most young people, particularly my peers,” Chris added.
“Most of my friends don’t really trust the government at all.”
He hopes educational and housing reforms will help steer Gen Z in the right direction.
But if the government is too “slow”, Chris is wary his peers will be left behind.