Young deeply troubled in the 'lucky country'

Australia remains the unlucky country for a disturbing number of its young people, a new report has found.

A "social barometer" by the Melbourne-based welfare group the Brotherhood of St Laurence says problems affecting youth range from obesity, suicide and other health and mental conditions to homelessness, violence and poverty.

Many such difficulties have been compounded by issues ranging from new industrial laws to racism.

Hardest hit, the Brotherhood says, are Aborigines and refugees.

"The Brotherhood is particularly concerned that Australia lacks agreed standards for action on social problems," the report says.

"We also see the need for social policies that respond to the changing environment of deregulated labour markets and a knowledge-based economy as well as new family models and life transitions."

Helped by Government initiatives there have been improvements in areas such as youth suicide rates, smoking and unemployment, and young people appear to have greater ability to cope with change. But the report says these trends have not appeared among indigenous youth, and young refugees face particular challenges in mental health, education and employment.

The report, by researchers Martina Boese and Rosanna Scutella, covers 2.8 million Australians aged between 15 and 24 years. It shows rising obesity - 30 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women aged 18 to 24 years are overweight or obese - with much higher rates for Aborigines and youths living in disadvantaged areas.

While smoking has decreased in the past decade, except among indigenous youths, levels of risky alcohol consumption have increased.

Drug use is also rising. The 2004 National Drug Strategy household survey showed almost 8 per cent of Australia's 12 to 15-year-olds had used an illicit drug in the previous year, rising to 20 per cent for 16 and 17-year-olds, and more than 30 per cent for 18 and 19-year-olds,

Mental health remains a concern. The nation's highest levels of psychological stress occur among its 18 to 24-year-olds, with mental disorders and related substance abuse problems the single most important youth health issue. About 14 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds, and 27 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds, suffer a mental disorder in any 12-month period.

Young refugees often suffer continuing trauma, sometimes compounded by detention under Canberra's policies on boat people and other illegal entrants, and by insecurity over their future in Australia.

Suicide rates for young men have declined over the past few years but remain high, with youths from poor, indigenous and rural communities most likely to kill themselves.

The 2001 Census showed an estimated 36,000 people aged between 12 and 24 years were homeless - more than one-third of the nation's total.

Most faced barriers in education and to future employment.

Indigenous youths are especially at risk, with twice as many failing to complete secondary school as other Australians, later suffering lower rates of full-time work.

Violence is also on the rise. Reported rates of physical and sexual assault have been increasing, especially among 15 to 19-year-olds, and fears for their safety have increased among the nation's young.

Bullying has become the most pervasive form of aggression at school, and racism has become more prevalent since Australia joined the war on terrorism. Australian Arab and Muslim youths have reported a sharp rise in racism, abuse and violence. And the report says that about 16 per cent of the nation's youths continue to live in poverty.