The Youth Resilience Survey is an online survey providing a confidential environment for young people to tell us how they are really feeling.
The data provides opportunity for planning programs and events to improve the resilience of young people and enhance connections to schools and our community.
We have partnered with Resilient Youth Australia and 18 local schools, surveying over 5,634 students in years 3 to 12 to deliver the following results.
What is resilience?
Resilience is the ability to draw upon the strengths within yourself and from around you to flexibly respond to life while remaining true to yourself and creating positive relationships with others.
Primary School Grade 3 to 6 Summary
Key strengths identified
- 98% think it is important to help other people
- 94% are involved in at least one extra-curricular activity
- 93% eat well to stay well
- 92% feel safe in the area where they live
Key challenges identified
- 36% can’t talk about things if they upset them
- 62% wish problems would go away or be over with
- 29% have trouble sleeping or sleep too much
- 23% criticise themselves for what is happening
Secondary Year 7 to Year 12 Summary
Key strengths identified
- 94% think it is important to help other people
- 84% are involved in at least one extra-curricular activity
- 81% eat well to stay well
- 92% feel safe in the area where they live
Key challenges identified
- 46% can’t talk about things if they upset them
- 40% criticise themselves for what is happening
- 38% do not get at least eight hours of sleep most nights
- 33% feel nervous, anxious or on edge
Tips on how to build resilience
- Promote positive respectful relationships.
- Encourage participation in leisure and recreational activities that.
- promote a healthy mind and body.
- Encourage young people to talk to a trusted adult.
- Provide information on stress and anxiety management techniques.
- Increase praise and feedback to reinforce positive identity and honesty.
- Foster strong relationships with parents and families.
Get involved
To find out more about the survey, or if your school would like to get involved, contact Youth Services on (03) 9599 4622 or youthservices [at] bayside.vic.gov.au (subject: Youth%20Resilience%20Survey) .