2 years ago
REPORT SHOWS IMPACT OF PANDEMIC ON YOUNG AUSTRALIANS
AMANDA RISHWORTH MP
Today’s Mission Australia Report, Young Voices of the Pandemic, highlights the severe impacts the pandemic has had on young Australians.
In particular, it points to the serious impact that long periods of lockdown have had on the education, sense of isolation and mental health of young people.
This is evidenced by the disproportionate impacts reportedly felt by young Victorians, who were hit particularly hard by the pandemic in 2020.
Unfortunately, Scott Morrison’s bungling of the vaccine rollout means young Australians are still being subjected to lockdowns and disruptions to their lives, especially at the moment in New South Wales.
The report also states that 41.1 per cent of young people who were concerned about their education were 17 years old, showing the impact COVID has had on those completing their final two years of school.
Respondents reported that ongoing disruptions to their everyday lives made them feel worried, and on top of that they did not have access to their usual supports.
The reports notes Mission Australia is concerned about the impact of COVID will continue to have an on young peoples lives and their futures.
In order to mitigate the negative consequences, the report calls for people to begin listening to young people, and ensuring the right supports and systems are in place.
That is why Labor has been calling on the Prime Minister and the Minister for Youth to implement a COVID-19 Youth Recovery Strategy.
The strategy must:-
In particular, it points to the serious impact that long periods of lockdown have had on the education, sense of isolation and mental health of young people.
This is evidenced by the disproportionate impacts reportedly felt by young Victorians, who were hit particularly hard by the pandemic in 2020.
Unfortunately, Scott Morrison’s bungling of the vaccine rollout means young Australians are still being subjected to lockdowns and disruptions to their lives, especially at the moment in New South Wales.
The report also states that 41.1 per cent of young people who were concerned about their education were 17 years old, showing the impact COVID has had on those completing their final two years of school.
Respondents reported that ongoing disruptions to their everyday lives made them feel worried, and on top of that they did not have access to their usual supports.
The reports notes Mission Australia is concerned about the impact of COVID will continue to have an on young peoples lives and their futures.
In order to mitigate the negative consequences, the report calls for people to begin listening to young people, and ensuring the right supports and systems are in place.
That is why Labor has been calling on the Prime Minister and the Minister for Youth to implement a COVID-19 Youth Recovery Strategy.
The strategy must:-
- Be genuinely co-designed with young people;
- Include a comprehensive consideration of how various policy areas interact and impact young people;
- Outline clear short, medium and long term goals and targets, with regular reporting to Parliament.
The Morrison Government must finally develop a strategy and plan for our young people, as they should have last year when Labor first called for it.
We cannot leave an entire generation of Australians behind.