|December 14, 1998|
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
New picture of young people in Victoria
A new publication, Victoria's Young People,was officially launched today by Jill Parmenter, Assistant Director, Youth Services Branch, Department of Human Services and Mr Zia Abbasi, Victorian Regional Director for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The publication was prepared by the ABS for the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme, and used 1996 Census data to provide a unique insight into 12 to 25 year olds in Victoria. It compares Victoria's young people with the rest of the nation, and provides summary data on young people for all local government areas in Victoria.
Among the publication's key findings are that:
- In Victoria, 12 to 25 year olds represented 20% of people counted, this was the same as the National figure. Over 73% of all young people in Victoria were counted in the Melbourne Statistical Division.
- From 1986 to 1996 the population in Victoria grew by 9%. This was lower than the National growth of 14% over the same period. The proportion of young people declined down from 24% to 20% over the 10 year period.
- Among all people counted in Victoria there are more females than males. This is reversed for young people where the number of males exceeds the number of females.
- Of all States and Territories young Victorians had the lowest proportion (0.6%) of people who reported as being of Indigenous origin, although this was twice the proportion of those aged 26 years and over (0.3%).
- The main originating countries of young people born overseas were Viet Nam (12%), the United Kingdom (11%), New Zealand (over 6%) and Malaysia (6%).
- Over 66% of 12 to 25 year olds were still living with their parents, 45% were reported as dependent children (under 15 years) or dependent students (aged 15 to 24 years). This was the highest proportion of all States and Territories. The remaining 21% were living with their parents as non-dependent children.
- Just over twice as many young women (15%) than young men (7%) had moved from the family home, forming partnerships and their own families.
- From 1991 to 1996 the proportion of young people attending an educational institution increased from 53% in 1991 to 57% in 1996. Levels of qualifications also increased with 6% of young people having attained a bachelor degree or higher in 1996 compared to just 4% in 1991.
Details are in Victoria's Young People, 1996 (cat. no. 4123.2) available in ABS bookshops in all capital cities.
- Between 1991 and 1996, the proportion of 15 to 25 year olds who were working part-time increased from 15% to 21%, while the proportion working full-time decreased from 34% to 32%.
Main features of this publication can be found at this site.
This page last updated 8 December 2006