Are young Aussies the most optimistic pessimists you'll ever meet?

TDA surveyed nearly 5,000 young Australians, in partnership with Resolve Strategic, to find out what we care about, how we live, what gives us hope, and where we're taking the country next.

The Future According to Us, TDA's first annual benchmark on 18-34-year-olds, paints a complex picture. 

Today, I want to take you through some of the standout learnings from this comprehensive report, including some that might challenge your preconceptions.

The big bet is on themselves, not the systems:

The Future According to Us reveals a key contradiction about young people: They are more optimistic about their own futures than any other generation, yet less than half think the institutions around them will help them move forward.

They see prosperity around them but feel locked out:

Overall, young Aussies believe they’re doing everything that’s expected of them (e.g. studying, building their careers and savings) but that home ownership and traditional milestones still feel out of reach.

They trust their abilities but have lost faith in institutions that should support them. Only 40% think the country is heading in the right direction, and less than half (47%) say democracy works well.

They see the mess, but still believe in something better:

44% are optimistic they’ll be better off financially within a year, compared to 26% of those over 35. The data points to a generation of 18-34-year-olds who are confident, resilient, and clear-eyed about the chaos around them. Forget the tired stereotype of lazy, disengaged youth. They’re a generation navigating ambitious optimism against hard truths.

Do young people trust the legal system and police? What about healthcare providers, educators, governments, and mainstream media?

The Future According to Us shows that younger Australians have lower trust in most major institutions, compared to older generations.

Less than half (42%) trust the Federal Government. This manifests at the ballot box. They're the least committed voters. Most say they would change their vote from election to election, or at least would consider doing so.

But don't mistake this for apathy. Young people believe in taking direct action, rather than waiting for policies.

One in three respondents is politically engaged on the issues they care about. When it comes to climate action, three in four believe that modest individual actions can have a positive impact.

Here's where that optimism meets economic reality: 59% of young people list cost of living as their single biggest concern.

Home ownership remains a key priority for younger generations. They want exactly what their parents had, but can't afford it at the same life stages. Nearly all of us want to buy property, but more than one in three of us now call it "unrealistic."

The Future According to Us shows young people hold remarkably conventional aspirations, challenging stereotypes about rejecting traditional values.

For example, 86% want or intend to start a family. 76% want to get married or are already married. These aren't revolutionary goals. They're the same milestones every generation has pursued. But the timeline has shifted dramatically because the financial foundations our parents once had no longer exist.

This economic context has pushed around one in three of us into a side hustle, on top of full-time work. Young people are creating multiple income streams to achieve the security that previous generations found in one job.

They’re more qualified, more adaptable, and better prepared for the future of work. For example, 41% continue their education after high school, compared to 27% of older generations. 78% have used AI tools compared to just 43% of older Australians, and 80% believe AI will be essential for workers within five years.

Among the most concerning parts of the report was the clear indication that the most connected generation in history is also the loneliest. 59% of young Australians experience loneliness, compared with 44% of older Australians.

Almost all young people (89%) have experienced mental health issues.

The most common experiences are stress (86%) and anxiety (76%), with depression (65%) also highly reported. Significantly, just 38% have received clinical diagnoses, pointing to a gap between the scale of mental ill health and support accessibility.

Young Australians recognise social media's harm – 39% have taken breaks from it compared to 20% of older Australians. But we also remain dependent on social media for connection and a sense of belonging.

Young Australians are betting on themselves because they don’t trust the systems around them.

They're earning more than their parents did at the same age, yet feeling less secure.

They trust their abilities but have lost faith in institutions.

They see prosperity around them but feel locked out. More connected than ever, yet struggling to find authentic belonging.

And knowing all of that, they still believe in something better.

This is the first edition of The Future According to Us. We'll be tracking these findings every year to understand how young people are changing, and how Australia is (or isn’t) changing with them.