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Australia is facing a youth mental health crisis, with growing numbers of young people experiencing distress, disconnection and disadvantage and schools, as daily touchpoints in young people's lives, have never had a more important role to play.
This keynote from Associate Professor Kate Filia explores the social factors shaping young people's mental health, including secure housing, financial stability, supportive relationships and meaningful engagement in education and community life. Drawing on findings from Mission Australia's Youth Survey alongside Orygen's research, the session offers a valuable, evidence-based snapshot of what young Australians are facing and what matters most to them, revealing consistent patterns of financial stress, social isolation and school disengagement.
While acknowledging there's no simple fix, Dr Filia points to emerging strategies schools can use to foster connection, inclusion and belonging, impacts that extend well beyond mental health to help young people build genuinely successful futures.
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