Indigenous youth see a less safe and more worrying world

YOUNG indigenous people feel less safe in their communities and are more likely to be worried about alcohol, drugs and gambling than their non-indigenous counterparts.

YOUNG indigenous people feel less safe in their communities and are more likely to be worried about alcohol, drugs and gambling than their non-indigenous counterparts.

The nation's largest annual survey of young people found while Aborigines were more likely to be looking for work, they were less likely to feel they could go to university, travel or find a job upon finishing school.

More than 640 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15-19 completed Mission Australia's 2012 Youth Survey with the results to be published for the first time today. The survey found almost one in five young Aborigines indicated they did not feel safe in their neighbourhood compared to one in 11 non-indigenous young people.

Aborigines were extremely or very concerned about drugs (15 per cent versus 8 per cent for non-indigenous), alcohol (14 per cent versus 6 per cent) and gambling (10.5 per cent versus 3.5 per cent). Only 45 per cent thought they could go to university compared to 74 per cent for the non-indigenous and less thought they could travel (24 per cent versus 43 per cent) or get a job (42 per cent versus 50 per cent) after high school.

Getting a job was ranked as either extremely or very important by almost half of the Aborigines surveyed compared with one in three non-Aborigines.

Two-thirds of young Aboriginal people reported being either very satisfied or satisfied with their household's financial situation (compared with almost three-quarters among non-Aborigines).

One in five Aboriginal respondents did not have someone to turn to for support in a time of crisis compared with one in 10 non-Aboriginal respondents.

Mission Australia chief executive Toby Hall said while differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people remained stark, the survey uncovered a number of areas of common ground. "Unsurprisingly, the results show significant gaps between young Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across employment, education, family and welfare indicators," Mr Hall said.

"But encouragingly, there are a number of areas where the two groups share common ground and young Aboriginal people reveal themselves to be both resilient and determined to create a positive future for themselves, their families and communities."

Mr Hall said the results highlighted a number of specific policy areas for attention which may assist young Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders achieve their future potential.