In South Australia:

• More than 30,000 young people aged 15-24 live in poverty
• There are more than 4,000 homeless people under the age of 25
• Over 42,000 young people are not fully engaged in work or study
• Over 24,000 have no connection to school, work or training at all
• 2,361 children are in foster care
• There are approximately 2,000 long-term unemployed youth

The consequences of disadvantage

To the individual:

Young people who experience marginalisation have fewer opportunities to participate in community activities, are more likely to experience disparities in access to health care, education and employment and, as a consequence, experience higher rates of social and mental health problems.  Young people who are disengaged from school, work, family and community are at greater risk of homelessness, substance use, mental health issues and suicide.  And young people who experience mental health difficulties coupled with drug and alcohol problems are at greater risk of entering the justice system or becoming homeless.

To the community:

The disengagement of young people has a significant impact on the broader community in relation to increased health costs, justice and welfare expenditure, lower social cohesion and loss of economic productivity.  Early school leavers on their own are estimated to cost $2.6 billion a year in higher social welfare, health and crime prevention costs and lower tax revenue, productivity and Gross Domestic Product. Its social impact is felt in greater inter-generational problems of low education, unemployment and poverty, decreased participation in the political process and lower levels of social capital.

It has been estimated that keeping one long-term unemployed youth in work for 12 months will produce a cost-saving to the community of around $100,000.

References:

(1) Preventing Youth Disengagement and Promoting Engagement Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth – August 2008.

(2) http://www.fya.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/FYA_HYPAFReportAAGWEB.pdf