Ever wondered how young people in Brimbank are really doing? The Resilient Youth Australia Survey gives us a deep dive into their wellbeing, strengths, and the challenges they face. Brimbank Youth Services began rolling out the survey in 2021 as a way of gauging young people’s wellbeing after the COVID-19 lockdowns, spanning around four months to reach all primary and secondary schools involved.
“It involved the entire team and support from University Youth Work Students. The findings from the RYA Survey have guided the creation and implementation of support programs for schools, covering topics such as body image for grades five and six, friendship, and safety programs for years seven to nine,” says Dean James, Team Leader of the Youth Wellbeing and Belonging Team at Brimbank City Council.
2025’s results are in, and they reveal some important trends around resilience, mental health, and social connections. What does this mean for local schools, families, and the community? Let’s break down the highlights, so we can explore how we can better support Brimbank’s young people to thrive.
Are you a school faculty member who wants your school to get involved? Find out more here.
1,738 primary school students said...
Key Strengths
- 88% try hard at school
- 85% think they are doing just as well as other kids
- 99% are not vaping
- 86% can disagree about things and still be friends
Key Challenges
- 59% can’t talk about things that upset them
- 43% don’t forgive others who are mean to them
- 22% don’t have an adult in their life who they can talk to
- 35% are feeling tired or low on energy
- 20% are not physically active for at least one hour per day
Cohort-Specific Key Insights
Grade 3 females
- 88% feel safe at school. (Aust average – 81%)
- 36% can’t find a way to solve a problem. (Aust average – 21%)
- 61% can’t talk about things if they are upset. (Aust average – 51%)
Grade 3 males
- 95% care about their school. (Aust average – 85%)
- 49% can’t forgive others who are mean to them. (Aust average – 41%)
- 61% can’t talk about things if they are upset. (Aust average – 53%)
Grade 4 females
- 48% read for fun. (Aust average – 62%)
- 41% feeling tired or low on energy. (Aust average – 31%)
- 64% can’t talk to others when bad things happen. (Aust average – 55%)
Grade 4 males
- 79% not blaming self when bad things happen. (Aust average – 69%)
Grade 5 females
- 42% not given useful jobs at school. (Aust average – 32%)
- 35% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 24%)
- 61% can’t talk about things if they are upset. (Aust average – 51%)
Grade 5 males
- 53% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 43%)
Grade 6 females
- 47% not forgiving others who are mean to them. (Aust average – 37%)
- 34% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 24%)
- 38% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 28%)
Grade 6 males
- 54% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 46%)
8,544 secondary school students said...
Key Strengths
- 88% think they are doing pretty well
- 89% can disagree about things and still be friends
- 82% know they can find a way to solve a problem
- 91% have at least one good friend at school
Key Challenges
- 32% aren’t physically active for at least 1 hour per day
- 21% don’t feel safe in the area they live in
- 33% don’t have an adult in their life they can talk to
- 38% aren’t involved in at least one extra-curricular activity
- 47% are using a device between midnight and 6am
Cohort-Specific Key Insights
Year 7 females
- 36% not involved in extra-curricular activity. (Aust average – 19%)
- 38% given useful jobs at school. (Aust average – 49%)
- 27% not having a parent/carer who listens. (Aust average – 17%)
Year 7 males
- 60% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 45%)
- 67% having fun at school. (Aust average – 61%)
Year 8 females
- 37% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 22%)
Year 8 males
- 62% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 47%)
- 29% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 19%)
- 40% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 31%)
Year 9 females
- 41% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 25%)
- 49% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 38%)
- 41% not physically active for at least 1hr per day. (Aust average – 28%)
Year 9 males
- 32% don’t have an adult in their life they can talk to. (Aust average – 25%)
- 30% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 22%)
- 41% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 33%)
Year 10 females
- 74% saying schools gives students clear rules. (Aust average – 67%)
- 53% saying schools enforce rules fairly. (Aust average – 46%)
- 48% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 29%)
- 51% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 36%)
- 82% not drinking alcohol. (Aust average – 75%)
Year 10 males
- 82% not drinking alcohol. (Aust average – 73%)
- 34% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 23%)
- 21% don’t feel safe in the area they live. (Aust average – 13%)
Year 11 females
- 25% don’t feel safe in the area where they live. (Aust average – 16%)
- 49% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 34%)
- 62% feel good about themselves. (Aust average – 54%)
- 23% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 13%)
- 51% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 38%)
- 73% not drinking alcohol. (Aust average – 61%)
- 50% not physically active for at least 1hr per day. (Aust average – 38%)
Year 11 males
- 36% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 25%)
- 49% playing excessive online games. (Aust average – 38%)
- 47% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 37%)
- 70% not drinking alcohol. (Aust average – 61%)
Year 12 females
- 27% don’t feel safe in the area they live. (Aust average – 14%)
- 53% not involved in a least one extracurricular activity. (Aust average – 37%)
- 55% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 36%)
- 65% not drinking alcohol. (Aust average – 48%)
Year 12 males
- 52% using a device between midnight and 6am. (Aust average – 40%)
- 59% not drinking alcohol. (Aust average – 46%)
- 81% have not threatened to physically hurt someone. (Aust average – 73%)
- Download 2025 Secondary School RYA Survey Data
- Download 2025 Primary School RYA Survey Data
- Download 2025 General RYA Survey Data
