Every year, Burnet surveys young people about their sexual health, drug use, mental health and wellbeing. The data is used to inform public health policies and programs.
This annual survey is called 'Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.' It includes questions around:
Each year, we include additional questions based on current and emerging issues or topics of relevance for young people. This includes topics such as COVID-19, pornography use, social media and menstrual health. We began surveying young people at the Big Day Out music festival in 2005. Since 2015, the surveys have been completed online.
Are you 15–29 years old? You can help inform policies that affect you. Email us or sign up to stay informed.
In this project, the student will use the data collected to investigate patterns of risk behaviours, knowledge, and health outcomes. This will involve quantitative analysis of the relationship between variables such as condom use, number of sexual partners, drug and alcohol use and perceptions of risk. The project could also involve in-depth qualitative data collection via content analysis, focus group discussions or interviews.
The survey is open to 15 to 29 year olds in Australia. Our 2024 sample looked like the following:
We primarily recruit young people based in Victoria and 53% of our 2024 respondents were based in greater Melbourne.
From 2015 to 2021, we found that:
BMC Women s Health
Caitlin Douglass, Caitlin Ramsay, Julie Hennegan, Sarah Eddy, Alexandra Head, Sarah Eddy, Caitlin Ramsay, Julie Hennegan, Caitlin Douglass, Alexandra Head
International Journal of STD & AIDS
Caitlin Douglass, Yinzong Xiao, Carol El‐Hayek, Megan S. C. Lim
Sex Education
Kirsten Roode, Megan S. C. Lim, Angela Davis, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Megan S. C. Lim, Kirsten Roode, Angela Davis, Cassandra J. C. Wright
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Elise R. Carrotte, Paul Dietze, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Megan S. Lim
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Alyce M. Vella, Elise R. Carrotte, Megan S. C. Lim, Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Megan S. C. Lim
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Alyce M. Vella, Megan S. C. Lim, Paul A. Agius, Elise R. Carrotte, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim, Paul A. Agius, Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard
Sexual Health
Alyce M. Vella, Timothy Yeung, Danielle Horyniak, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim, Timothy Yeung, Danielle Horyniak, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim
Sexual Health
Caitlin Douglass, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Angela Davis, Megan S. C. Lim
Australian Journal of Primary Health
Caitlin Douglass, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim
Community Mental Health Journal
Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim
International Journal of STD & AIDS
Megan S. C. Lim, Judy Gold, Anna L. Bowring, Alisa Pedrana, Margaret Hellard
Sexual Health
Caitlin Douglass, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Angela Davis, Megan S. C. Lim
Harm Reduction Journal
Elizabeth C. Early, Caitlin Douglass, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Anna Palmer, Peter Higgs, Brendan Quinn, Megan S. C. Lim, Caitlin Douglass, Elizabeth C. Early, Cassandra J. C. Wright