Young people’s health in Australia: statistics from the Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll survey

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:

• sexual behaviours 
• alcohol and other drug use 
• mental health and wellbeing. 

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. 

The survey is open to 15 to 29 year olds in Australia. Our 2024 sample looked like the following: 

• average age 22 (range 15–29 years old)
• 61% woman, 26% man, 13% nonbinary
• 42% heterosexual, 28% bisexual, 15% queer, 12% gay, 9% pansexual
• 86% born in Australia
• 60% currently studying at high school, university or TAFE
• 54% live with parents, 20% with friends or housemates, 16% with a partner
• 6% identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

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: 

• fewer people reported lifetime vaginal sex over time, while lifetime anal sex remained stable 
• among those who had ever had vaginal sex, more reported using long-acting reversible contraceptives (like IUD or implanon) the last time they had vaginal sex 
• there was no change in STI testing among those who had ever had vaginal or anal sex 
• consistent condom use with new, casual and regular partners remained stable 
• knowledge of STIs and sexual health has changed over time – fewer reported knowing that chlamydia can make women infertile, while more reported knowing that taking the pill does not reduce fertility  
• there was no change in pornography use after adjusting for demographic variables.