Leading community service organisation Mission Australia is calling on young people in rural, regional and metropolitan South Australia to take part in its 2007 National Survey of Young Australians, one of the biggest youth surveys in Australia.

Mission Australia South Australian Manager Mark Herselman said the annual survey, now in its sixth year, will help Mission Australia and other community service organisations, schools and governments improve services for young Australians.

“The information we obtain through the survey will be widely and freely available to Governments, schools, community and other organisations who can draw on the findings to assist in areas of policy making and service provision,” Mr Herselman said. “It’s also an important resource for parents.”

“Young people are a key part of our community but often it’s hard for them to have a voice. The survey gives them a chance to identify what’s important to them as well as their needs and concerns so that the community can better respond to them.”

Mission Australia is one of Australia’s leading community service groups and provides a range of services for young people across South Australia, including education and training and support for homelessness, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, and family breakdown.

The Mission Australia National Survey of Young Australians is open to all Australians aged between 11 and 24 and can be completed online at www.missionaustralia.com.au/youthsurvey.

Last year’s survey revealed that family conflict, alcohol and other drugs and body image were three main issues of concern for youth at a national level. In South Australia, they were most concerned about alcohol and other drugs, suicide and bullying or emotional abuse.

Mission Australia hopes to exceed the 14,700 responses it received in 2006, including 2,064 (or 14 per cent) from South Australian rural and metropolitan areas.

Closing date for the survey in South Australia is Friday June 29. For further information, call Mission Australia on 08 8218 2800 or participants can download a PDF of the Youth Survey (www.missionaustralia.com.au) and post it back to Research and Social Policy Unit, Mission Australia, GPO Box 3515, Sydney, NSW, 2001

Media please note: Mission Australia’s State Manager Mark Herselman is available for interviews about the survey.

For more information, please contact:
Mark Herselman on 0403 183 002 or
Chris Rann, Rann Communication (08) 8211 7771