Achieving systemic change around safety means addressing the underlying social drivers that relate to children and young people’s experiences of feeling unsafe.
Teenagers are particularly prone to issues around safety for a range of reasons. These relate in part to the rapid mental and physical changes that are occurring throughout adolescence. It includes their greater awareness of and desire for independence, and navigating changing relationships with family, friends, teachers, employers, coaches and partners, as they transition from childhood to adulthood.
This report examines the responses from 908 South Australians aged 12–19 years who participated in the Commissioner’s Teenagers and Safety survey conducted from May to June 2024. The findings provide a rare insight into South Australian teenagers’ understanding of what feeling safe means to them and where and why they feel safe. It also provides insight into where and when they do not feel safe and sheds light on the reasons why this is the case.