The 2021 Navigator survey showed widespread public dissatisfaction towards institutions and uncovered the nation’s priority aspirations for Australia’s future. But beneath this overall national sentiment is a tapestry of diverse perspectives.
Our second Navigator snapshot Generational and Gender Perspectives on Australia’s Future brings the complexity and diversity of public opinion to the surface through interviews with men and women across age groups. The snapshot reveals who feels their needs are considered by Australia's institutions and how different groups prioritise aspirations for the nation’s future. Understanding this is critical for creating a strong Australian future for all.
Here are seven key findings from the snapshot:
Across age groups, women are consistently more dissatisfied than men with how institutions act in the public interest
Men under 50 are the most satisfied with institutions, however, men 50+ have a different sentiment to other age groups, which declines significantly to align more with women's dissatisfaction
Women under 30 are more likely than women of all other ages to read the news and lead discussions on important issues – and the only age group of women more likely to do so than men the same age
Young people have significantly different priority aspirations from the nation overall, placing more value on the environment, First Nations culture, empathy for disadvantaged groups, willingness to talk out disagreements, and acceptance of those with different views
Interviewees attribute the difference in priority aspirations between younger and older generations to changes in education, increased access to information and opinions through technology, and young people growing up in a more diverse society
While young people throughout time are often viewed as “idealists”, interviewees see a unique commitment by today’s youth to create change
Many expressed how the aspirations of young people provide hope for a better Australian future, but acknowledged that young people do not currently hold positions of power to enact change
This research highlights the importance of probing beneath the overarching national sentiment, revealing a contrast between how men and women across age groups perceive the public interest and how well institutions are delivering what Australia wants. Understanding this nuance is crucial to enabling a flourishing future for everyone, now and for generations to come.
We unpack all these themes in the full snapshot, including how Australia can create positive change. Head to our website to read more and share the snapshot with others so we can all use this knowledge to make a different, better country.
The third and final snapshot in the series exploring Australia’s concept of the “fair go” will be released in the coming months. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to be the first to know when it’s released.