Comparison between 2019 and 2021

The 2021 survey provides valuable comparative data to the inaugural survey of approximately 5,000 students undertaken in 2019. The comparative data will be important in monitoring the wellbeing of WA’s children and young people for the longer term and help governments, communities and families meet their needs with appropriate support and services.

Here are the key statistics

• Students’ ratings of their overall physical health in 2021 are less favourable when compared to the data for 2019.
• Fewer students rate their life the best possible in 2021 compared to 2019.
• More students rate their life the worst possible especially in high school.
• In 2021, more students reported that mental health has been a source of stress for them in the past year.
• More students have found parents, online counselling and telephone helplines helpful for emotional health support.
• Students in the 2021 survey reported higher engagement across a range of indoor activities including using the internet, gaming, reading a book and doing homework.
• The proportion of students reporting having been sent unwanted sexual material like pornographic pictures, videos or words has increased among male and female respondents.
• In 2021, a smaller proportion of students report their family gets along very well.
• Students in 2021 were less likely than students in 2019 to say that being at school every day was very important to them.
• A greater proportion of students reported not feeling safe at school all the time.
• In 2021, more female students disagreed that they get to make and are involved in decisions that affect them.