She’ll be right mate … or maybe not – survey
We have all had a sense of it for some time, but an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey just released confirms we are not the happy-go-lucky people we once were. Conditions are just getting the better of us.
AUSSIES are traditionally optimistic, trusting, happy-go-lucky types with a sunny disposition to match the landscape.
But it seems a few clouds are creeping across the horizon.
The 2025 General Social Survey released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows shifting wellbeing and evolving community ties.
Many are drifting from support of cultural diversity, and trust in police and the justice system.
Among the insights:
1. We felt a little less satisfied with life
Overall life satisfaction in 2025 was 7.1 out of 10, similar to 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic (7.2), but lower than in 2019 (7.5) and 2014 (7.6). Women reported higher life satisfaction than men (7.3 compared to 7.1).
2. Increased cost of living pressure
More households experienced financial stress. A quarter had cash flow problems in 2025, up from 21 percent in 2020 and 22 percent in 2019.
3. Volunteers gave millions of hours
Nearly 23 percent of the population volunteered through an organization. This was like 2020 (25 percent) but down from 2019 (30 percent).
4. Women are feeling the squeeze
Just over 34 percent of Australians often felt rushed for time. Women fared worse with 38 percent reporting they felt rushed compared with 30 percent of men.
5. Support for diversity high but declining
75 percent agreed it’s good for society to have many cultures, down from 85% in 2020 and 81 percent in 2019. Support was higher among women and city dwellers.
6. Our social ties are shifting
Only 53 percent had weekly in-person contact with family or friends living outside their household. This was higher than the 42 percent during COVID in 2020 but lower than the 68 percent in 2019.
7. Who can you trust?
Only 50 percent agreed that most people can be trusted, down from 61% in 2020 and 55 percent in 2019. Trust in the healthcare system, police, and justice also declined.
