Chris is only 17 but he and his schoolmates worry they won't ever afford a house

Monday, 24 November 2025 05:56

The Brisbane teenager is among millions of young Aussies who say they struggle with financial anxiety, according to UNICEF.

Exclusive: Most teenagers still at high school hopefully only worry about passing their driver's licence test or the upcoming maths exam.

But Brisbane high schooler Chris, 17, said he and his friends suffer from the same stressful financial anxieties as adults.

It's hard to ignore the constant stream of catastrophic reporting about the state of the country's housing crisis – and teenagers are listening closely.

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at april.glover@nine.com.au

A sobering 43 per cent of young Australians report worrying about housing and money in 2025, according to the latest UNICEF State of Australia's Children report released today.

Chris told nine.com.au he and his peers constantly worry about how expensive house prices are in every Aussie capital city.

"It's impossible to get into the housing market at all," Chris explained.

"Young people have to think about because if we're putting in $10,000 each year to university how are we going to save up and still maintain the cost of living etc, while saving up for a house?

"Those things aren't taught in schools. Life skills should be a part of the curriculum."

Chris is a member of Generation Z, known colloquially as Gen Z.

Recent research from the e61 Institute claims Gen Z – born between 1997 and 2012 – will likely end up being richer than their parents.

But there is a catch: this wealth will come much later in life via inheritance and wages.

UNICEF's report found a staggering 62 per cent of children agree they will be "worse off" than their parents.

"Housing is just so much less accessible, there was more land... more ability to buy a house near the CBD," Chris added.

Aerial view directly above established houses in older Adelaide southern suburb: looking down on front & back yards some landscaped, one with construction work. Yellow & red topped wheeled garbage (rubbish) bins are parked on kerbside awaiting collection. Powerlines run down the street for the houses. Cars parked on the street and in private properties.

He and his schoolmates believe they won't be able to afford to live anywhere near their families.

In Brisbane, where Chris lives, the median house price is forecast to hit $1.185 million by the end of 2026.

Young Australians are being raised in suburbs they will later be priced out of - until they can inherit those homes.

"They might say all young people have it easy," Chris said of the government and the older generations.

"That notion that young people need to work hard to get what they want is not really reflective of what the circumstances are now for young people."

UNICEF's report, which includes responses from over 2000 Australian kids, also found only less than a third of teens feel very "excited or hopeful" about the next five years.

Chris the sobering statistic resonates with him.

He's not feeling too positive about the decisions the government is making about his future.

"I feel like my sentiment is reflective of most young people, particularly my peers," Chris added.

"Most of my friends don't really trust the government at all."

He hopes educational and housing reforms will help steer Gen Z in the right direction.

But if the government is too "slow", Chris is wary his peers will be left behind.

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