What Gold Coast Parents Should Know About Our Young People

(and how community makes a real difference)

The Big Picture - The Gold Coast is home to over 99,000 young people aged 12–24 — around 1 in 6 residents.

Most are doing their best in a fast-changing world, but many are navigating challenges that didn’t exist for previous generations.

This isn’t about blaming young people, or thier parents,.or the system — it’s about understanding what they’re facing and how we can support them early.

What Challenges Are Gold Coast Youth Facing?

🧠 1. Mental Health & Disconnection

Many local young people experience:

Anxiety and low confidence

Social isolation

Pressure to “have it all figured out” early

Support services are stretched, and many young people don’t meet clinical thresholds — but still need connection, mentoring, and encouragement.

What helps: Safe spaces, trusted adults, creativity, and community belonging.

💼 2. The “Experience Gap”

A common frustration among teens and young adults:

“I can’t get a job because I don’t have experience — but I can’t get experience without a job.”

This impacts confidence, motivation, and long-term employment outcomes.

What helps: Low-pressure exposure to real workplaces, conversations with business owners, and short, supported opportunities.

🏠 3. Housing & Financial Stress

The Gold Coast’s high cost of living affects young people too. Some experience:

Housing instability or couch-surfing

Family financial stress

Limited independence options

Even temporary instability can affect education, wellbeing, and future choices.

What helps: Early support, local networks, and pathways into skills and work.

🎓 4. Not All Learning Happens at School

Schools play a vital role — but they can’t do everything.

Many young people:

Learn best by doing

Thrive when trusted with responsibility

Need role models outside their immediate family

What helps: Community-based learning, mentorship, and hands-on experiences.

What We Know Works (From the Evidence)

Research consistently shows that young people do better when they have:

Positive adult connections

Early work exposure

A sense of belonging

Opportunities to contribute, not just comply

Punitive or exclusion-based approaches alone don’t create long-term positive outcomes.

"SAFETY IS NOT JUST THE ABSENCE OF HARM...ITS THE PRESCENCE OF SECURITY" -Meg Speight Director, Divergent Solutions Pty Lt

How can the Gold Coast Youth Expo Help?

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The Gold Coast Youth Expo is designed as a preventative, community-building event, not a crisis response.

It provides:

A safe, welcoming space for children and teens

Creative and interactive activities

Youth voice through performance and participation

Access to local services, businesses, and opportunities

A positive introduction to community and work pathways

It shows young people they are valued, capable, and supported

Youth Voices 4 Youth choices

By bridging the gap between local youth and small businesses, we empower the next generation to build essential skills, form meaningful connections, and create valuable support networks. Through mentorship and hands-on experience, they gain references and insights into what it takes to run a successful business. Gold Coast business owners, who have faced similar challenges, bring their expertise and understanding to the table. By uniting these two groups, we create a stronger, more resilient community—better equipped to tackle challenges like the rising cost of living, unemployment, and the mental health struggles that can arise as a result.

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Led by Youth, For Youth

The Gold Coast Youth Expo is all about a team of passionate people working hard to make a difference. We're focused on keeping young people safe and building a positive, supportive community. This event is shaped by young people and aims to support them, their families, and local businesses. We believe that helping our youth means supporting their families too. By backing local businesses, we strengthen and sustain our whole community. It’s simple—when we all pitch in, we create something better for everyone. They say it takes a village to raise a child, so let’s come together to build a strong and united community we can all be proud of.