Despite being more digitally connected than ever, more than two in five young Australians report feeling lonely. The 2025 report A Call for Connection: Understanding and Addressing Youth Loneliness in Australia, released by Ending Loneliness Together, reveals a quiet crisis that demands urgent and compassionate attention.
This is not just about isolated moments of sadness. Persistent loneliness affects 1 in 7 young people aged 15–25 and has deep implications for mental health, learning, employment, and wellbeing. It’s a challenge that touches every part of a young person’s life — even if they’re surrounded by others.
Why Are Young Australians Feeling Lonely?
Loneliness is shaped by more than just personal choices. Broader cultural, digital, and social shifts — including the impact of social media, rising living costs, and post-pandemic transitions — have created environments where many young people feel disconnected and unseen.
Young people are especially vulnerable during life transitions such as moving schools, entering university or the workforce, or experiencing major losses. Those from marginalised communities — including First Nations youth, LGBTIQ+ people, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds — face even greater barriers to connection, often battling exclusion or fear of judgement.
The Role of the Church and the Cardijn Tradition
Joseph Cardijn’s mission was always about listening to and empowering young people — to see, to judge, and to act. His foundational insight — that the young are not just the Church of tomorrow, but the Church of today — urges us to take youth loneliness seriously.
Just as Cardijn called for lay people to accompany workers and youth, we are called to accompany those facing loneliness — not with abstract solutions, but with relational presence. We must create spaces where every young person feels welcomed, listened to, and valued.
The challenge of loneliness is deeply spiritual. It speaks to the human longing for communion, for belonging, for being recognised. In our parishes, communities, and movements, we must ask: Do young people find spaces to truly belong?
What Helps: The Power of Connection
The report shows that small, meaningful connections make a difference — a conversation, an invitation, a shared meal, a check-in text. Regular physical activity, healthy family relationships, and participation in community or church groups were found to reduce the risk of loneliness.
Faith-based communities — when inclusive, safe, and responsive — can be powerful antidotes to isolation. Youth groups, community service, and intergenerational relationships offer young people opportunities to be seen and to lead. As one young person shared, “Some of the best friends I’ve made have been through my theatre group and youth group — you see each other a few times a week, and real friendships grow.”
How Can We Respond?
The report outlines actions for all of us:
- Young people: Your voice matters. You are not alone. Reach out — and check in on others.
- Parents and families: Be present and open. Listen deeply. Encourage real conversations.
- Educators: Prioritise inclusion and mental wellbeing in schools and universities.
- Faith and community groups: Be spaces of welcome, diversity, and participation.
- Policy makers and leaders: Recognise loneliness as a public health issue and fund evidence-based, youth-led solutions.
Towards a More Connected Australia
As the Cardijn Community Australia, we believe that every young person has the right to belong, to participate, and to lead. Youth loneliness is not inevitable. But addressing it requires a collective response rooted in compassion, solidarity, and the Cardijn spirit of accompaniment.
Let us listen, act, and build a culture of connection — so that no young Australian feels they must face life alone.