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Sex, drugs and rock and roll. Illustrations of condoms, drink cans, pills and a vape.

Young people’s health in Australia: statistics from the Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll survey

Open to students

Every year, Burnet surveys young people about their sexual health, drug use, mental health and wellbeing. The data is used to inform public health policies and programs.

This annual survey is called 'Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.' It includes questions around:

  • sexual behaviours 
  • alcohol and other drug use 
  • mental health and wellbeing. 

Each year, we include additional questions based on current and emerging issues or topics of relevance for young people. This includes topics such as COVID-19, pornography use, social media and menstrual health. We began surveying young people at the Big Day Out music festival in 2005. Since 2015, the surveys have been completed online. 

Adolescent Health Shutterstock 60250840

Get involved

Are you 15–29 years old? You can help inform policies that affect you. Email us or sign up to stay informed.

Student opportunities

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Quantitative and qualitative data projects

In this project, the student will use the data collected to investigate patterns of risk behaviours, knowledge, and health outcomes. This will involve quantitative analysis of the relationship between variables such as condom use, number of sexual partners, drug and alcohol use and perceptions of risk. The project could also involve in-depth qualitative data collection via content analysis, focus group discussions or interviews.

Open to
  • Honours
  • Masters by research
Supervisors

Who participates?

The survey is open to 15 to 29 year olds in Australia. Our 2024 sample looked like the following: 

  • average age 22 (range 15–29 years old)
  • 61% woman, 26% man, 13% nonbinary
  • 42% heterosexual, 28% bisexual, 15% queer, 12% gay, 9% pansexual
  • 86% born in Australia
  • 60% currently studying at high school, university or TAFE
  • 54% live with parents, 20% with friends or housemates, 16% with a partner
  • 6% identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

We primarily recruit young people based in Victoria and 53% of our 2024 respondents were based in greater Melbourne. 

Research our data informed

11 Mar 2023

Reusable period products: use and perceptions among young people in Victoria, Australia

BMC Women s Health

Caitlin Douglass, Caitlin Ramsay, Julie Hennegan, Sarah Eddy, Alexandra Head, Sarah Eddy, Caitlin Ramsay, Julie Hennegan, Caitlin Douglass, Alexandra Head

03 Jun 2020

Comparing sexual behaviours and knowledge between domestic students and Chinese international students in Australia: findings from two cross-sectional studies

International Journal of STD & AIDS

Caitlin Douglass, Yinzong Xiao, Carol El‐Hayek, Megan S. C. Lim

08 Dec 2020

‘Censorship is cancer’. Young people’s support for pornography-related initiatives

Sex Education

Kirsten Roode, Megan S. C. Lim, Angela Davis, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Megan S. C. Lim, Kirsten Roode, Angela Davis, Cassandra J. C. Wright

14 Sep 2016

Who ‘likes’ alcohol? Young Australians' engagement with alcohol marketing via social media and related alcohol consumption patterns

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Elise R. Carrotte, Paul Dietze, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Megan S. Lim

21 Aug 2015

Predictors of “Liking” Three Types of Health and Fitness-Related Content on Social Media: A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research

Alyce M. Vella, Elise R. Carrotte, Megan S. C. Lim, Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Megan S. C. Lim

30 Jun 2017

Young Australians' use of pornography and associations with sexual risk behaviours

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Alyce M. Vella, Megan S. C. Lim, Paul A. Agius, Elise R. Carrotte, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim, Paul A. Agius, Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard

01 Jan 2014

Prevalence, correlates and attitudes towards sexting among young people in Melbourne, Australia

Sexual Health

Alyce M. Vella, Timothy Yeung, Danielle Horyniak, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim, Timothy Yeung, Danielle Horyniak, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim

01 Jan 2020

Non-consensual sharing of personal sexually explicit imagery among young people in Australia: results from an online survey

Sexual Health

Caitlin Douglass, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Angela Davis, Megan S. C. Lim

01 Jan 2017

Correlates of sexually transmissible infection testing among a sample of at-risk young Australians

Australian Journal of Primary Health

Caitlin Douglass, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim

06 Jan 2016

Mental Health and Associated Sexual Health Behaviours in a Sample of Young People Attending a Music Festival in Melbourne, Victoria

Community Mental Health Journal

Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret Hellard, Megan S. C. Lim

08 Jul 2014

Young people’s comparative recognition and recall of an Australian Government Sexual Health Campaign

International Journal of STD & AIDS

Megan S. C. Lim, Judy Gold, Anna L. Bowring, Alisa Pedrana, Margaret Hellard

01 Jan 2018

Correlates of in-person and technology-facilitated sexual harassment from an online survey among young Australians

Sexual Health

Caitlin Douglass, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Angela Davis, Megan S. C. Lim

14 Jul 2017

“Just not all ice users do that”: investigating perceptions and potential harms of Australia’s Ice Destroys Lives campaign in two studies

Harm Reduction Journal

Elizabeth C. Early, Caitlin Douglass, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Anna Palmer, Peter Higgs, Brendan Quinn, Megan S. C. Lim, Caitlin Douglass, Elizabeth C. Early, Cassandra J. C. Wright

Project contacts

Main contact

Ana Orozco

Ana Orozco

Research Assistant
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Student supervisor contacts

Associate Professor Megan SC Lim

Associate Professor Megan SC Lim

Deputy Program Director, Disease Elimination; Head, Young People’s Health
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Project team

Associate Professor Megan SC Lim

Associate Professor Megan SC Lim

Deputy Program Director, Disease Elimination; Head, Young People’s Health
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Ana Orozco

Ana Orozco

Research Assistant
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Dr Caitlin Douglass

Dr Caitlin Douglass

Senior Research Officer
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Desi Ariwinanti

Desi Ariwinanti

PhD Candidate
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