How is loneliness impacting young people in Australia?

Research suggests that young people in Australia experience loneliness more than any other age group. Schools play a central role in how young people make social connections, but they can also be a space where isolation takes root. While the connection between experiences of bullying, undesirable social connections and loneliness may seem fundamental, the impact of this interaction and its relationship to the dynamics of school life has not been explored in detail.  

This two-part series explores a recent Australian study that sought to gain a deeper insight into the experience of loneliness in school settings. The research redefines loneliness as created by the social dynamics that exist within schools rather than stemming from isolation. It highlights how harmful social interactions, such as bullying, shape emotional experiences and create environments that increase loneliness.    

In this episode, guest host Nadia Rossi talks to the authors of this study, Amber Brock-Fabel (Founder, SA Youth Forum) and Dr Ben Lohmeyer (Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University). They discuss the process of co-designing the study; the increased incidence of loneliness for young people in Australia; and the connections between bullying, social systems and experiences of loneliness. 

In this episode, you will learn about:  

• the process of co-design undertaken by Ben, Amber and the SA Youth Forum [06:37] 

• how young people experience loneliness [11:43] 

• links between social systems, loneliness and experiences of bullying [13:43]  

• the role of safe spaces for young people within and outside of the school environment [18:46]. 

Further information and resources: 

Research paper 

Lohmeyer, B., & South Australian Youth Forum. (2025). Affective economies of loneliness in school: Bullying, violence and undesirable social connections. Critical Studies in Education. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1080/17508487.2025.2555310. 

Online courses 

Understanding childhood bullying and mental health  

Practice strategies for childhood bullying  

Podcasts 

Childhood bullying and mental health – part 1 

Childhood bullying and mental health – part 2 

Supporting children who experience bullying  

Supporting children who engage in bullying 

Webinars 

Working with children who are experiencing or engaging in bullying behaviour 

Supporting the mental health of children who experience bullying 

Supporting the mental health of children who engage in bullying behaviour 

Practice papers 

Key considerations for practitioners responding to childhood bullying 

Primary health support for bullying in the middle years: Learnings for practitioners 

Working with families to prevent bullying  

Exploring bullying in context: Children’s relationships, friendships and social functioning  

Supporting families to navigate school responses to bullying  

Identifying and responding to bullying in the pre-teen years: The role of primary health care practitioners