Australian teens are experiencing high rates of intimate partner violence, one in 10 are relying on the withdrawal method for contraception and many don't know how to access help for their sexual health, according to the country's largest study of adolescents' sexual health and relationships.
Australian teens are experiencing high rates of intimate partner violence, one in 10 are relying on the withdrawal method for contraception and many don't know how to access help for their sexual health, according to the country's largest study of adolescents' sexual health and relationships.
The eighth Australian Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health (SSASH), released on 28 May, has highlighted urgent gaps in consent education, support services and help‑seeking pathways for young people.
Conducted by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University, the survey draws on responses from 4396 teens aged 14 to 18 across the country.
It found half of those surveyed (50 per cent) were sexually active. The mean age at which they became sexually active was 15 years (15.6 for oral sex and 15.9 for penile-vaginal or penile-anal sex).
Of those who were sexually active, most described their most recent sexual experience as enjoyable (75 per cent) and safe (85 per cent), however, around 40 per cent also reported experiencing mixed feelings including stress or guilt, highlighting the complexity of early sexual experiences.
More than half (61 per cent) reported having been in a romantic relationship that lasted more than three months. These were generally described as positive, however, the survey shows unwanted sexual experiences and intimate partner violence remain critical issues.
Among those who had been in a relationship:
- 37 per cent had felt frightened of someone they were in a relationship with at some point
- 44 per cent had experienced verbal abuse within a relationship
- 31 per cent had experienced technology-facilitated harassment or tracking by a partner
- 18 per cent had experienced physical violence, being hit, pushed, or grabbed by a partner
- 2.6 per cent had been forced by a partner to have sex
Young women were more likely than young men to report having experienced violence, harassment or fear within a relationship.
More than one in five (21 per cent) of all young people surveyed said they experienced sex they did not want, including oral sex. Of these:
- 63 per cent had agreed to sex to avoid upsetting their partner (13 per cent of all young people surveyed)
- 56 per cent had agreed when someone kept asking after they had said no (12 per cent of all young people surveyed)
- 30 per cent were too intoxicated to consent (6 per cent of all young people surveyed)
- 28 per cent were physically forced (6 per cent of all young people surveyed)
- 11.2 per cent were threatened (2 per cent of all young people surveyed)
Professor Jennifer Power, lead investigator on the survey, said the need to improve education about sexual violence and consent had grown markedly in the past five years.
"There has been significant investment in consent education and primary prevention of sexual violence, yet we still see these very high figures. We need to do more to engage with young people on these issues," Professor Power said.
Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) were also a concern in the context of rising rates of common STIs among young people.
The survey showed condoms continue to be an important form of prevention against unwanted pregnancy and STIs, however, many young people report infrequent use.
Of the 50 per cent who were sexually active:
- 26 per cent always used condoms
- 11 per cent never used condoms
Most sexually active young people used some form of evidence‑based contraception, although one in 10 (10 per cent) relied on the withdrawal method, which is a notably unreliable form of contraception.
Overall, only 12 per cent of young people had been for a STI screen or checkup.
There were notable gaps in young people's understanding of how to access sexual health services:
- 19 per cent said they had needed help for sexual issues, but hadn't been able to get it
- 41 per cent did not know that young people could access free sexual health services
- 47 per cent said that they did not know where to find a doctor for STI testing
- 44 per cent were unaware that they could get their own Medicare card before age 18
Almost all (92 per cent) young people had received Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) at school, but less than half (45 per cent) found it relevant.
Puberty and reproduction were the most commonly covered topics (92 per cent) and most young people had received education about sexual consent (82 per cent) and respectful relationships (73 per cent).
But coverage of practical information about sex was mixed, with less than half (44 per cent) saying they had learned where to get help or support for sexual issues, while only 11 per cent had received lessons to answer their practical questions about having sex.
"The intricacies of sex are really difficult to discuss but they're the things young people want to learn about," Professor Power said.
"It's in this context that we shouldn't be surprised many young people turn to porn - they are curious to know what sex looks like. What needs to happen is finding ways to direct young people to quality safe online resources."
In other findings:
- The majority of young people (74%) reported that they had intentionally viewed pornography. The average age young people first view pornography intentionally was 13 years. The average young person first viewed pornography unintentionally at 11.5 years, usually stumbling on it online or being shown a video by a friend.
- Young people were generally in a committed relationship at the time of their most recent sexual encounter (78.7 per cent). A further 13.6 per cent reported last having sex with a friend or acquaintance, while 3.3 per cent said their last sexual encounter was with someone they did not know or had just met.
- Sending or receiving nude or sexual images using a mobile phone ('sexting') was common, with 50 per cent reporting having sent or received a 'sext' at least once. Of those who had 'sexted' 51 per cent had received photos that they did not want to, or agree to, receive and 13 per cent had experienced an image of themselves being shared without their permission.
- Online dating was not common (17 per cent). For those who had tried online dating, the average age at which they first did this was 16.7 years.
The survey has been funded by the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing since its inception at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1992.
Data for SSASH 8 was collected anonymously online between October 2024 and April 2025.
