The Australian Government is protecting young Australians at a critical stage of their development, through world-first social media age restrictions taking effect on 10th December 2025. The new law means social media platforms will need to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having a social media account. Please visit the following links on the eSafety Commissioner website to find out more:

Which platforms are age-restricted:

Which platforms are age-restricted? | eSafety Commissioner

Information for parents/families:

Social media age restrictions and your family| eSafety Commissioner

Information for young people/students:

Social media age restrictions hub | eSafety Commissioner

Information for educators:

What do the social media age restrictions mean for educators? | eSafety Commissioner

Frequently Asked Questions: Social media 'ban' or delay FAQ | eSafety Commissioner

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NAVIGATING LONELINESS

When your teenager is shutting themselves away in their room, refusing to join in family activities and is being generally withdrawn, it’s hard to know what to say or do to help them. You can support them by strengthening your own connection and by helping them to connect with others.

Is your teen just introverted?

Sometimes teens need a break from social activity, and being alone gives them time to recharge. If your teen is introverted, they might prefer to spend time alone rather than hang out with friends and family all the time.

Most people are on a spectrum between introversion and extroversion and it can be difficult to tell where on that spectrum someone is. This is especially true with teens, who might try to act more extroverted than they really are in order to fit in at school.

Have a discussion with your teen about what sorts of social activities they like, and to what extent (e.g. how often, for how long, and with how many other people). This will help you to understand what will help make them feel socially connected. Teens who are more introverted still need to feel connected, just in different ways.

If your teen is being more withdrawn than usual, or is spending less time with friends, they might be feeling lonely or disconnected.

Strengthen your connection with your teen

It’s possible that your teen will reject your first offer of help. But even if they refuse to talk to you, it’s really important that you keep trying to connect with them. If your teen is feeling sad and frustrated because they’re socially isolated, your role as a parent is to provide a safe and consistent place for them. Here are some things that can help you to strengthen your connection with your teen:

Start a conversation. Asking your teen how they’re going and opening up a conversation can help you to figure out if they’re feeling lonely and whether there are other things going on, too. If they don’t want to talk, that’s okay – let them know that when they’re ready, you’ll be there for them.
Be available and present. When talking to your teen, focus your attention on them and actively listen to what they’re saying.
Do some activities together. Simple activities like taking a walk around the block after dinner or going for a drive can help your teen feel connected with you. It’ll also provide a less confronting opportunity for them to talk about how they’re feeling.
Relate to and validate your teen. Tell them about times when you felt lonely as a teenager (or as an adult) and explain how those feelings passed. Let them know that everyone feels like this sometimes.

Help your teen connect with others

Working, volunteering and being creative are ways teenagers can contribute to their community in areas where they feel useful and knowledgeable. It’s likely they will find other people in these environments (whether in real life or online) who can become their peers and friends.Here are some ways you can support your teen to connect with others:

Find interest groups in your area. Check out your teen’s school, or your local library or council, or search the Ending Loneliness Directory online, for interest groups that are available for free or at a low cost.
Find volunteering opportunities. Suggest that your teen volunteer for a cause they’re interested in. They could help out at an animal shelter or a homeless shelter, or they could coach a younger sports team. They can check out what’s listed online to get started.
Nurture your relationships with other parents. Invite families with teenagers to visit and share meals, so that another teenager is there to connect with your child.
Encourage your teen to find a part-time or casual job. Work can be a great way for your teen to meet new people. Help them to write a resume that outlines their skills, achievements and strengths, and the positive contribution they make to their school or community. Be prepared to help them talk with local business owners about potential jobs, then encourage your teen to apply for them. For more tips, watch our video Should I help my teen get a job?.
Suggest other people for them to talk to. Not all teenagers want to share their feelings with their parents. You could help them to identify other trusted adults they could talk to, like an aunt, a neighbour, a friend’s older brother, a teacher or even their school counsellor. If they don’t want to talk in person, they could hop on to ReachOut PeerChat, a safe space for young people aged 16-25 to chat anonymously about what’s going on with them.

Remember to look after yourself

It’s so important to look after yourself while supporting your teen. There’s a bunch of things you can do to take care of yourself, but here are some key ones:

When your teen is experiencing loneliness and isolation, it’s common to feel like you’re going through it alone as well. However, many parents of teenagers have experienced the same thing, and their teen has emerged from the difficult times stronger and more connected.

Article Credit # ReachOut How to help your teen when they’re feeling lonely and isolated

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LIFE AFTER SCHOOL

Dealing with the end of school is different for everyone. It might be scary, exciting, confusing .. or all of those things! You’ll probably be asked a lot of questions about what you’ll do next, and these can be annoying or make you feel pressured if you don’t have a clear idea of what your future looks like. A lot of young people don’t know what they want and that’s okay too. Think about the things you enjoyed at school or what you find interesting or fun.

Looking at your options

There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ choices and you can always change your mind. Think about all the things you could do and how different some of these common options might make you feel:

Travelling or taking a gap year
Studying at TAFE, College or an Institute
Studying at university
Working
Volunteering
Doing another year of high school

If you’re thinking about further study

A lot of young people think about going to TAFE, Uni or doing some kind of training course. Here are some things to help you take that first step:

Identify areas you’d like to learn more about or jobs you’d be interested in trying
Research different types of courses in your area of interest
Visit some of the places you’re thinking of studying at or talk to someone who goes there
Attend orientation or open days where you can ask questions
Look at the cost of the course and your eligibility for benefits from Centrelink
Find out who can help you on campus eg. counselling and health services and academic support

If you want to get a job and start working

Sometimes young people decide that working and earning an income is the best option for them after finishing school.

If you’d like to get a job after leaving school, there are a few things you can do:
Think about jobs or trades that you’d like to try
Learn about different kinds of organisations you’d like to work for
Make a list of your skills, what you’re good at and work experience
Learn how to write a resume and have someone check it over
Practice answering questions for an interview

Try and remember that the first job you’re offered may not be the job you ultimately want. However, trying different jobs gives you valuable work experience and your first job may be a stepping stone to something else!

If you’re still unsure… seeking advice from a careers counsellor/teacher or talking with friends can help you figure out the next step.For more information visit the following links on the Australian Government Your Career website:

Further study and training: Further study and training | Your Career

Take a Gap Year: Take a gap year | Your Career

Build Your Career: Build your career | Your Career

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Peoples: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | Your Career

People with Disability: People with disability | Your Career

Regional, Rural & Remote School Leavers: Regional, rural and remote school leavers | Your Career

Art

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