Wellbeing Snapshots

Satisfaction with life

Satisfaction with life is important to children and young people’s sense of wellbeing. The Department for Education’s wellbeing and engagement collection (WEC) is an annual survey that asks students how satisfied they feel about life.

In 2019, 79% of Year 4 to Year 10 students that participated reported feeling satisfied with life (up from 76% in 2016). The proportion of Aboriginal students that participated reported feeling satisfied with life was 75% and the proportion of students with disability who reported feeling satisfied with life was 77%. More Year 4 students reported feeling satisfied with life (87%) compared to Year 10 students (71%).

Optimism

Optimism is about thinking positively and expecting the best out of life’s experiences. The wellbeing and engagement collection (WEC) is an annual survey conducted by the Department for Education that asks students about how optimistic they feel about life.

In 2019, 85% of all Year 4 to Year 10 students reported feeling optimistic about life (up from 67% in 2016). The proportion of Aboriginal students who reported feeling optimistic was 81% and the proportion of students with disability who reported feeling optimistic was also 81%. More Year 4 students reported feeling optimistic (89%) compared to Year 10 students (81%).

In regional/remote South Australia, the region with the highest proportion of Year 4 to Year 10 students who reported feeling optimistic was the Limestone Coast (87%). In metropolitan Adelaide, the regions with the highest proportions were Unley and Prospect-Walkerville (both 92%).