Priority Wellbeing Issues
The following issues are documented as the most significant wellbeing challenges for students in New South Wales, based on national and state-level Australian data.
Cyberbullying & Online Harm
53% experienced itNSW accounts for the largest absolute number of cyberbullying victims. eSafety data shows over half of 10–17 year olds have experienced cyberbullying at some point.
Read deep dive →Anxiety Disorders
Most common disorderAnxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition among NSW school-aged children, with urban social pressure compounding exposure.
Read deep dive →School Refusal
↑ Post-COVID surgeParliamentary Library research highlights a significant post-pandemic spike in school refusal driven by anxiety and social disconnection, with NSW schools reporting elevated chronic absence.
Read deep dive →Sleep Deprivation
50% of 16–17 yr oldsHalf of older teens statewide do not meet sleep guidelines on school nights, impairing concentration and emotional regulation.
Read deep dive →School Belonging Deficits
NSW CESE dataNSW CESE finds strong links between belonging and lower bullying. Scores declined post-COVID across many NSW schools.
Read deep dive →Who attends school in New South Wales?
3,196 schools · 1,257,719 students
These indicators highlight student groups that research shows are at higher risk of wellbeing challenges and may require additional support. Averages are across all schools in New South Wales.
of students in schools fall in the lowest quarter of socio-educational advantage nationally
average proportion of Indigenous students across schools — a group with documented higher wellbeing needs
of students have a language background other than English (LBOTE) — requiring culturally aware wellbeing approaches
Source: ACARA National School Profile, data as at March 2025. ICSEA ranges from ~500 to ~1300; national average is 1000. Equity figures are school-level averages, not student-weighted.
Cities & Regions in New South Wales
Select a city or region to explore a detailed wellbeing report for that specific area, including local data, priority issues, and prevention insights.
The challenge schools in New South Wales face
Schools across New South Wales are doing their best with the resources and information they have. But wellbeing challenges like anxiety, disengagement, and self-harm are often invisible until they become urgent. Teachers and principals are not mental health specialists — and without systematic data, they are working without a map.
When schools measure student emotional readiness to learn regularly and systematically, the warning signs become visible weeks before a crisis. That window is where prevention lives.
Sources & References
The data presented on this page is sourced from reputable Australian government and research organisations.
- 📊Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
www.abs.gov.au ↗ - 🏥Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
www.aihw.gov.au ↗ - 🎓Department of Education
www.education.gov.au ↗ - 📚State and Territory Education Departments
Regional data from state-specific education authorities