Contents Phase 3 YPR Scoping Study .......................................................................................................................... 2 Introducing Gen Z and Gen Alpha ................................................................................................................ 3 Relational ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Raising Screenagers .................................................................................................................................... 4 Restructured Households .......................................................................................................................... 5 Redefined Life Stages ................................................................................................................................. 6 Emotional ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 Resilience ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Contentment .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Life skills ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Social ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Real world relational .................................................................................................................................... 9 Experts to Peer Groups .............................................................................................................................. 11 Big Australia: Growing, Ageing, Changing, Moving ........................................................................... 12 Spiritual............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Superficiality to Substance ....................................................................................................................... 15 Shifting Social Values ................................................................................................................................ 16 Vocational .......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Employability & Future Proofing Careers ............................................................................................. 17 Generational change in our community................................................................................................ 17 Life balance focus: Shift from destination to journey ........................................................................ 18 Educational ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 When: Starts Earlier, Continues Later .................................................................................................... 19 How: Formal, Informal, and Non-Formal ............................................................................................... 19 What: Digital Learners ............................................................................................................................... 20 Who: Today’s Students .............................................................................................................................. 21 Financial ............................................................................................................................................................ 22 Expectation Inflation .................................................................................................................................. 22 Wealth Quintiles ......................................................................................................................................... 23 Self-Actualisation........................................................................................................................................ 24 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ 25 1 PHASE 3 YPR SCOPING STUDY In August 2014, Scouts Australia commissioned McCrindle to undertake Phase 2 and Phase 3 of a contribution to the Youth Program Review research. This Phase 3 Scoping Study is a collation of social research factors shaping the world of Gen Alpha (under 5) and Gen Z (5 to 19 year-olds) taking into account ABS data and McCrindle research trends analysis. In the larger context of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 YPR Research reports, this analysis highlights the cultural and situational context facing today’s young people, outlining the key trends shaping Generation Zed and Generation Alpha relationally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, vocationally, educationally and financially. These areas closely reflect the core values of Scouts Australia and their identified areas of personal growth – social, physical, intellectual, character, emotional and spiritual development. As an additional insight piece to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 research reports, this Scoping Study provides the context in which today’s emerging generations are operating and a broad-based approach to the issues outlined in the YPR research questions. 2 INTRODUCING GEN Z AND GEN ALPHA Those who belong to Generation Zed were born from 1995 to 2009 and are currently aged between 5 and 19 years of age. There are 4.43 million Gen Zeds in Australia, who make up 19% of the national population and whilst they comprise just 6% of the workforce today, they will make up 27% of the workforce by 2025. Generation Alpha are the newest and youngest generation in Australia, those born since 2010 and currently aged under 5. In 2014 there were already 1.6 million Gen Alphas in Australia, which is 7% of the national population. Australia is in its largest baby boom since the post-war period and with more than 300,000 births taking place each year, Gen Alpha will soon be the next large cohort of school students. This demographic growth highlights a unique opportunity for Scouts Australia to proactively engage with this next generation. Today’s children and youth are growing up in an era of incredible change. Whether it be demographics, technology, society, education or the economy, there are transformations continually occurring in every area. Only occasionally in history do massive demographic shifts combine with huge social change and ongoing generational transitions and rapid technological trends so that within the span of a few decades, society altogether alters Today we are living in the midst of one such transformation 3 RELATIONAL Raising Screenagers Today’s emerging generations; Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are growing up in a world of unprecedented technological change. While many of the Baby Boomers own smartphones and use apps, the way they use new technologies is more sequential, structural, linear and practical than the younger generations. The over 40’s can be described as digital transactors, using the latest tools to transact, as with any tool, and after the function is performed, putting it back down or replacing an older tool with a newer, more functional one. However the Under 30’s, having been shaped in a digital, wireless, online world, have embedded these tools more into their lifestyles. The technologies are seamlessly integrated into their lives. They are the digital integrators. In their lifetimes, today’s youth and children have witnessed a technology boom that has redefined the way people relate and communicate. With the development and expansion of the internet has come the introduction of social media and content sharing, which are being progressively integrated into everyday life. When the oldest Gen Zeds were 2 years of age in 1997, Google.com was registered as a domain, and when they turned 5, USB flash drives were new on the market. The first Gen Alphas were born as the first Apple iPad was launched. They celebrated their first birthdays with the advent of Instagram, and as they turned 2 years of age, Facebook hit 1 billion active users. The only phones that Gen Alphas have ever seen also take photos, record videos, access the internet, run games and have just one button. 4 Generation Z are content creators who are constantly utilising new technologies and integrating them into daily life. This can include making and uploading videos to YouTube, curating blogs, posting on social media, commenting in forums, or contributing to Wikipedia articles. Our preschool and kindergarten generation of today, Generation Alpha are also being shaped by the changing world they have been born into, and many are already able to navigate tablets and smartphones with intuitive ease. The far-reaching impacts of technology on the everyday lives of young people also have implications for their parents, who are required to navigate