Key Facts:
- Burnet Institute has launched its 2026 Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll (SDRR) survey, inviting young Victorians aged 15 to 29 to share their experiences on sexual health, relationships, and wellbeing, with the anonymous online survey open until the end of June.
- New questions for 2026 cover Australia’s social media age restrictions for under-16s, new laws on minors’ access to online pornography, and awareness of at-home STI self-testing, reflecting the changing digital and policy landscape.
- Last year’s survey of over 1,000 young Victorians revealed significant gaps in sexual health education, with 77% saying pleasure was not covered at school, 84% saying different types of sex were not covered, and only 42% feeling consent education was adequately taught.
- The 2025 survey also found high levels of substance use among respondents, with 95% having consumed alcohol in the past year, 72% having used recreational drugs, and 62.7% having used e-cigarettes or vapes.
- Conducted annually since 2005, the SDRR survey is fully confidential and de-identified, with findings used to inform health education programmes, policy recommendations, and community resources across Australia.
From porn laws to STI tests, Burnet Institute’s annual youth survey tackles the topics adults avoid, launching its 2026 Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll (SDRR) survey, calling on young Victorians aged between 15 and 29 to share their experiences and views on sexual health, relationships, and wellbeing.
New questions have been added this year, with the survey now asking about the Australian Government’s social media age restrictions, new laws on minors’ access to pornography and STI self-testing awareness, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of digital life and health literacy for young Australians.
Last year’s survey heard from more than a thousand young Victorians, and highlighted significant gaps in sexual health education across the country, revealing many are navigating intimacy in a world shaped by online pornography and social media, often without clear, practical guidance on healthy relationships. The results included:
- 77% of participants said sexual pleasure was not covered at school.
- 84% said different types of sex were not covered at school.
- Only 42% said consent education was covered well, leaving more than half without adequate guidance.
- 62.7% had used e-cigarettes or vapes, with curiosity and peer influence cited as the main reasons.
- 95% had consumed alcohol in the past year, and 72% had used recreational drugs.
Head of Young People’s Health at Burnet Institute, Associate Professor Megan Lim, said young people are at the core of the research, and their voices are what make it meaningful.
“We know from last year’s findings that there are real gaps in how sexual health is being taught and understood, but we can only build a clearer picture if young Victorians come forward and share their experiences,” A/Prof Lim said.
“I encourage anyone aged 15 to 29 to take 15 to 20 minutes and complete this year’s survey. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest perspective, which is exactly what we need to drive change.”
Reflecting the shifting landscape of digital health and government policy, the 2026 SDRR survey introduces three new areas of questions:
- Social media age laws: Young people’s awareness and opinions on Australian Government legislation introduced at the end of 2025, restricting under-16s from accessing certain social media platforms. This question was previewed in the 2025 survey, with 55% of respondents in support and 42% opposed.
- Pornography restricted access: Awareness and attitudes toward new laws restricting young people’s access to online pornography, and whether participants believe such measures are effective.
- STI self-testing: Knowledge and use of at-home STI testing options, including awareness of where to access them and confidence in interpreting results.
About the survey
The Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll Survey has been conducted annually by Burnet Institute’s Young People’s Health team since 2005 and online from 2015. It is a confidential, anonymous online survey that takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
All responses are de-identified; no names or
