00:00Young people are out there trying to survive, and it's because of an unsafe environment that they've been put in that they've had to leave home.
00:07Forget the dream of home ownership. For tens of thousands of young Aussies, even affording rent or finding a safe place to sleep is out of reach.
00:18I had tried to live with both parents separately because I had divorced.
00:22I had tried to live with my sister, tried to live with my friend. Due to different circumstances, none of those were viable for a long period of time.
00:30A new campaign has launched a fake survival show, inspired by hits like Alone and Survivor, that lays bare the harsh reality of youth homelessness, where staying alive is not simply part of a game, but a daily struggle.
00:48Trying to find somewhere I can sleep for the night.
00:50My phone's about to die and the refuge hasn't called me back yet. I'll be fine.
00:57The release comes as new figures reveal more than 43,000 Australians under 25 are either experiencing homelessness or are at serious risk.
01:08Despite young people making up nearly 40% of the country's homeless population, half of those seeking crisis accommodation last financial year were turned away due to a lack of space.
01:22They're just the ones that know about services or are feeling mentally okay enough to go and ask for help.
01:28The number would be easily double that.
01:30Natasha became a youth worker and returned to the refuge she entered at 16.
01:36She supports young people to ensure they don't fall through the cracks.
01:41I remember coming in here at 16 and asking for help and now I'm someone who can help other young people.
01:47You get extra credibility from young people as well when you can say, okay, well, I may not know exactly what you're going through, but I've had a similar experience and I've also lived in the refuge.
