A new report released on Sept. 7 reveals that the overall well-being of Australians has not returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, despite some improvements. The report, conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), examined the lasting effects of the pandemic on individuals’ lives. According to AIHW Deputy CEO Matthew James, although life has returned to “normal” for Australians, certain aspects are still “quite different” compared to pre-pandemic times. However, he noted that Australians have made significant progress since 2021.
The report drew data from various sources, including an Australian National University (ANU) survey, to assess life satisfaction. It found that life satisfaction levels were lower compared to before the pandemic. The analysis from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) showed that average levels of life satisfaction remained stable from 2001 to 2018. However, in 2019, life satisfaction dropped to 7.5 out of 10, lower than the 7.6 recorded in 2014. Furthermore, the General Social Survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed that in 2020, life satisfaction was as low as 7.2, except for individuals aged 70 and over. Though average satisfaction increased slightly from August 2021, it declined to 6.6 in August 2023, lower than the late 2020 period and pre-pandemic levels.
Psychological distress also remains a concern, as it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. In October 2021, 12.5 percent of Australians experienced severe psychological distress, slightly lower than the 12.9 percent reported in August 2023. However, this is a notable increase compared to the 8.4 percent recorded in February 2017. The report noted that loneliness has decreased since the early days of the pandemic but was already a concern prior to COVID-19. Data from 2001 to 2019 showed that approximately one in five Australians admitted to feeling very lonely. In August 2023, 37 percent of Australians reported experiencing loneliness at least some of the time.
The frequency of social contact among Australians has declined across all age groups over the past two decades, with a 13 percent overall decrease from 2001 to 2021. Face-to-face contact with family and friends outside the household dropped to 42 percent in 2020 compared to 68 percent in 2019, as indicated by the ABS General Social Survey. The pandemic led to a significant increase in remote work, with approximately 46 percent of Australians working from home at least once a week since April 2022.
Regarding gambling, levels of high-risk gambling remained relatively stable before, during, and after the pandemic according to ANU literature. While overall gambling participation rates decreased during lockdown periods, they have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The CSRM COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Survey Series found that individuals whose gambling increased during the pandemic were more likely to experience gambling severity, psychological distress, and increased alcohol consumption. Online gambling participation rates have also increased over the years, reaching 30.7 percent in 2019. The Albanese Labor government reported that Australians spend the most per capita on legal forms of gambling, losing $25 billion annually, with online gambling being the most significant contributor to these losses.