Research: Compassion and Hope

EIGHT IN TEN AUSTRALIANS ARE MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE NOW COMPARED TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC

Clare Steele, CEO of Compassion Australia, tells Dave the research showed Australians are most likely to put their hope in their family, themselves, and their friends

Eight in ten Australians are more hopeful about the future now compared to the beginning of the pandemic, a new study released today has found. The survey, conducted by McCrindle Research on behalf of Compassion Australia found that Gen Z (those aged 18-26) were most likely to feel significantly hopeful now (36%) and women (33%) more likely than men (25%) to feel somewhat more hopeful.
The poll, which surveyed 1,000 Australian adults, also found that Australians were most likely to put their hope in their family (78%), themselves (74%) and their friends (67%).
Clare Steele, CEO of Compassion Australia, says, “As Australians we like to think that we are relatively hopeful as a nation. But that hope has certainly been challenged over these past 12 months as we have found our health, our freedoms and our normal way of life threatened by the Covid pandemic. The research is an encouragement that, despite all that we have collectively experienced this year, hope is beginning to rise again for the majority of Australians.”
When asked what inspires hope, Australians were most likely to say seeing or experiencing a random act of kindness (65%), support from family and friends (63%) and taking care of people or animals (54%).
Steele continues, “Going through a collective trauma, like we have since coronavirus was first identified, forces us to focus on what is most important. In the midst of extreme isolation, fear and grief, Australians have seen hope in the little things – the small acts of kindness and looking out for one another. The crisis has been devastating for many, but it has also brought us together and allowed us to share hope with those around us in practical ways.”
Through the projects Compassion Australia work with around the world, many vulnerable communities have been affected by the pandemic.
Steele concludes, “Although the pandemic has affected us all, the poor have most certainly been disproportionately impacted. But even in those most challenging of circumstances, we have seen from the children and families we support, the same resilience and the same hope we see in Australia.”
For more details on the Compassion ‘Restore Hope’ campaign go to https://www.compassion.com.au

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