Youth Vulnerability and Extremism in Australia

Summary

The research highlights how personal experiences, social challenges and environmental factors can increase vulnerability for youth.

Rather than pointing to a single or isolated cause, the study suggests that the susceptibility of these young people is informed by multiple overlapping vulnerabilities. The authors also suggest practical ways to help these young people safely disengage and receive the support they need.

Research backed by real experiences

It was done with help from the Engagement and Support Program (ESP), which is run by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

ESP is a voluntary program that works with young people and their families to understand and support their complex needs for long term sustainable disengagement. People can choose to take part and leave at any time.

The overview below breaks down key findings and recommendations from the research papers into plain English, with a focus on helping vulnerable youth and early intervention.

Key Findings

Who is most at risk?

Young people are more vulnerable to being targeted by extremist groups when they:

• Experience traumatic childhoods, including trauma, abuse or neglect
• Live with mental health challenges, or neurodiversity (like ADHD or autism)
• Have experienced grooming
• Have been in out-of-home care or have been involved with child protection services.

Who are extremists targeting?

• Extremist groups, especially extreme right-wing (XRW) movements, are increasingly targeting younger people - some as young as 10 to 13 years old
• Online platforms play a major role in radicalising youth
• Youth with learning difficulties or cognitive impairments are especially at risk.

Real-Life Examples

The article refers to several incidents in Australia, including violent acts committed by teens and a planned attack by a 19 year old in Newcastle. These cases highlight the need for early intervention and support.

Strengthening Youth Support

Support systems must be trauma-informed and therapeutic. Punishment alone doesn’t work, young people need trauma-informed care and long-term support as youth radicalisation is growing and becoming more complex.

What can be done

To prevent youth extremism, we need:

• Informed Responses to youth extremism. These should focus on understanding the engagement pathways, not just the behaviour.
• Support. This can include:
  • Mental health care
  • Educational support
  • Family and community engagement
  • Tailored interventions for neurodiverse youth.

Supporting Vulnerable Youth to Prevent Extremism

Strengthening Laws

The authors recommend updating laws to make it illegal to groom young people into extremism. This would help protect vulnerable youth from being targeted early.

Trauma-Informed Support

Supporting vulnerable youth means recognising how trauma shapes their behaviour and interactions.

Professionals such as police, lawyers, support workers who work with at-risk youth should be trained in trauma care and how it affects behaviour.

Systems like courts and youth justice should consider:

• A young person’s cognitive development
• Their life circumstances (e.g. home environment, mental health)
• Working with specialist communicators like occupational therapists and speech pathologists, who can also make sure young people with communication or learning difficulties get the support they need and understand legal processes better.

Understanding Vulnerabilities

To prevent extremism, it is important to understand what makes some young people more at risk.

• Tracking things like Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) helps identify who is most at risk.
• Many young people involved in extremism share traits with those in the criminal justice system. A better understanding of these crossovers is necessary. Sharing this information carefully can improve support, without unfairly widening the net.

What’s Working Well

Engagement and Support Program

The Engagement and Support Program (ESP) helps young people who may be at risk of being drawn into extremism.

• The program studied offers safe non-judgmental, support to young people.
• The program connects young people with ESP staff who understand both extremism and the complex challenges youth often face such as trauma, mental health issues, or social isolation. The goal is to build trust, provide guidance and support positive life choices.

More government and community backing is needed to grow and improve these services.

Lessons for Other Countries

Although this study is based in Australia, the findings apply to places such as England and Wales, Canada and USA. These insights can help shape best-practice policies worldwide.

A Community Effort

Explore the full article and more

Read the full research article online:

Vulnerable and easily influenced: examining the vulnerabilities and susceptibilities associated with the engagement of young Australians in extremism - Dr Kristy Campion and Emma Colvin (Safer Communities, Emerald Publishing), August 2025.

Learn more from the latest article on The Conversation:

Extremists are targeting young Australians who crave belonging. What can we do? - Dr Kristy Campion and Emma Colvin, Charles Sturt University (The Conversation), August 2025.