Perth, May 25: Australian parents are increasingly worried their children will struggle to achieve major life milestones, including buying a home, pursuing further study and accessing activities previous generations took for granted.
New research from wealth app Sharesies found half of Australian parents were concerned about their children’s ability to buy a home in Australia, while 44 per cent were worried about their ability to pursue further study.
The survey also found 41 per cent of parents were concerned their children may miss out on experiences such as sport and after-school activities.
The findings come as financial pressure continues to shape family decisions, with 49 per cent of Australians saying concerns about their children’s financial future had contributed to their decision to limit their family size or not have children.
The research found 73 per cent of Australians expected to pass financial assets on to their children, but 69 per cent remained uneasy about their children’s financial future. More than one in five respondents believed their children would be financially worse off than themselves.
Despite the concern, many parents said they were willing to invest for their children if the process was easier. Nearly nine in 10 parents said they would be comfortable investing for their children through a simple platform, with an average willingness to invest $376 a month.
However, the research also revealed a savings gap, with one in five parents having no savings or investments set aside for their children. Among parents already saving or investing, 29 per cent said they were putting away less than planned compared with 12 months ago.
Sharesies has launched Kids Accounts in Australia, allowing adults, including parents and grandparents, to invest on behalf of children with no minimum investment. The accounts provide access to more than 10,000 companies and ETFs across Australian, US and New Zealand share markets.
The research was conducted online by YouGov between April 30 and May 5, 2026, and included a nationally representative sample of 1,014 Australians aged 18 and over, as well as a separate survey of 1,010 Australian parents with children under 18.
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