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Airdate: The Nest

It will be the basis of a forthcoming Seven dramedy, Packed to the Rafters, but first SBS has the ‘documentary’ version of young adults still living at home with mum and dad.

Nearly two-thirds of Aussies aged 16-26 still live with their folks. With the housing and petrol crisis, who can blame them?

The Nest follows three very different families all living under the same roof. They will participate in a social experiment, and a series of surprise changes that gauge the pros and cons of living with family.

Providing advice will be demographer Bernard Salt, financial expert and best selling author Scott Pape, and social psychologist and author Dina McMillan (pictured). The series is produced by Freehand (RPA, Top Gear Australia, Escape from Scorpion Island). Series producer is Paul Rudd while Executive Producer is Peter Abbott, Australia’s “original Big Brother.”

The series airs 7:30pm Saturday June 28.

Press Release:

Do you know a young adult who still lives at home with their parents? With so many of them in Australia, chances are you answered ‘yes’.

In 2004 the ABS reported there were 4.2 million people between the ages of 16-26 living in Australia. That same year, a survey by Quantum Market Research, found that nearly two-thirds of this demographic were still living with their parents. In some suburbs, the figure is as high as 71%.

Despite growing by 25% since 1979, the increase of young adults still living in the family home remains a relatively silent epidemic. Those most affected may not have even considered the possible long-term implications of not living more independently.

Experts such as demographer Bernard Salt are concerned a longer lasting co-dependence between parents and their children will leave both parties emotionally and financially unprepared for their future. In his book ‘The Big Picture’ Bernard says “The social contract being applied here is that adult children are allowed to continue their kiddish ways so that boomer mums and dads may continue as practicing parents.” But will this social contract prevent families from being equipped to cope with real independence?

Find out in The Nest, an exciting new documentary series beginning on SBS Television on June 28 at 7.30pm. The Nest follows three very different Australian families as they participate in a social experiment, to find out how prepared (or unprepared!) they are for living sustainable, independent futures.

Over the course of the series, members of each family will be asked to undergo a series of surprise changes to their normal routine. Each change is designed to encourage all individuals to weigh up the pros and cons of living together, and to create a space for them to think about why they aren’t living more independently.

On hand to provide insight into the behaviour and response of each family will be demographer Bernard Salt, financial expert and best selling author Scott Pape, and social psychologist and author Dina McMillan. This team of experts will also provide practical advice and support to the families, encouraging them to draw their own conclusions about the pros and cons of their previous living arrangements.

David Knox is an occasional blogger for SBS.

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