Section 9: Looking to the future While some older children said they were looking forward to having an intimate relationship in the future, a few children expressed worry about not finding a partner or having a family of their own, and some said they were scared about having a bad relationship in the future. Financial insecurity was something many children expressed worry about, both for their families and for their future lives as adults. They discussed feeling down about the financial burdens of adulthood, including ‘work’, ‘taxes’, ‘paying bills’. A few children raised concerns about their ability to earn enough money to meet their basic needs, including housing and food. This was also a central concern raised in consultations for the AHRC’s Keeping Kids Safe and Well report.56 Some children expressed self-doubt about their future success in education and employment. They feared not being able to live up to their expectations of themselves and future aspirations, or those held by their parents. In some cases, they attributed this to the uncertain world they live in. Some children identified worries about failing to get into selective high schools. This was especially raised by children from specific cultural or ethnic backgrounds and those living in NSW. 118 | ‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 119