“We are a passionate generation of young Australians.” NSFW: Some nudity.

Where once suburbia was home to families living the Australian dream, increasingly, Melbourne photographer Amy Crawley said, it’s a landscape tarnished by negative stereotypes: youth unemployment and poverty, chief among them.

“There is little positive encouragement for people who have endured hardship and perhaps grown up in a low socioeconomic area,” Crawley told BuzzFeed. “I am determined to shed light on this issue as well as showcase the exploration of suburban Australian youth culture.”

amycrawley.com

Crawely grew up in Narre Warren, an hour south of Melbourne. The 22-year-old has spent eight years photographing people she grew up with for her photo series, Suburban Endurance.

“All of the individuals within Suburban Endurance are people I have watched change and grow as individuals exploring their identities.”

amycrawley.com

“I love documenting their stories and the time I spend with the people I photograph is portrayed within my images - each holding a captivating gaze and intimate portrait.”

amycrawley.com

Crawley’s project features young people who have endured hardship early on in their life. She said the main drawback for these individuals to achieve the “Australian Dream” is access to resources.

“I’m lucky that growing up, I had access to education and equipment to pursue my dream. But some young Australians aren’t provided with the tools to help them develop their own.”

amycrawley.com

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