Australians Are More Sexually Diverse Than Labels Suggest

The largest representative study of Australian sexuality, the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships (ASHR2), surveyed more than 20,000 Australians aged 16–69. It found:

• 97% of men and 96% of women identified as heterosexual.
• Women were significantly more likely than men to identify as bisexual.
• 9% of men reported some history of same-sex attraction and/or experience.
• 19% of women reported some history of same-sex attraction and/or experience.
• Many people reported attractions or experiences that did not perfectly align with the label they used for themselves.

One of the most interesting findings was that women showed greater sexual fluidity than men, with more women reporting attractions or experiences that crossed traditional orientation categories.

Australians Have Become More Sexually Liberal

Researchers examining Australian attitudes toward sex and relationships found that attitudes have become progressively more liberal over time.

Acceptance of diverse sexual behaviours, non-traditional relationships, and sexual experimentation was substantially higher among younger Australians, people with higher education levels, and those living in metropolitan areas.

This doesn’t necessarily mean people are participating in every fantasy they have, but it does suggest Australians are increasingly comfortable discussing sexuality openly and acknowledging desires that previous generations may have kept private.

Fantasies Are Far More Common Than Most People Realise

One of the most consistent findings across international and Australian sexuality research is that fantasies often extend well beyond what people actually do.

Researchers repeatedly find that people commonly fantasise about:

• Sex with someone other than their regular partner
• Group sex or threesomes
• Same-sex experiences
• Dominance and submission dynamics
• Voyeurism and exhibitionism
• Role-play and power exchange
• Novel sexual situations and partners

Importantly, having a fantasy does not mean someone wants it to happen in reality. Many people enjoy fantasies as a form of imagination without any desire to act on them. Others become curious and choose to explore them safely and consensually.

Why Lifestyle Communities Continue To Grow

While exact participation rates in swinging, ethical non-monogamy, and lifestyle communities vary depending on how studies define them, researchers have noted growing interest in consensual non-monogamy and alternative relationship structures.

Australian researchers are actively studying consensual non-monogamy, polyamory, open relationships, and swinging as relationship models that many participants report as satisfying and emotionally healthy when built on communication and consent.

What surprises many newcomers is that lifestyle communities often place a greater emphasis on:

• Communication
• Consent
• Boundaries
• Trust
• Emotional safety

than on sexual activity itself.

Why Starting Socially Makes Sense

Research tells us that curiosity is common.

What often prevents people from exploring their interests is not lack of desire but lack of information.

People wonder:

• Is this fantasy normal?
• How do couples navigate jealousy?
• What boundaries actually work?
• What happens if we change our minds?

This is why social events and meet-and-greets have become such an important entry point for many Australians interested in exploring their sexuality.

Rather than jumping directly into an experience, people can:

• Meet others who have already travelled the path.
• Ask questions in a relaxed environment.
• Learn from real-world experiences.
• Discover whether a fantasy is something they genuinely wish to pursue.

For many couples, attending a social event becomes less about finding an immediate experience and more about gaining knowledge, confidence, and clarity.

Key Research Sources

Australian Study of Health and Relationships (ASHR2)

• Richters J, Altman D, Badcock P et al.
• Representative sample of 20,094 Australians aged 16–69.
• One of Australia’s largest sexuality studies.

Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction and Sexual Experience

• Published in Sexual Health (2014).
• Explored differences between identity, attraction, and behaviour.

Attitudes Toward Sex and Relationships

• Published in Sexual Health (2014).
• Examined changing Australian attitudes toward sexuality and relationships.

Australian Bureau of Statistics LGBTI+ Population Estimates

• Estimated 3.6% of Australians identify as sexually diverse, with higher rates among younger Australians.