This report examines the challenges facing young people living in rural Australia in relation to their health and well-being and explores the relevance of personal resilience to offset these challenges. Specifically, the report synthesizes the literature on rural Australian youth and the results of focus groups undertaken in five rural communities. In general, the findings of the focus groups tend to confirm the results of the literature review. Some young people were positive about living in the country, especially with regard to availability of sports activities. Others, especially in towns that had experienced population loss as a result of unemployment, were negative about their futures. Structural challenges affecting rural youth include lack of transportation, health and community services, public housing, and educational and employment opportunities. Social and cultural challenges include gender issues, the high suicide rate among Australia's rural youth, social isolation,