The Living in Australia study
Welcome to the Living in Australia study for 2013!
Australia has become part of an international move to have a better understanding of the needs of its people. This type of knowledge is crucial for good decision making, planning and support for Australians. The Living in Australia study is designed to meet this need.
Having begun in 2001, the study is known as the Living in Australia study and is sometimes referred to in the media as the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia study (HILDA).
In this study we collect and analyse information from thousands of different families and individuals across Australia. We ask questions about life in Australia including your employment, family relationships, education and wellbeing. This allows researchers to find out, for example, how one area in your life can affect other areas and how people remain the same or change over time. It can also show us how external factors such as Government decisions and world events affect our lives.
Ultimately this study is a source of information to those making economic and social welfare decisions for all Australians.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment to the Living in Australia study. This study is held in very high regard as seen by extensive coverage in the media and its wide use in publications.
What's new in 2013?
A new year often brings reflection on the previous year, new resolutions and intentions.
What are yours? Perhaps it's to take better care of yourself, to eat healthier or to get into shape? You would be pleased to know that like many Australians - these resolutions are right
at the top of HILDA's list!
This year, in your interview, we will ask you and your household questions on your health and health care visits, eating habits, sleep quantity and quality and your physical activity. This is a great opportunity to communicate Australia's healthy habits and any health care needs to Australia's policy makers.
We are also delighted to announce that we have increased our 'Thank you' gift to $35 cash upon completion of your interview.
Interviews
In the next few weeks an interviewer from Roy Morgan Research, the research company conducting the interviews, will visit you to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, please feel free to contact us.
contact usNew to the survey?
If you are visiting this website for the first time we hope you will have a look at some of the background information about the survey. We hope it contains all the information you need to know.
find out moreA message from Dr Martin Parkinson, PSM, Secretary to the Treasury, Australian Government
Dr Martin Parkinson PSM
Secretary to the Treasury
Australian Government
Over the past decade, the HILDA study has become the most comprehensive source of information for understanding the Australian way of life. Research and analysis based on this extensive longitudinal study are important to informing the development of Government policies affecting the Australian people.
Its focus on the dynamics of family and household formation, income and work complements other data sources and contributes to Treasury's analysis of household behaviour and the economic environment. The study has evolved to keep pace with a changing world and has adapted to shifts in key policy settings. The interest in the data from researchers in Australia and internationally is evident from the flourishing list of publications and journals.
The high participation rate of respondents reflects the value they place on the importance of the study. Their invaluable contribution influences decisions made not only by the Government but by many leading community organisations.
