• The 2021 survey goes online!
• About the online survey
• Complete your online survey
• FAQs: Online survey technical questions
• FAQs: Queries about the survey
• FAQs: Devices and networks
• FAQs: Logging on and survey accounts
• FAQs: Security keys and Form Access Codes
• FAQs: Online survey complications
• FAQs: I am a Young Person
• FAQs: I am a Parent

The 2021 survey goes online!

Growing Up in Australia is inviting you to complete our NEW 2021 survey.

You may know that our plans were a little disrupted in 2020, and we were unable to talk to you like we normally would. And while the pandemic was still in effect we prepared a shorter online survey (October – December 2020) for you to complete.

If you completed our 2020 online survey, thank you. We are now asking you to complete the 2021 survey, whether or not you completed one in 2020. This 2021 survey will gather data to highlight the wider impacts on your lives from recent events, including COVID-19.

About the online survey

The online survey covers a range of topics including your work, health and wellbeing, income and finances, behaviours and relationships, and the impacts of COVID-19.

You will also be asked to update your contact details.

We look forward to hearing how you have been doing this year.

Online survey technical questions

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

Queries about the survey

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

How long will the online survey take?
The online survey will take around 30 minutes to complete.

Do I have to do the online survey?
The online survey is not compulsory, but it does replace your home interview.

Due to health and safety measures in place because of COVID-19, our interviewers are unable to interview face-to-face like they have done in the past. It is important for the Growing Up in Australia study that we hear about how you have been going this year, and a safe way to do that is for you to complete an online survey.

The value of this study comes from having information about the same people collected over time. Your experiences today will help inform policy makers and enable them to improve outcomes for young people in the future.

If you do not have a chance to complete the survey online by 18 July, an Interviewer from Growing Up in Australia will call you between 19 July and 20 September 2021 to arrange a telephone interview. The survey will take a bit longer to complete over the phone.

I don't want to do it all in one go. Can I save it and come back and finish it later?
Yes. You can save your progress and exit at any time. You can then log back in when you are ready to continue. Make sure you submit your survey when finished. Please note you cannot access your survey after it is submitted.

Is my survey confidential?
Yes. Your privacy is very important to us. Strict procedures are followed to ensure that only authorised people have access to the information you provide. You can find more information on Privacy here.

Devices and networks

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

Can I use my tablet/smartphone to do the online survey?
For the most user-friendly experience, we recommend completion of the online survey using a PC or laptop. You are able to attempt to complete it on another device, however, it has not been optimised for completion via a tablet/smartphone.

Which internet browser should I use to complete the online survey?
We recommend using Internet Explorer 11 (or later), Chrome 43 (or later), Safari 8 (or later) or Firefox 35 (or later).

Logging on and survey accounts

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

How do I log on and access the survey?

Go to Do your online survey.

I have an ABS Survey Account from last time, but I am not sure how to get back into it.
Go to Do your online survey.

You can log into the account you created last time by using the same email address you used as your user ID.

If you have forgotten your password use the link next to ‘Forgot your password?’ on the log-in page to reset it. You will need the email address and mobile number you used to create your account last time.

I can’t remember the email address I used last time!
You will need to create a new ABS Survey Account.

How do I create a new ABS Survey Account?
Go to Do your online survey.

Click the ‘Login or create Survey Account’ button and click 'Create' on the right-hand side of the log in page.

• You will need to provide an email address, a mobile phone number and create a password. You may also optionally provide your name.
• Next you will be asked to validate your email address by entering a security key that we send to you by email.
• Use your Form Access Code to open the online survey by entering the code into the Form Access Code box on the screen.

Security keys and Form Access Codes 

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

I haven’t received my security key email yet. What do I do?

Please check your spam or junk mail. Although we have taken measures to ensure the ABS Survey Account request emails get through, occasionally they may be blocked. If there is no confirmation email after 10 minutes, you can start the 'Create' process again to ensure all details have been entered correctly.

If you still experience difficulties receiving your security key email, please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 for assistance.

I am having trouble completing the ABS Survey Account set-up
This may be because you are using an older browser version which does not fully support HTML. Please try an alternative browser or update your browser to the latest version.

What is a Form Access Code?
Your Form Access Code is unique to you and you will need it to access your online survey. It is made up of 8 alpha-numeric symbols with a hyphen (-) in the middle.

Where will I find my Form Access Code?
You will find your Form Access Code on the back of the postcard and/or an email that was sent to you (if you have provided us with your email address in the past).

If you have lost your Form Access Code, please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 and we can provide it to you over the phone or via SMS.

I am having trouble entering my Form Access Code, what should I do?
It is important that you include the hyphen (-) as it forms part of the actual code. There should be no spaces when you enter your code.

If you still experience difficulties, please call us on 1800 005 508 for assistance or email us.

What if I don't have an email address or mobile phone number to use for my online survey account?
Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 for assistance.

Online survey complications

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

Why do I need to provide a mobile phone number?

The mobile phone number you provide during the account creation process allows you to reset your password if you forget it.

I’m having difficulty accessing the online survey.
If you are having trouble establishing a session or completing the survey account set-up, it may be because you are using an older browser version which does not fully support HTML. Please try an alternative browser or update your browser to the latest version.

If you get an error message and need assistance, you can contact the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 for assistance or email us.

I can’t access my online Survey Form or submit my answers.
Please try the following:

• Save and close your internet browser. Then, open a new browser window and try logging back in.
• Opening your Survey Account and Survey Form in a different web browser.
• Clearing your cache/browsing history by referring to your browser’s instructions.
• We may be experiencing a high volume of traffic which can sometimes cause issues. Please wait and log back in at a later time.

If you are still having problems, please contact the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 for assistance or email us.

I’m having problems viewing the Survey Form, what can I do?
If your online survey is not displaying correctly or you are having trouble moving to the next screen it may be because you do not have JavaScript enabled in your web browser.

This is most common for older versions of web browsers. In most instances, JavaScript can be enabled in 'Options', under the 'Tools' menu. If you need web browser assistance, you can try the 'Help' menu in your web browser.

My online survey closed before I had finished it!
Your online survey will close after 20 minutes of inactivity. This is to protect your privacy. You may need to close the browser session to re-access your survey. The survey should re-open at the page you were last on.

What should I do if I get an error message?
Please contact the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 or email us.

How do I know if I’ve lodged my survey correctly?
Once you have finished your survey form you need to click 'Submit' on the last page to ensure your data is submitted correctly. The final page will include a confirmation message that you can print or save.

You can check this has been done by logging into your Survey Account and checking that your form is in the ‘My survey form history’ section. If the form status is 'In Progress' you can click 'Resume' and ensure the survey form has been correctly submitted.

I’ve submitted my survey, but I’ve received a reminder. Why?
There is often a delay between when the list of who needs a reminder is prepared and when the reminders are actually sent out. If you have received a reminder from Growing Up in Australia, it could be that you submitted the form after the reminder list was compiled. You can check your survey has been submitted properly by logging into your Survey Account and checking the “My survey form history” section. If this is the case, you do not need to take any further action.

What do I do if I can't finish the online survey because of a technical issue?
If you have technical issues, please contact the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 or email us.

For any other questions about your online survey or the Study, please contact the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 for assistance or email us.

I am a Young Person

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

What is involved this time around?

COVID-19 has meant that we have not been able to talk to you face-to-face like we usually do. It’s important that we capture the impacts this time has had on you and your family, so we are asking you to complete a short online or telephone survey. 

When will the next face to face interview be?

The Study is continuing as it's so important to find out what happens next to all our participants. We will notify everyone about our plans once we have a better idea of when we can visit you again. As always, we are so grateful for your ongoing support of this vital project. We would be hoping to contact you for another interview in 2023. 

Why do I have to do this survey?

The data you provide right now will strengthen our understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian economy and on our Study families. This will help this Government and any future governments make decisions based on real stories and data. 

I’m over 18, so no longer a child. Why am I still part of the Study?

Growing Up in Australia is a longitudinal study, which means data is collected from the same people over time. The longer we are able to collect data from the same young people and their families, the more important and useful the information will be. 

Are my parents doing a survey too?

We are asking you and one of your parents to complete a short online survey or telephone interview. 

Why do you still want to ask my parent questions?
Continuing to capture family information allows for more detailed and more accurate longitudinal data. 

Will you be sharing my answers with my parent?
We do not share any of your information with your parent. All of the answers you give are confidential and only authorised people have access to your information. So, even if your parent asks us, we do not share your answers with them. 

What will my data be used for?

Growing Up in Australia explores a range of research areas about the development and wellbeing of young people and their families including work, health and wellbeing, behaviours and relationships and in this online survey the impacts of COVID-19. After you complete your online or telephone survey, personal details are removed, and everyone’s answers are combined and sorted to create the data set for each wave. By analysing all the data collected over the years, researchers make important discoveries to inform policy opportunities for improving support for children and their families and identifying opportunities for early intervention. Researchers from a range of disciplines can apply to use Growing Up in Australia data. 

How is my data protected?

Before any data is made available to researchers, all details that could identify individuals (including names and addresses) are removed.

Strict procedures are followed to ensure that only authorised people have access to the information you provide, and that all the Interviewers, researchers and others involved comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy Amendments Act 2001. The Study is not conducted under the Census and Statistics Act 1905. 

Do Privacy guidelines affect the Study?

We are required to openly inform you about the privacy processes which is why there is a Privacy brochure [PDF 280 KB] for you to view on the Growing Up in Australia website - growingupinaustralia.gov.au/privacy-ethics 

What is a Flexi eGift card?

A Flexi eGift card is an eGift card that allows you to choose from a wide range of store gift cards and vouchers. You can choose to convert your Flexi eGift into a $20 card or voucher of your choice, or into any combination of gift cards or vouchers up to the $20 value. 

When will I get my eGift card?
You will receive an email 2 weeks after completing your online/telephone survey with a link to your $20 Flexi eGift card. 

How do I redeem my gift card?

Your Flexi eGift Card will be emailed to you 2 weeks after you complete your online/telephone survey. Click the link in the email to open your Flexi eGift Card, and then convert your Flexi eGift Card into any combination of gift cards or vouchers up to the total available balance. How you redeem your chosen gift card depends on the card or voucher chosen. 

What stores can I spend my eGift card at?

You can redeem your Flexi eGift card for gift cards or vouchers at over 40 retailers and service providers. You will be able to see a full list of options by following the link in the eGift card email. 

I don’t wish to participate anymore.
It is important for a study like this to keep in contact with as many people as possible. Each young person in the Study represents around 50 others like them and you can’t be replaced by someone else.

The value of this study comes from having information about the same people collected over time. Your experiences when you were younger helped to make changes that benefit children and their families today. Your experiences today, like opportunities for work and further study, will help to inform policy makers to improve outcomes for young people in the future.

Being in Growing Up in Australia gives you a chance to be part of a unique study that helps develop better services for young people and their families.

How much longer will the Study go for?
Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children was made an ongoing project by the Australian Government in 2007. The hope  is that the Study will continue for years to come.

I am a Parent

Cannot find what you were after? Please call the Growing Up in Australia team on 1800 005 508 (9am - 5pm AEST) for assistance.

Why are you directly approaching my young person now?

Now that your Young Person is 18 or is about to turn 18 there are a few changes to the interview process. The main change is that we are contacting your Young Person directly, rather than through you. You no longer need to be present when we interview them, and we will contact you separately for an interview. 

My child is over 18. Why do you still want to ask me questions?
We need to continue to capture family information as this allows for more detailed and more accurate longitudinal data. Your information is still hugely important to inform government policy and aid researchers all working to help families and young people in Australia. 

Why are the questions just about me (parent) and not about my young person this time?
We acknowledge that the questions in the online/telephone survey are focussed on you rather than your young person. During this very different time we are all experiencing, we are trying to find out how parents and young people are coping noting that parents' lives can have a significant impact on the lives of their children. As we are only able to ask our participants to do a short online/telephone survey this year, we had to greatly reduce the amount we asked and so have focussed on how each person has been going. We will be able to bring this information together and look at the impact of 2020/21 on families. Combining the information we collect from the current data collection with all that has been collected since Growing Up in Australia began will provide very detailed and useful data as we try to understand the long term effects of the pandemic on the lives of young people and their families. 

Will you be sharing my answers with my young person?
We do not share any of your information with your young person. All of the answers you give are confidential and only authorised people have access to your information. So, even if your young person asks us, we do not share your answers with them. 

How much longer will I be interviewed?
Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children was made an ongoing project by the Australian Government in 2007. The Study will continue to run while there is a reasonable study sample. 

What is a Flexi eGift card?

A Flexi eGift card is an eGift card that allows you to choose from a wide range of store gift cards and vouchers. You can also choose from a wide range of store gift cards and vouchers. You can also convert a Flexi eGift Card into a combination of gift cards or vouchers up to the $50 value. 

When will I get my eGift card?
For the Parents there are two random draws with the chance to receive an eGift card worth $50. If you complete your online survey before 19 July, you will be eligible for both draws. If you complete your online survey or telephone interview before 21 September, you will still be eligible for one of the draws. If you are a lucky recipient in the first or second draw you will be sent an email 2 weeks later with a link to your eGift card. 

How do I redeem my gift card?

If you were a lucky recipient of an eGift Card it will be emailed to you 2 weeks after the first random draw or 2 weeks after the 2nd random draw. Click on ‘Select where to spend your Flexi gift value’ for a full list of available options, choose eGift cards and/or vouchers up to $50.