Cannot find an answer to your question here? Please refer to our contact information at the bottom of the page.

How did I get to be in the Study?
Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children commenced in 2004 with two groups or 'cohorts' of 5,000 children. The 'Baby', or 'B' group was aged 0 – 1 year old and the 'Kinder', or 'K' cohort was aged 4 – 5 years old. The sample of 10,000 children was selected from the Medicare enrolment database held by the Health Insurance Commission. The Health Insurance Commission selected children of the appropriate ages and sent an 'invitation to participate' letter to the Medicare cardholder, along with a brochure on Growing Up in Australia. Families had 4 weeks to register their withdrawal from the Study.

Interviewers subsequently contacted families who had not withdrawn to arrange an appointment for their first interview. The Study has contacted participating families every 2 years since to conduct interviews (with exceptions due to COVID-19). Participants in the Study have included the Study Child/Young Person, as well as their parents, carers, and teachers.

Why is the Study so important?
The Study aims to identify opportunities for improving support and early interventions for children and their families. Findings from the Study are used to work out how to make things better for Australian children and young people in the future.

See our News and study updates page to find out more about how you continue to make an impact.

Why can't I be replaced?
One of the aims of the Study is to find out how events and circumstances in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood affect outcomes later in life. As the information we have collected as you have grown up is only relevant to you and your future, we cannot replace you or your family in the Study.

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.

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.

Do I have to participate in the study?
Growing Up in Australia Study participants may withdraw from the Study at any time or choose not to take part in some aspects of the Study as participation is voluntary. However, it is important for a study like this to keep in contact with as many people as possible to remain representative. Each young person in the Study represents around 50 others like them. You and your place in the study cannot be replaced by anybody 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.

When will my next interview be?
We will be in contact with you prior to your next interview, which is likely to be in late 2023 or early 2024.

Please ensure we have your most up-to-date contact information by updating your details.

I’m a parent/guardian/carer participant, how will I be interviewed? 

For Wave 10, you may be contacted to do a telephone interview. This will be in late 2023 or early 2024. 

Where can I update my details?
The easiest way to update your contact information is by using the form on our website.

You can also update your contact information via our study hotline, 1800 005 508.

Where can I find up-to-date study information?
Our dedicated ‘news and study updates’ page for participants will keep you up-to-date with the current state of the study, upcoming events, recent findings and other information you might find interesting or useful.

Alternatively, you can contact our study hotline (1800 005 508) to find out more.

Where can i get help with my online survey?
If you are having technical difficulties filling out your survey, refer to the Technical Survey FAQs page.

Need to contact us?

If your questions aren’t satisfactorily answered here, you can contact us for further information:

General enquiries

Phone: 1800 005 508
Email: info@growingupinaustralia.gov.au
Website: growingupinaustralia.gov.au
Mail: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, Roy Morgan, GPO Box 2282, Melbourne VIC 3001

Ethical concerns or complaints

If you have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the study, you may contact the AIFS Ethics Committee secretariat by:

Phone: (03) 9214 7921
Email: ethics-secretariat@aifs.gov.au.

The Ethics Committee secretariat is not connected with the research project and can facilitate a resolution to your concern in an impartial manner.

Privacy enquiries

If you have an enquiry about your privacy in relation to the study, or wish to lodge a complaint you can do so through the following contacts:

Phone: 1800 005 508
Email: enquiries@dss.gov.au or complaints @DSS.gov.au
Mail: DSS Feedback, GPO Box 9820, Canberra ACT 2601