About Stronger Families in Australia
What is the study all about?
- Stronger Families in Australia is a first of its kind national longitudinal study of Australian families and the communities they live in.
- By taking part, you are one of more than 2,000 families all over Australia in this landmark study.
- The study will help to make sure that every child is given every opportunity to reach their full potential by providing government, policy makers, researchers and service providers with comprehensive information about different aspects of children's lives and their development including information on their family life and the community they live in.
- The study involves more than 2,000 families with a two-year old child at the time of first contact.
- Being part of the study will give you rare chance to sit down every year and reflect on your child's development; to think about how your child's life is going and how your community has supported you in raising your young family.
- Funding for Stronger Families in Australia is being provided by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, as part of the Government's Stronger Families and Communities Strategy. This Strategy aims to help families and communities build better futures for children.
For more information about the study go to the Frequently Asked Questions page.
If you would like more background information about the study, please visit the following links:
- Stronger Families in Australia brochure (PDF 500K)
- Stronger Families and Communities Strategy (SFCS) 2004-2009
What questions are asked?
The study has questions about your family, relationships, health, community support and use of services, as well as some specific questions about your child's health and development. The information you give helps to provide an overall picture of how families with children are managing, and how families and the communities they live in are working together to provide a better future for children.
We are interested in finding out about:
- Your child and their development. There are
questions about:
- Your child's general health and any specific medical or health conditions; and
- Your child's development including physical development, social skills and behaviour.
- Your views on child rearing; parent-child relationship and about any non-parental child care or preschool services your child is enrolled in.
- Your own health and wellbeing, your family life, your sources of support and your housing situation.
- Your use of and satisfaction with a community services and facilities that support your family and child.
- Your participation in community events and activities and your general perception about your immediate neighbourhood.
Who is doing this research study?
Two leading research agencies - The Australian Institute of Family Studies, an independent Australian Government research agency, and the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales are conducting the study.
The study is being managed by a project team located at the Australian Institute of Family Studies in Melbourne.
Interviews in your home are conducted by highly trained interviewers from data collection agency, I-view. All interviewers are required to present appropriate identification before the interviews take place.