Your data
Learn about the type of data we collect and how we protect it.
Information we collect
The Growing Up in Australia study collects important information about the life trajectories of young people through surveys and other existing administrative databases. We follow the same participants over time to track how they are going. Policy makers and researchers use this information to develop services and programs to help improve the development and wellbeing of young people in the future.
We collect a range of information about our participants including:
- family demographics
- social and emotional outcomes
- education
- relationships
- health
- finances.
How your data is stored
To ensure information is kept secure, we use strong encryption technology.
Our fieldwork provider, Roy Morgan, ensures your data is stored securely in Australia in line the standards set by:
Your information is encrypted and is only accessed by authorised study team members on a need-to-know basis. Your contact information will be securely stored for 7 years at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) following the completion of the study. After this period, records will be destroyed in a manner appropriate to the security classification of the record content. If the organisation responsible for future data collection phases of the study changes, AIFS will be required to disclose your information to that organisation.
For more information about how we protect your privacy see our privacy page.
How your data is used
Roy Morgan collects primary data from you through surveys and interviews . The Growing Up in Australia data is then de-identified and approved for use by data users such as researchers and policy makers from universities, service providers, not-for-profit organisations and government departments. This data can be used to help government, service providers and not-for-profit organisations to improve services and programs that can benefits the development and wellbeing of children and families in Australia.
All data is de-identified when released, and only combined results (aggregate) are published. We have stringent data sharing and review procedures in place to ensure data is only accessible via the Australian Data Archive (ADA) at the Australian National University (ANU). The ADA is a secure data-storage facility.
all approved users of Growing Up in Australia study data sign a deed of confidentiality that prohibits them from trying to identify any participants or sharing any potentially identifiable information.
Data linkage
Our interviewers for your consent to link your survey data to relevant government data. Data linkage is the process of combining various data sources to produce a more comprehensive picture of the factors affecting you. You can’t be identified when our specialists do this.
With your permission, we’d like to link your Growing Up in Australia data to some other data sources to expand the range and improve the quality of data we collect. Linking your responses with existing data also means we can ask fewer questions in the survey, saving time for you.
See a digital copy of the Data Linkage brochure and other participant information sheets: