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Research timeline

The Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) study has been running for more than 20 years. Being a longitudinal study, we aim to survey the same young people and their families every 2 years.

LSAC was commissioned in 2004 by the Department of Social Services to examine the impact of Australia's unique social, economic and cultural environment on children growing up in today's world.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies have managed the study in collaboration with Roy Morgan as fieldwork partners, with advice provided a consortium of leading researchers.
 

LSAC study timeline infographic

 

Detailed timeline

See a detailed timeline of the study.

YearActivity
May 2000The Australian Government announces intention to develop a national longitudinal study of children and their families
March-April 2003Pilot test conducted
August 2003Wave 1 data collection (first stage) commences
February 2004Growing Up in Australia officially launched by The Hon. Kay Patterson, Minister for Family and Community Services, at the Melbourne Museum
May 2005Both wave 1 data and first Annual Report released
September 2005, April 2006Wave 2 data collection commences
2006Life at 1 documentary produced
October 2006Two initial episodes of Life at 1 screen on ABC TV
2007Life at 2 website launched
September 2007Wave 2 data released
December 2007Inaugural LSAC conference held in Melbourne
July 2007Wave 3 fieldwork commences
October 2008Life at 3 documentary screened on ABC TV
August 2009Wave 3 data released
August 2009Wave 4 fieldwork commences
December 2009Second LSAC conference held in Melbourne
2010Life at 5 documentary produced
February 2011Two episodes of Life at 5 screen on ABC1
June 2011, March 2012Wave 5 fieldwork commences
November 2011LSAC-LSIC Research Conference held in Melbourne
2011–12Life at 7 documentary produced
October 2012Two episodes of Life at 7 screen on ABC1
March 2013Growing Up in Australia turns 10!
August 2013Wave 6 fieldwork commences (first stage)
March 2014Wave 5 data released
March 2014Wave 6 fieldwork commences (second stage)
July/August 2014Life at 9 documentary screens on ABC1
June 2015Wave 7 fieldwork commences (first stage)
December 2015Wave 6 data released
April 2016Wave 7 fieldwork commences (second stage)
June 2017Wave 8 fieldwork commences (first stage)
February 2018Wave 8 fieldwork commences (second stage)
June 2019Wave 9 fieldwork commences
March 2020Wave 9 fieldwork ceases due to COVID-19
October 2020Survey 9C1 fieldwork commences online and is revised to focus on impacts of COVID-19 and natural disasters
June 2021Survey 9C2 fieldwork commences (completed online or telephone interview)
January 2023Wave 10 fieldwork commences

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