Decades of Data Collection for LSAY
From 2016 to 2024, Wallis conducted extensive quantitative studies, collecting data from alumni to explore their pathways following graduation. These studies provided consistent insights into how study experiences in Australia influenced their professional trajectories.
Decades of Data Collection for LSAY
Overview
Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) is a national programme designed to track the lives and transitions of young Australians aged 15 to 25 over an extended period. The core objective of LSAY is to gather robust, long-term information that directly informs government policy, enabling better support for Australia's future workforce. Wallis Social Research has played a continuous and critical role in this programme, overseeing data collection across multiple cohorts spanning decades, from the Y95 cohort through to the final Y15 wave.
Client background
Wallis was first commissioned in May 2000 by the Department of Education Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) to manage the telephone interviewing component of LSAY. Over two decades, Wallis established itself as the data collection organisation. Wallis partnered with the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), which handles the analysis and dissemination of findings.
Objectives
The overarching objective of LSAY was to provide policy makers with a longitudinal understanding of key life transitions, specifically tracking young Australians between education, training and work. The programme followed the lives of young people over ten years. This longevity ensured that data reflected real-world changes in the youth pathways, providing continuous insight for better policy outcomes.
Since 2003, cohorts were selected from 15-year-old participants in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), meaning the study tracked participation across multiple waves and generations of young people, including Y95 through to the final Y15 cohort. Through our two decades of involvement with the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Wallis has maintained data collection and continuity across these cohorts, thereby providing continuous and comprehensive insights into a generation's entire life cycle.
Methodology: An Evolution Over Decades
The methodology for Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) has not remained static; rather, it has undergone a significant evolution over two decades, transitioning from purely manual paper-based systems to highly sophisticated, multi-modal digital outreach strategies.
Early history and foundation (Pre-2000s):
In 1996, Y95 respondents were surveyed using a self-completion questionnaire sent by mail. This early method served the critical dual function of collecting current data on their school and work lives while simultaneously updating essential contact details, such as names, addresses and telephone numbers.
Wallis' consult of Y95-Y09 (2000–2010)
Wallis was commissioned by DETYA in May 2000 to handle the telephone interviewing associated with LSAY. Over subsequent decades, we continued to conduct the fieldwork, maintaining continuity across multiple successive cohorts (including Y95 through Y09). The core process remained centred on skilled human interviewers.
During this time, the methodology began to modernise with key innovations:
Integration of Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI): In 2012, the methodology adapted to incorporate online completion options alongside traditional telephone interviews (CATI).
Prize draw introduced: In 2012, prize draws were introduced as a formal incentive structure for participants.
Incentivisation: In 2017, incentives in the form of eGiftcards were offered to respondents for completing the survey. In 2017, incentives were $20, which eventually increased as high as $70 in the final wave of fieldwork in 2025 for respondents who had lapsed in their participation of the study.
Challenges overcome: Sustaining contact across decades
The most persistent challenge of LSAY is maintaining contact with young adults whose lives are highly mobile. Wallis continually adapted its procedures to overcome issues such as:
Reminder mechanisms: The team developed advanced call-back scheduling and follow-up processes, including attempting contact at various times (evenings, weekends) if initial attempts failed.
Respondent fatigue: By strategically increasing the value of incentives for previously disengaged groups across different waves, Wallis successfully re-motivated participation, demonstrating a proactive approach to keeping the study relevant and engaging for participants over years.
Contact information accuracy: We used 'Update Your Details' campaigns annually ensure that the core sample database remained as accurate as possible, even when physical addresses or phone numbers were outdated.
Lessons learned
Wallis’ two-decade experience has taught us that successful longitudinal research is less about a single survey and more about continuous adaptation. The key takeaways include:
Engaging with young people and their parents, who often serve as household gatekeepers, is paramount.
Relying solely on one mode (e.g., email) fails; the combination of SMS and email, with human contact (phone calls/mailings) is required to ensure a representative sample from diverse groups
The structured use of incentives and prize draws serves not only as motivation but also reinforces the value placed on each respondent's time, making continued participation more likely across different cohorts.