The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has launched a new survey to gather the experiences of Australian families during the pandemic.
Director of AIFS, Anne Hollonds said the survey Families in Australia: Life during COVID-19 would paint a picture of how Australians were adapting to the coronavirus pandemic, revealing the good and the bad.
“This is the first time we’ve gone straight to everyday families on this scale,” Ms Hollonds said.
“We want to find out how the patterns of life have changed for families and give them a voice in the recovery,” she said.
“We need to know how this once-in-a-lifetime event has impacted Australians’ everyday lives, so the Government and service providers know what support people really need.”
Ms Hollonds said the survey was open to every Australian over 18 years of age, in all types of families, including families with children, grandparents, couples and single-person households.
It asked a broad range of questions about daily life, including how relationships had changed, how time was being spent, work and education arrangements, and whether or not household dynamics had shifted, she said.
“Families are the backbone of Australia. They’re who we look to for support every day and even more so during times of crisis,” Ms Hollonds said.
“When families rearrange everything, it’s invisible. Yet we rely on them to do this. Understanding how they’re dealing with the added social and economic pressures of COVID-19 is crucial,” she said.
“By sharing your unique experience and completing the survey, you’ll help us capture this important moment in history and be a part of shaping Australia’s future as we move forward.”
Ms Hollonds said the COVID-19 survey would be the first in an ongoing series, Families in Australia, which would track how families were changing over time.
Readers interested in participating in the survey can access it at this PS News link.
