Australian Study of Adult Skills

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) manage the Australian Study of Adult Skills (ASAS). JSA and Ipsos are running this study in conjunction with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

 About the Study | Participating in the Study | Privacy and Confidentiality | Questions and Support | Participation Reward Information

ABOUT THE STUDY

What is the Australian Study of Adult Skills?

The Australian Study of Adult Skills (ASAS) is part of an international, multi-year program. ASAS has been designed to learn about activities adults undertake in their daily lives such as reading, finding information and using computers, as well as their education and work experience. The results will be used to highlight areas that we need to build on as a nation, to ensure Australia can meet current, emerging, and future workforce, skills, and training needs.

AU Govt. & JSA 
 

How was I chosen?

Your address was randomly chosen from a publicly available list of all Australian residences, known as The Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF).

Why should I participate?

We cannot substitute your household for another. We want as many people to participate as possible, so that we can get the best representation of all Australians. By participating, you will earn a $10 e-gift voucher after completing a 10-minute survey over the phone with our helpdesk. A randomly chosen member of your household, will then be invited to participate fully in the study at a time of your choosing and earn an additional $75 e-gift voucher.

Who in the household should participate?

Any resident of your household, aged 18+, can complete the short 10-minute survey. A member of the household will then be randomly chosen to participate fully in the study, full participants must be aged 15-74.

What topics are covered?

The short survey identifies information about each member of the household, including details such as a first name, age, gender and highest level of education achieved. This can be completed at home with one of our interviewers in person; however, to earn the $10 e-gift voucher, this must be completed over the phone with our helpdesk team. 

The full study consists of background questions such as the use of technology, education and employment experiences. Then, moves on to problem-solving tasks, that will be presented using real-life situations that adults typically encounter at work and in their personal lives e.g. reading a train timetable, navigating a website or paying a utility bill. This must be completed in-person, using one of our interviewer’s handheld devices. You will earn a $75 e-gift voucher upon completion.

Do I have to participate?

Participation in the study is voluntary, but your participation is important so that we obtain information from a cross-section of the population. The more people who contribute to the study, the more useful the information will be.

Where can I find results from previous editions of this study?

Australia previously participated in this study in 2011/12. For results from that cycle, please visit www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/programme-international-assessment-adult-competencies-australia/latest-release.

Which other countries are involved?

1.16 million adults from 31 countries have participated so far, since 2023. A further 10 countries are participating, from now until 2028. For more information about the study internationally, please visit www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/piaac.

 

PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY

How do I Participate?

Please call our helpdesk on 1800 123 456, to complete a short survey over the phone, and earn a $10 e-gift voucher. Alternatively, arrange a visit from one of our interviewers through our helpdesk, you will not be eligible for the $10 voucher if this is completed in-person. Full participation in the study requires one of our interviewers to be present, this can be arranged for completion in the comfort of your own home at a time of your choosing, and will result in an additional $75 e-gift voucher upon completion.

Please note, our helpdesk team operate Monday through Sunday, between the hours of 10:00 and 18:00 AEDT (excluding Victorian public holidays). If you would like to request a time for a call back, please register at [insert link to Call back page].

How long will it take?

Full participation in the study will likely take between 1 and 2 hours. You don’t have to complete this all at once, but we recommend participants are available for at least 45 minutes at a time.

What happens to the information I provide?

The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. The information you provide will be combined with that of other participants in the Study, based on shared characteristics. The results are used to shape policies domestically and internationally, using comparable evidence. By linking adults’ skill levels with their education pathways, work histories, job characteristics and social outcomes, the survey helps policymakers identify where skills gaps exist, who is most affected, and where policies can make the biggest difference.

 

PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY


Can I be identified as a respondent?

No. Your answers are put together with the answers from other people and are not linked to your address and are not released to anyone.

Any information provided in the Survey will remain anonymous. Ipsos and JSA will not publish any identifying information about you. To find out more about the Ipsos Privacy Policy, click here.

How is my privacy protected?

The survey results are confidential, and strictly protected by law. No results or other data that could possibly identify individuals will be released.

The research complies with the Privacy Act 1988 and the information is only used for research purposes. This means that the information you provide cannot be used for activities that focus on individuals, like compliance or law enforcement.

 

QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT

If you have questions, need help or do not wish to take part, please contact Ipsos via email at [email protected] or call the survey helpline on 1800 123 456.


If you would prefer to speak to someone from JSA, a representative can be reached on 1800 123 456.

 

PARTICIPATION REWARD INFORMATION

E-gift vouchers are open to Australian residents aged 15 years and over (If resident of SA, parental/guardian consent must be provided for a person under the age of 18 to be eligible [DL2.1]). To redeem either the $10 or $75 e-gift vouchers, you must provide a valid email address or full postal details. We will deliver the email vouchers to you within 10 working days after your case is logged as complete in our system; postal vouchers will be lodged with Australia Post within 10 working days after your case is logged as complete in our system. The Promoter is Ipsos Public Affairs Pty Ltd (ABN 52 070 101 352) of Level 2, 51 Berry Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060. GiftPay are not participants in nor sponsor this promotion. Authorised under: ACT Permit No. TP 25/01174. SA Licence No. T25/884. Download full terms and conditions using the link below.

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