Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY)

Study Details

Since the late 1970s major contributions to improving the knowledge base in the area of transitions between education, training and work have resulted from two programs of longitudinal studies. One of these was the ACER program called Youth in Transition and the other was the Australian Youth Survey (and its predecessor the Australian Longitudinal Survey) conducted by the Commonwealth government. Research based on those studies has examined the causes and consequences of educational participation among different groups in the Australian population, and how these patterns have changed over time.

In July 1995 the two programs were brought together as the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. The project is currently following three cohorts:

  • a group of young people who were in Year 9 in 1995;
  • a group of young people who were in Year 9 in 1998; and
  • a group of young people who turned 15 years of age in 2003 and participated in OCED PISA 2003.

In addition LSAY incorporates data from the Youth in Transition and Australian Youth Survey cohorts, and an extensive program of analysis and reporting based on data from all cohorts.

Data Sources

Youth in Transition (YIT)

There have been four cohorts involved in this program: samples of people born in 1961, 1965, 1970 and 1975. All have been contacted nearly annually by mail since their mid-teens. The surveys focussed on participation in education and the labour force, and on transitions within and between education and work. The last year of contact for the three older cohorts was 1995. The last year of contact for the youngest cohort was 2002.

Australian Youth Survey (AYS)

The AYS began in 1989 with a nationally representative sample of more than 5,000 young people aged 16-19. This initial sample was augmented annually by the addition of a new group of around 1,200 16-year-olds from 1990 to 1994, resulting in an increase in sample size to more than 8000 in 1994. Contact was concluded in 1997. A repository for AYS data and documentation is held at ACER and analysis of the data is continuing.

Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY)

A nationally representative sample of over 13, 000 Year 9 students was selected as the first cohort in the new LSAY program. Reading and numeracy tests were administered to students in their schools to provide information on school achievement for use in later analyses of educational and labour market participation. Students also completed a background questionnaire about their educational and vocational plans and attitudes to school. In 1996 these students provided information in response to a mailed questionnaire. Information was also obtained from their schools about the curriculum and school organisation. In 1997 this cohort was contacted in the first of the annual telephone surveys.

A second Year 9 cohort comprising more than 14, 000 students was selected in 1998. Telephone interviewing of this cohort began in 2000. Beginning in 2003, a single questionnaire is being used for the telephone interviews with both the 1995 and the 1998 Year 9 cohorts.

A third LSAY cohort began in 2003. This cohort was selected from school students who participated in OECD PISA 2003. These 15-year-olds undertook tests in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy and completed questionnaires about their background and plans for the future. They were also interviewed by telephone to provide additional information.

Further details can be obtained from the LSAY technical papers and from the PISA website.