What is the HILDA Survey?

The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey is a household-based panel study which began in 2001. It has the following key features:

• It collects information about economic and subjective well-being, labour market dynamics and family dynamics.
• Special questionnaire modules are included each wave.
• The wave 1 panel consisted of 7,682 households and 19,914 individuals.
• Interviews are conducted annually with all adult members of each household.
• The panel members are followed over time.
• The funding has been guaranteed for twelve waves.
• Academic and other researchers can apply to use the General Release datasets for their research.
• Release 8 of the HILDA data (waves 1 to 8) is now available. Release 9 is planned to occur in early December 2010.

Features of the HILDA website

From this site you can view and download survey instruments and discussion papers, browse the growing body of research based on the HILDA data, download the documents needed to order the data, learn how to join the HILDA mailing list, and find useful links to other panel survey websites.

Who is involved in the HILDA Survey?

The HILDA Survey was initiated, and is funded, by the Australian Government through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). Responsibility for the design and management of the survey rests with the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (University of Melbourne).

Data collection for waves 1 to 8 was undertaken by The Nielsen Company, a private market research company. Data collection for waves 9 to 12 is being undertaken by Roy Morgan Research.