The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth: 20 Years and Beyond

Abstract

The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) follow several cohorts of young Australians as they move through secondary school, into further study, work and other destinations. The LSAY datasets provide an evidence-based capacity for sophisticated exploration of policy and research questions through insights into individual changes, transitions and trajectories across the life-course of young Australians. This article aims to provide an update on the progress of LSAY, including its history, evolution of the sample, sample maintenance activities, updates to the information collected, developments to the survey, the many uses that have been made of the data and possible enhancements.