How can your church hear the voices of every generation while ensuring participants are cared for and protected? The 2026 National Church Life Survey reflects NCLS Research’s commitment to the highest ethical standards, with approval from the Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee. This year's survey includes important changes for children and young people. The Child Survey now covers ages 8-15 with written parental consent required, while 16 and 17-year-olds can participate in the Attender Survey. These changes ensure young people's voices are heard responsibly, helping church leaders make informed decisions for the future.
The 2026 NCLS – ethical research and changes for children and young people
NCLS Research is undertaking the 2026 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) with the highest regard for ethical standards in human research. The Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee has approved the project. There are some key changes to the NCLS this year regarding children and young people. The Child Survey is now expanded to those aged 8-15, and written parental consent is required.
On the whole, research that is well-intentioned makes an enormous contribution to our communities and society. However, historically, research has not always been done with sufficient regard to the risks, harms and power relationships that are associated with it.
It is important that research is undertaken with the highest standards of concern and respect for those who participate in and/or may be impacted by the research.
At NCLS Research, we take these matters very seriously. We conduct our research in accordance with the four core principles of ethical human research set out in the Australian Government’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025):
- Research Merit and Integrity: Research must have clear value, use appropriate methods, and be conducted honestly and responsibly by qualified researchers.
- Justice: Participants must be selected and treated fairly, with benefits and burdens shared equitably.
- Beneficence: Research benefits must justify foreseeable risks, which researchers should identify, minimise and manage.
- Respect: Researchers must uphold participants’ dignity, autonomy, privacy, confidentiality, and show regard for their cultural, social and personal circumstances.
This year, thousands of churches, representing over 100,000 church attenders of all ages plus their leaders, will give their time to participate in the 2026 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) – for the benefit of their churches and the Australian Church as a whole. We at NCLS Research provide results to local churches, regions and denominations, together with guidance on how to use them. The datasets from the NCLS enable wider research on church health, spirituality, wellbeing and community connection.
Participation in the NCLS is voluntary and we make it as accessible as we can. We minimise the burdens of participation (for example, we have shortened our Church Activities Survey and Leader Survey this year), and we protect participant privacy and confidentiality.
The Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has approved the 2026 NCLS and we have worked closely with them to ensure that the NCLS meets the highest ethical standards.
This has resulted in some changes to this year’s NCLS regarding children and young people.
The Child Survey is now for children aged 8-15 years and parents and carers must give their consent in writing before their children are offered a survey form.
As has always been the case, participation in the Child Survey is voluntary. Children do not have to complete the survey if they don’t want to – even if their parents have given consent.
Although it is more work for churches to distribute and collect consent forms from parents and carers, and check that only children for whom parental consent is received are offered forms, this is very important to protect the interests of children. We provide all the resources you need to do so (including the Parents & Carers Information & Consent sheet).
The standard Attender Survey is now available for adults plus young people aged 16 and 17.
There are important benefits for church leaders to hear from 16- and 17-year-olds about their church experience. It shows respect for their views. The risks for those participating in the Attender Survey are low. Again, the survey is voluntary – people do not have to participate if they don’t want to.
However, if parents and carers of children aged 16 and 17 do not believe their child has the capacity to complete the Attender Survey, they may refuse parental consent by means of the Parents & Carers Information & Consent sheet. Otherwise, their children will be invited to participate in the survey along with the rest of the church.
The 2026 NCLS is an important way for your church to hear the voices of people of all ages, including children and young people. Your church results will be available to you soon after the completion of your survey period. We look forward to providing them to you.