August 20 update: What to expect in your Survey Kit

Explore the contents of your Survey Kit, to help you run the survey at your church

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Thank you for joining us in the 2026 National Church Life Survey! 
This week, we encourage your survey administrator to become familiar with your Survey Kit.  

 

 

20 August, 2026

Dear participating church,

The National Church Life Survey is underway alongside the national Census! The first survey is the Church Activities Survey, which is to be completed by one person on paper or online.

Soon, your church will receive your full Survey Kit to help you run the Church Life Surveys at your church with attenders and leaders.

DELAYED PAPER DELIVERY: You will be able to start using online surveys from September on. You will receive an email to let you know your online surveys are active. However, due to unavoidable delays in the printing and posting, we cannot guarantee your church will have paper surveys in early September. We sincerely apologise and ask you to choose a later survey date.

Read on for details of what to expect in the coming weeks with helpful tips to make the survey a positive inclusive process at your church.   


ABOUT THE SURVEY KIT

The Your Survey Kit will include a Guide for your church's Survey Coordinator, along with Instructions and multimedia resources to help administer the survey well.

 

 

 

 

Your Survey Kits will contain:

  • Your Church Code
  • Guide for Survey Coordinator
  • Site Instructions for the Attender Survey
  • Surveys for leaders, attenders and children (if ordered)
  • Collection Envelopes
  • Returns Cover Sheet
  • Mailing Label.

 

TO DO

 

 

  • Forward details of the Survey Kit including the Survey Coordinators' GUIDE to the person coordinating the survey at your church. 
  • Notify your Church of the date you will conduct the Attender Survey in September or October.

 

 

TIPS AND RESOURCES

Find out more about the Survey Kit and explore videos, slides and other resources to help you administer the survey in September or October.   

 

 

 

Your Kit will contain your surveys ordered: Attender Surveys, Child Surveys (optional) and Leader Surveys. For an overview of each survey type, click below.

 

 

From July on, all participating are receiving regular email updates with tips, encouragements and resources for the surveys.

Need to see all the updates? You can find them all in one place online. Click here

We are glad your church is joining in the 2026 NCLS! Our hope and prayer is that this reflective experience provides an effective way to strengthen your own church's health, as well as to shape future ministry in Australia. Watch out for our next update!

Yours faithfully,
Prof Ruth Powell

Executive Director, NCLS Research on behalf of the Board and team.