July 7 update: 5 steps to a successful survey

Decide WHEN and HOW to complete your survey, then consider 5 steps to get the most out of this survey experience.

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Thank you for joining us in the 2026 National Church Life Survey! 
Over the coming weeks, you will receive regular updates from us with tips, encouragements and resources for the survey.
This week, we encourage your church leadership to make some initial planning steps of WHEN you will hold the survey and HOW you might get the most from it.  

 

 

7 July, 2026

Five steps to a successful survey experience

Dear participating church,

Thank you for joining us in the 2026 National Church Life Survey! Orders are now coming in at pace with thousands of churches expected to join this national project. 

INTERESTING TO NOTE

Churches order more paper surveys than online

As we watch survey orders coming in from across the country, we can see an interesting split: 60% want paper surveys and 40% want to use online surveys. Which type of surveys will your church be using? 

 

Over the coming weeks, you will receive regular updates from us with tips, encouragements and resources for the survey. 

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

This week, we encourage your church leadership to make some initial planning steps of WHEN you will hold the survey and HOW you might get the most from it. 

TO DO:

Decide on a date when your churchgoers will complete their Attender Surveys together in September or October.

TO CONSIDER:

By listening to your churchgoers, what goals might you like to achieve?

 

 

TIPS AND RESOURCES

5 steps to a successful survey

Before your Survey: We invite you to consider some helpful steps that can make this survey a really successful experience at your church. These include: Prepare, Administer, Evaluate, Communicate and Act.

 

 

 

Need more information?

Watch an information session for local churches or go to 2026ncls.org.au for more.

 

Regular updates 

We will stay in touch with regular emails throughout the coming months, with tips, encouragements and resources. Keep an eye on your inbox or Click here for more information. 

We hope your church will benefit from the 2026 NCLS, in nurturing life to the full, strengthening the health and vitality of your church and leaders. 

We will stay in touch, so watch out for our next update!

Yours faithfully,
Prof Ruth Powell

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