COVID impacts on Australian families’ life and wellbeing: findings from the Families in Australia Survey

• In Event: Family and child health and wellbeing during COVID-19: insights from New Zealand and Australia

Abstract

The Families in Australia: Life During Covid-19 Survey has been developed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies to understand the lived experiences of families during the current global pandemic. The first wave of this survey was undertaken during Australia’s the first wave of COVID-19 in May and June 2020. The aim of the first survey was to understand how Australian families coped with the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the greatest health, social and economic challenges in history. We focused on how families: adjusted to the pandemic, and the restrictions and programs that were put in place; experienced the social and economic impacts of the pandemic; supported each other, even when they didn’t, or couldn’t, live together; and, protected their physical and mental health.

There were 7,306 respondents to the survey, of which 6,435 completed all survey questions. A second wave of the survey is being undertaken in November 2020, and will include seeking responses from first wave respondents to allow a longitudinal perspective. In addition to continuing to explore the ways have families coped with the pandemic, this second wave will ask for parents’ reports about these experiences on the wellbeing of children – including their social and emotional wellbeing and educational impacts. This paper will draw on both waves of the survey to provide insights into the ways that families and family life has been impacted by the pandemic.

Authors

• Kelly Hand, Australian Institute of Family Studies
  Presenting Author

• Jennifer Baxter, Australian Institute of Family Studies
  Non-Presenting Author