Survey Participant Information
The following information provides a summary for people who have been asked to participate in a statistical survey by the Office of the Government Statistician.
The Office of the Government Statistician is the Queensland Government's lead statistical agency, and regularly conducts surveys with individuals, households and businesses to collect official statistics about issues of interest to Government and people in Queensland. This information contributes to decision making and improving public policy so that better services can be provided to Queenslanders.
The Office of Government Statistician is committed to conducting statistical surveys in a prompt, confidential and courteous manner and employs a dedicated team of experienced research interviewers. To ensure the confidentiality of the information you provide, the Office of the Government Statistician conducts surveys under the authority of the Statistical Returns Act. This Act prohibits the disclosure of identifiable information relating to an individual without their consent.
The Office of the Government Statistician sincerely thanks the many individuals, households and businesses who contribute their time and effort responding to our surveys. Without such co-operation and goodwill, it would not be possible to produce the high-quality, reliable and timely statistics required by the Queensland Government and the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions by survey participants are provided below. For more information about statistical surveys conducted by the Office of the Government Statistician, please contact the Office on our freecall number, 1800 068 587.
How did you get my phone number?
For some surveys, the Office of the Government Statistician needs to collect the opinions and knowledge of a cross-section of the Queensland public which is as representative as possible. To do this, random telephone numbers are generated based on five digit prefixes known to be in use in the state. Not all of these randomly generated numbers may be in use, and some may be unlisted or silent numbers. For surveys of clients of a Government department, we usually ring using a contact list provided by the department.
What about the Do Not Call Register?
The Office of the Government Statistician is the Queensland Government's lead statistical agency and was established to service the statistical requirements of the State Government and its agencies and authorities throughout Queensland. As we collect statistics for official government purposes, our office is exempt from the Do Not Call Register.
What about the Anti-spam legislation?
As the Office of the Government Statistician collect statistics for official government purposes, our office is exempt from the Spam Act 2003. All electronic messages from the Office of the Government Statistician identify the body or bodies that give authorisation for sending a message.
Why have I been selected?
For some surveys, the Office of the Government Statistician needs to select participants randomly so that results accurately reflect and represent the unbiased views of the whole community. Random selection is designed to give every household an equal chance of being contacted, and every eligible person in those households an equal chance of being selected to participate.
Do I have to participate in a survey?
All individuals selected by the Office of the Government Statistician to participate in survey research are encouraged to do so. This ensures the high level of response required to obtain accurate, reliable results and to properly identify key issues facing the community. The Government Statistician has the legal authority to collect statistics under the Statistical Returns Act.
How is confidentiality assured?
The Office of the Government Statistician conducts surveys under the authority of the Statistical Returns Act, which states that all survey responses must be collated so that no identifiable information relating to an individual can ever be released without their consent. The Office of the Government Statistician is widely respected for its long-standing record of preserving the confidentiality of information collected through its surveys.
Current Surveys
To find out about current statistical surveys being conducted by the Office of the Government Statistician, please contact the Office on our freecall number, 1800 068 587.
Last reviewed: Apr 9, 2008, Last modified: Apr 7, 2008
