Enhancing Longitudinal Studies by Linkage to National Databases: Growing Up in Australia, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children†

†Views expressed in this article are those of the authors and may not reflect the policy or opinions of their affiliated organisations.

Abstract

Growing Up in Australia is a national longitudinal study of the development and wellbeing of 10,000 Australian children. The study has been committed since inception to support data linkage to other datasets, to value‐add to the primary modes of data collection from parents and others. It can increase the efficiency of data collection by reducing respondent and interviewer burden as well as adding new dimensions to addressing key research questions. The viability of data linkage needs to take into account the relevance of the data for research and policy, as well as data quality and cost, privacy and consent issues and the ease of access. This article documents the various sources for data linkage considered for Growing Up in Australia, including government health and education records, child care accreditation data, and community‐level data, and examines the strengths and challenges associated with each.

†Views expressed in this article are those of the authors and may not reflect the policy or opinions of their affiliated organisations.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the work undertaken by Christine Millward and Grace Soriano, who, in conjunction with Ann Sanson, conducted the early research into the sources and viability of data linkage for Growing Up in Australia.

Notes

†Views expressed in this article are those of the authors and may not reflect the policy or opinions of their affiliated organisations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carol Soloff

Carol Soloff is the Project Manager for Growing Up in Australia, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, at the Australian Institute of Family Studies and has been working on this study for five years since its early development.

Ann Sanson

Ann Sanson is an Associate Professor in Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne and coordinates the ARC/NHMRC Research Network of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.

Melissa Wake

Melissa Wake is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Director of Research & Public Health at the Centre for Community Child Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Linda Harrison

Linda Harrison is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) at Charles Sturt University.