How to access LSAY data

Latest data

Now available

Data collected from the Y15 wave 9 (2023) interviews are now available.

Data are also available from the first up until the final wave for the Y95, Y98, Y03, Y06 and Y09 cohorts. These five cohorts have all completed the survey program.

Data linkage

LSAY records for the Y15 cohort have also been linked to several data sources including ACARA My School, National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), Senior secondary administrative data, the National VET Provider Collection and the Higher Education Statistics Collection. Visit our data linkage page for more information.

More information

For more information visit the about LSAY data page. You can also subscribe to our email alert service to be the first to receive news on LSAY data releases and publications. Or if you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch with the LSAY team:

P: 08 8230 8400
E: lsay@ncver.edu.au

Data access

LSAY unit record (including linked data) files are deposited with the Australian Data Archive (ADA) at the Australian National University. Access to the data is free via a formal request and registration process managed by the ADA.

The data can be accessed by:

  • Registering with the ADA Dataverse
    • Select ‘Sign Up’ from the top right corner and complete the Dataverse registration form.
    • You will need to validate you email address for your registration to be accepted by Dataverse.

  • Requesting access to the LSAY datasets
    • Navigate to the LSAY Dataverse and login to your ADA Dataverse account.
    • Navigate to the LSAY cohort you want to access from the list of datasets. Note: If you want access to multiple cohorts at one time you can select this option when filling out the online application form.
    • Scroll down to the data files, select the file type/s you wish to access. Click on ‘Request Access’ and complete the online application form. Users must comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the user undertaking in order to obtain access to the data (see below for details).
    • A notification email will be sent to you from the ADA.
    • If your request is approved, you will be able to download the requested files via the LSAY Dataverse.

User undertaking

Access to the LSAY unit record data is provided only if the individual requesting access undertakes to comply with the terms and conditions. Individuals must accurately identify themselves when interacting with any entity or technology supporting access to LSAY data. Applications must accurately reflect the intended use of the data. NCVER either directly or through an entity delivering services on its behalf, may seek to verify an applicant’s identity and/or confirm the intended use of the data.

Terms and conditions

Authorised data users must undertake and agree to take full responsibility for ensuring LSAY unit record data files will be protected according to the following terms and conditions and hereby undertake to:

  1. Use all information provided by the Australian Data Archive (ADA) only for the purposes specified in their application and as approved by NCVER.

  2. Should the unit record data provided by NCVER be used for data matching/linking activities, comply at all times with the following conditions, and with any reasonable direction given by NCVER with respect to the disclosure, use or storage of matched/linked data. Authorised users must hereby undertake to:

    a. Comply with all applicable laws and regulations (including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth));

    b. Comply with all NCVER policies, procedures and protocols, including those published on NCVER’s website to the extent that they relate to that party’s role in the Project;

    c. Comply with all guidelines published by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner which are mandatory for that party to comply with when matching/linking data;

    d. Comply, so far as is reasonably practicable, with all guidelines published by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner which are relevant to that party’s role in the data matching/linking activities/project but which are not mandatorily imposed on that party;

    e. And ensure compliance with this clause by the authorised users’ employees, agents and subcontractors.

  3. Store and protect the data from misuse, interference and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, including:

    a. Protecting the privacy of the data and related individuals who may be identifiable in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) as amended by the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012.

    b. Not copying, sending or providing the data to other persons or organisations.

    c. Not attempting to identify an individual, including matching the information with any other information for the purposes of identifying individuals.

    d. Not disclosing information to other persons or organisations on any particular individual or any information in the unit record data where the identity of a particular individual might reasonably be ascertained.

    e. Not disclosing information on any particular organisation contained in the unit record data to any other person or organisation without the written permission of the organisation to which the information relates.

    f. Not publishing or disclosing the data or research results in a way that would enable any individual or organisation (other than your own) to be identified.

    g. Not using the information as a basis for legal, administrative, or other actions that could affect individuals or organisations (other than your own) contained in the unit record data.

    h. Relinquishing access and not attempting to access the requested data if no longer working on the specified project/purpose, or upon ceasing employment with the specified organisation.

    i. Ensuring that data in all media (CD-ROMs, DVDs, portable storage devices, electronic files, hard copy) are stored securely with access controls.

    j. Destroying the data, including any data resulting from matching the unit record file with other datasets, and any copies of it at the conclusion of the specified project/purpose, provided that the organisation may, with NCVER’s prior written consent (which will not be unreasonably withheld, but may be granted subject to conditions at NCVER’s discretion), retain a single copy of data for archive purposes or to comply with any applicable laws or institutional policy, subject to the organisation continuing to comply with the terms of this undertaking.

    k. Attribute the source of the data in any publications resulting from the use of the unit record data.

  4. Provide a copy of any final reports and other data products to NCVER unless otherwise agreed by NCVER.

  5. Not do anything or permit anything to be done that may cause NCVER to breach its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or its Privacy Policy

  6. Regarding the linked ACARA My School data:

    a. Use data in a manner consistent with the ACARA Principles and protocols for reporting on schooling in Australia

    b. Provide ACARA at or before time of publication any publicly available document incorporating the data (or any part of the data) to ACARA for reference

    c. Include the text ‘These data may not be disseminated to external parties’ for any document including the data or analysis of the data

    d. Not report on individual schools or undertake comparisons between schools as part of the research

    e. Not hold NCVER, ACARA, state/territory governments or the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) responsible for the accuracy, quality or fitness for purpose of the data.

Authorised users must unconditionally and irrevocably indemnify NCVER against any loss incurred by NCVER (including legal costs, on a solicitor own client basis) as a result of any failure by the Indemnifying Party or any of its officers, employees, contractors, agents or representatives to comply with these terms and conditions for any reason. The Indemnifying Party must on demand from NCVER immediately pay or reimburse NCVER’s loss.

Authorised users must undertake to adhere to all conditions listed above and understand that any breach of these terms may result in withdrawal of access to the information and/or incur a legal penalty if there is a breach of the Privacy Act or a breach under Common Law through disclosure of an organisation’s commercial in confidence information.

Authorised users must represent and warrant that the information set out in their Request is true and correct and acknowledge that NCVER will rely upon and be induced thereby to grant access to data held by the ADA.

Data tools

Data tools provide quick and easy access to summary LSAY data so users can readily explore results from the LSAY surveys. Resources to help you understand and use the data are also available. More information can be found on the Data page.

Make a specific data request

A specific data request allows you to ask for specific tables and/or data analysis to be undertaken by NCVER without the need for you to obtain full sets of data. A specific data request can be made to lsay@ncver.edu.au.

There are fees and charges applicable for all data requests. Please refer to NCVER’s data access and charges policy for more information.