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For churches who would like to complete the Attender Survey fully online, here's all you need to complete the Attender Survey at your church.
You will need:
- Your Church Code - found in the email sent to your church or via your Admin Key
- Your Admin Key - found in the email sent to your church
- Site Instructions for details on how to complete the survey
You can complete the online Attender Survey and the online Child Survey, either together as a group, or separately as individuals at home.
Before the Survey
BEFORE COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY TOGETHER
- Choose your survey date, between November and February, and notify your church. (See Poster graphic for use)
- Find your Church Code(s)- sent via email from NCLS Research.
- Download the Site Instructions, enter your Church Code on page 1, then distribute to worship service leaders conducting the survey.
BEFORE COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY SEPARATELY
- Choose your survey period, between November and February, and notify your church. (See Poster graphic for use)
- Find your Church Code(s)- sent via email from NCLS Research.
- Use the Invitation Template Text, enter your Church Code and survey period dates, then distribute the invitation to your church attenders via email, social media or printed in your church bulletin.
When Completing the Survey
WHEN COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY TOGETHER
If completing the survey together online, invite church attenders to complete the survey at attendersurvey.ncls.org.au during or directly after your online worship service.
Resources to help you:
- Play the Survey Day Video
- Display the website and Church Code clearly (see PowerPoint Display Slide Template)
- Real aloud or display the Instructions for Attenders on screen (see Read Aloud Or Print Instructions for Survey Day).
WHEN COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY SEPARATELY
If completing the survey individually, invite church attenders to complete the survey at attendersurvey.ncls.org.au anytime during your chosen survey period.
Resources to help you:
- Send a link to the Survey Day Video or share it on social media
- Provide the website and Church Code (see PowerPoint Display Slide Template)
- Provide the Printed Instructions for Attenders (see Read Aloud Or Print Instructions for Survey Day for use).
Direct church attenders to the website attendersurvey.ncls.org.au
They will need to enter your Church Code to begin.
The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete. The online Attender Survey is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Tongan and Vietnamese. (Chin, Karen and Dinka are offered as paper surveys only.)
Track Completion and Send Reminders
FINISH COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY TOGETHER
- You can use your Admin Key to track completion of surveys.
Find your Admin Key on the email sent to you by NCLS Research. - If you would like to see more people complete the online survey after your chosen service day, send church attenders a final reminder asking them to complete it.
FINISH COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY SEPARATELY
- You can use your Admin Key to track completion of surveys.
Find your Admin Key on the email sent to you by NCLS Research. - Send a reminder email to church attenders during your Survey Period.
- Send a final reminder to church attenders at the end of your Survey Period.
Resources:
Use the resources below to help you run the Attender Survey, either on your Survey Day or during your Survey Period. Churches can use the resources in a way that suits them, whether they are completing the survey together or separately, depending on how your church is gathering at the time. See the Site Instructions for more information on various scenarios for completing the survey together face to face or separately at home, depending on your COVID-19 restrictions.
Download your Site Instructions, enter your Church Code onto page 1, then distribute to leaders facilitating the survey in your online worship gathering.
Download Site Instructions for Attender Survey (pdf)- (Sample)
Play this Video on Survey Day
A brief video (2:26) introducing the purpose of the Attender Survey and how to complete it. Designed for use in worship services or activities where the survey will be completed. Alternately send a link to attenders who are invited to complete the survey at home.
Display this Slide showing your Church Code
A Display Slide template is available for you to enter your Church Code and display, as either a PowerPoint slide, a png image or pdf file. Designed for use in worship services or activities where the survey will be completed. Remember to enter your Church Code before projecting the slide.
Download Display Slide template (PowerPoint)
Download Display Slide template (png image)
Download Display Slide template (pdf)
Use these worship resources
Prayers, liturgical reflections and readings are available for use, to integrate the survey into a worship service, Mass or activity.
Read Aloud or Print Instructions for Survey Day-
a version for those completing the Attender Survey fully online
Provide these instructions to church attenders aged 15 and over before completing the Attender Survey online. You can either read them aloud if you are meeting together online, or print and distribute them if you are completing the survey online separately at home.
These Instructions are also found in the Site Instructions to be provided to church leaders at each site or location completing the Attender Survey.
“Thank you for taking part in the 2021 National Church Life Survey along with hundreds of thousands of others. The Survey is a chance to review our church’s qualities as we look to the future. Afterwards we will receive our own church results.
- This is a voluntary, anonymous and confidential survey.
- Most people complete it within 15 to 20 minutes.
- Choose one response for each question unless it states otherwise.
- Do not fill in a second form if you have already completed one.
- Not all survey forms are exactly alike. There are many issues being covered.
Online: Go to attendersurvey.ncls.org.au and enter our NCLS Church Code.
- Click ’Finish’ before you share your device with someone else.
- To stay in touch with NCLS Research or sponsors, provide your contact details on the optional Reply section.
For more information about the National Church Life Survey and the research team, go to 2021ncls.org.au.”
Invitation Template Text for the Attender Survey
Use this text to send invitations to your church attenders to complete the Attender Survey, if you are completing them separately at home. Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
YOU ARE INVITED to take part in our Attender Survey
Dear churchgoer,
Our church is participating in the 2021 National Church Life Survey and you are invited to complete the Attender Survey for churchgoers aged 15 years and over.
The survey will ask you about your experiences of our church, your thoughts about our ministries and activities, as well as your personal spiritual beliefs or religious practices. The results of the survey will help our local church to assess our church health, understand our strengths and build directions for the future.
We invite you to take part in this survey.
- It will take around 15-20 minutes to complete.
- It is anonymous and confidential.
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper survey form or
- Go to: attendersurvey.ncls.org.au
- And enter our Church Code:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
We ask you to complete the Survey by _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of the 2021 National Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. More information about the survey can be found at 2021ncls.org.au/attender-survey
Yours faithfully,
Reminder Template Text for the Attender Survey
Use this text to send a reminder to your church attenders to complete their survey. We recommend sending one or two reminders during your survey period. Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
A FRIENDLY REMINDER about our Attender Survey
Dear churchgoer,
Recently we sent you an invitation to take part in the Attender Survey, as part of the 2021 National Church Life Survey.
We hope you will take part soon if you haven’t already done so.
You will be asked about your experiences of our church, your thoughts about our ministries and activities, as well as your personal spiritual beliefs or religious practices.
We remind you to please complete the Survey by _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
- It will take 15-20 minutes to complete.
- It is anonymous and confidential.
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper survey form or
- Go to: attendersurvey.ncls.org.au
- And enter our Church Code:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The results of the survey will help our local church to assess our church health, understand our strengths and build directions for the future.
The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of the 2021 National Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. More information about the survey can be found at 2021ncls.org.au/attender-survey
Yours faithfully,
Final Call Template Text for the Attender Survey
Use this text to send a final reminder to your church attenders to complete their Attender Survey. Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
CLOSING SOON: Don’t miss out on completing our Attender Survey
Dear churchgoer,
Recently we sent you invitations to take part in the Attender Survey, as part of the 2021 National Church Life Survey.
We hope you will take part soon if you haven’t already done so.
You will be asked about your experiences of our church, your thoughts about our ministries and activities, as well as your personal spiritual beliefs or religious practices.
Don’t miss out! The Survey is closing on _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
We invite you to take part in this survey.
- It will take 15-20 minutes to complete.
- It is anonymous and confidential.
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper survey form or
- Go to: communitysurvey.ncls.org.au
- And enter our Church Code:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The results of the survey will help our local church to assess our church health, understand our strengths and build directions for the future.
The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of the 2021 National Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. More information about the survey can be found at 2021ncls.org.au/attender-survey
Yours faithfully,
The Child Survey can also be completed online.
Direct child church attenders aged 8 to 14 to the website childsurvey.ncls.org.au. They will need to enter your Church Code to begin.
(Please ensure you have circulated Parent Information Sheets to parents and carers before completion.)
Read aloud or provide these instructions to children before completing the Child Survey online:
You can either read them aloud to children if you are meeting together online, or print and distribute them to children if you are completing the Child Survey online separately at home.
These Instructions are also found in the Child Survey Instructions to be provided to church leaders at each site or location completing the Attender Survey.
“Today we’d like to ask you some questions about your faith and about church. This is a special survey for people aged 8 to 14. There are no right or wrong answers. We want to hear what you think. Don’t write your name on this survey. All of your answers are private. Nobody else should read them. You don’t have to do this survey if you don’t want to.
To answer a question please cross the box next to the answer that is closest to what you think. If you don’t understand a question you can ask for help from an adult.
To complete the Child Survey online:
- Go to childsurvey.ncls.org.au and enter our NCLS Church Code.
- Click ’Finish’ before you share your device with someone else.
Thank you."
Child Surveys (if ordered)
If your church ordered Child Surveys for church attenders aged 8 to 14, you can view instructions and resources to help you complete the Child Survey, either alongside adult attenders in a worship service or Mass, or in a children's activity. This includes Parent Information Sheets as well as Activity Sheets for younger children.