Data collection and weighting
The 2024 quantitative poll of a representative sample of the general public assessed any changes from 2023, 2022, and 2021 in Australians’ views, attitudes and experiences of the early learning and childcare system in Australia, and what they expect of the government’s role in facilitating a universal early learning system. The 2024 poll was similar to the previous polls, though it included some new content.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the online survey was hosted by Dynata and took approximately 15 minutes to complete, while in 2021, the survey was hosted by Qualtrics.
Note that some questions were asked of only half the sample to maximise the number of questions without increasing respondent burden.
The table below outlines the fieldwork dates, sample sizes and margins of error:
Data collection and weighting
The 2024 quantitative poll of a representative sample of the general public assessed any changes from 2023, 2022, and 2021 in Australians’ views, attitudes and experiences of the early learning and childcare system in Australia, and what they expect of the government’s role in facilitating a universal early learning system. The 2024 poll was similar to the previous polls, though it included some new content.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the online survey was hosted by Dynata and took approximately 15 minutes to complete, while in 2021, the survey was hosted by Qualtrics.
Note that some questions were asked of only half the sample to maximise the number of questions without increasing respondent burden.
The table below outlines the fieldwork dates, sample sizes and margins of error:
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Fieldwork | 22 April – 7 May | 29 June – 12 July | 9 – 26 June | 8 – 25 April | |
| Nationally representative sample | n=4786 | n=4527 | n=4533 | n=4574 | |
| Maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level | Full sample | +1.4% | +1.5% | +1.5% | +1.4% |
| Half sample | +2.0% | +2.1% | +2.1% | +2.0% | |
Some figures in this report will not total 100% due to rounding, likewise, some totals will not always equal the sum of the sub-totals.
Questionnaire details
The full questionnaires can be found here.
Voting intention
Respondents not eligible to vote in federal elections (either for age, residency or other reasons) are excluded from voting intention. Eligible respondents were able to select ‘Unsure’ for voting intention. They were then asked a ‘leaner’ question which also included an ‘Unsure’ option. Respondents answering ‘Unsure’ are NOT excluded from published results, or any subsequent questions.
Analysis which includes voting intention shows the participants’ primary vote.
Definition of parents of children under school age who attend/do not attend daycare or preschool
Many of the charts on this website and the reports compare “Parents of children under school age who attend daycare / preschool” with “Parents of children under school age who do NOT attend daycare / preschool”.
- For parents with one child under school age, we simply asked if that child was attending centre-based daycare or preschool.
- For parents with more than one child under school age, we first specified that they should answer questions for the child under school age who most recently had a birthday. They were then asked whether that child attended centre-based daycare or preschool.
- Some respondents who indicated that their child under school age does not attend centre-based daycare or preschool, also reported that they had more than one child under school age. There is no way of knowing whether those other children attend centre-based daycare or preschool. All the survey can tell us is whether the child under school age, who most recently had a birthday, attends centre-based daycare or preschool.
The “parents of school aged children who attended / did not attend daycare or preschool” demographic is made up of those who have dependent children in primary or secondary school, but none under school age. In that case, the relevant question asks whether any of their children attended centre-based daycare or preschool in the past.
Definition of metropolitan and rural areas
The definition of metropolitan, regional and rural areas uses location information sourced from ABS census.
Definition of lower, middle and higher income
Income brackets are defined using annual household income provided by participants. Lower income is up to $51,999 per year household income, middle income is $52,000-$103,999 per year and high income is more than $104,000 per year.
Professional standards All Essential Research staff hold Research Society membership and are bound by professional codes of behaviour. This research is compliant with the Australian Polling Council Quality Mark standards. The Australian Polling Council standards can be found here.
