Meet the Interviewers

In the Living In Australia study there are approximately 160 interviewers conducting interviews in each state across Australia.

We would like to introduce you to some of the interviewers from Roy Morgan who, like you, contribute to the Living in Australia study each year.

Andrew

Andrew

I have worked on the HILDA study since 2009 and enjoy it more and more with each passing year. I particularly enjoy meeting new people from every imaginable walk of life as well as catching up with old friends.

It is never boring! It's great to be part of a team who are so committed to the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind in Australia. As I SLOWLY make my way through the Sydney traffic, I console myself with the thought of a fresh face at the other end!

Andrew

I have had the privilege of being part of the Living in Australia Interviewing team since 2009.

In my 20 plus years of involvement in research, this is the project I enjoy the most. Every year I look forward to reconnecting with households and meeting any new people that have come into their lives. Being involved in such an interesting and diverse study has me looking forward to returning year after year. I am always proud to be a part of this study which continues to assist in planning for a better Australia.

Ben

Ben

I have been a HILDA interviewer in northern Tasmania since 2006. It has been an exciting, sometimes stressful, but mostly enjoyable job. Being a HILDA interviewer has given me some interesting experiences. There was one occasion I helped a respondent trying to keep orphaned lambs alive. It was very exhilarating!

Over the years I have gotten to know my respondents and have shared in their joys and sorrows. It has been a privilege to be a part of their lives for so long. I hope that HILDA goes on for years to come and continues to help shape the future of Australia.

Beth

My interviewing journey started about 26 years ago and I joined the HILDA Survey team in 2013. One thing I love about this survey is that the HILDA respondents are genuinely interested in this unique Australian study and are excited to be a part of it.

The best part of being a HILDA interviewer is the opportunity I have to interview people no matter where they are, whether it be on a sandy beach, at the local pub or at the dining room table. I consider it an honour to be able to sit down with people and capture their life over the last 12 months.

I feel lucky each year to be part of a great team who always make HILDA happen. Cheers to many more waves, and thank-you to all of my respondents for welcoming me each year!!

Bridgitte

Bridgitte

I really enjoy being an interviewer on the HILDA study. Over the past 5 years this work has taken me all over NSW - from rural towns to coastal shores, city streets, and mountain ranges. Being a HILDA interviewer gives me an opportunity to spend time with so many different people, young and old, who are so important to this Australian study.

I like that the HILDA study asks questions that are topical, and have the potential to make a real change in our country. Furthermore, the supportive project staff and other interviewers make a great team that I love being a part of. I look forward to seeing all of my respondents again this year!

Cathy

Cathy

I am very pleased and proud to have been involved with the HILDA study since 2007. I have met some really interesting and lovely people from all walks of life, and, seen some people's lives change quite dramatically.

I really appreciate that people share with me their stories as their lives change, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. A lot of changes have happened in my life too - with both of our children recently married we are now empty nesters! We are all very lucky to live in Australia. I really look forward to seeing you all again this year.

Cheryl Perrett

Cheryl

I have the best job in the world. I love meeting people and I love the flexibility of my job. What I love about being an interviewer is being re-acquainted with the families that I have now been interviewing for over 9 years.

I've seen primary school children grow to become young adults and now they are 15 years of age and being interviewed themselves. I now interview the 'original teenagers' (GEN Ys) in their own homes with their new partners... yes, some do move out! Over the past nine years there has been the sad news of some passing of the elderly but also the joy of new babies being born. I've been fortunate enough to interview in Melbourne as well as interstate and intrastate and loved every minute of it.

Christopher

I have been working with Roy Morgan since 2016. In 2018 I was invited to become a HILDA interviewer and I haven’t looked back since. This year is my fourth year and I have to say that I really enjoy being part of the HILDA team. The people I meet are so very interesting, some of whom feel like old friends, even though I only see some of them one day a year.

I find it so interesting to see the changes in people’s households over time - people joining and people departing. It’s all part of life’s rich journey.

Being a HILDA interviewer is a very rewarding position, as I really, truly feel that it makes a difference to Australian society.

Dylan

Dylan

I've been an interviewer on the HILDA study since its inception in 2001 and it's a job I take great pleasure in. It's been an enormous privilege to follow the lives of many diverse individuals and families over the years – the highs and lows.

I believe this study is of great social value and importance and a job I hope to continue for many years to come. I am looking forward, as I do every year, to seeing everyone again this year.

Farah

Farah

In 2005, I came to Australia as a migrant with my husband and two children. After moving around Australia for the first few years we eventually made Queensland home and started interviewing for the HILDA study in 2010.

My involvement with the HILDA study has been a privilege in every sense of the word – especially since it gives me an opportunity to work with families from every walk of life. In fact, HILDA and all the respondents involved in the study are my second family which I call my “HILDA family”. Over the years, I have learnt so many things about Living in Australia and I owe this knowledge to my HILDA family. Thank you.

Gaynor

After spending over 40 years working in various roles and industries - I feel I have a lot to bring to the ‘best job in the world’. I now know why my colleagues and friends love working on the HILDA study.

It is a great privilege to be welcomed into respondents’ homes and to be able to assist them to have their say in this very important Australian study. I have interviewed many inspirational people who at first think they have nothing to offer, but end up really enjoying the chance to reflect back over their lives.

HILDA is a very important social research study that I hope to be working on for many years to come. It’s so wonderful to hear those words ‘see you next year’.

George

When I was asked to join the HILDA interviewing team, I jumped at the opportunity. It’s been an absolute privilege and highlight of my work life. I thoroughly enjoy my role as a HILDA interviewer for a number of reasons. I love the autonomy that this role offers. I believe in the study and the positive impact it has on so many Australians and their families through the data we collect, which helps decision-makers understand the realities of life in Australia.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the many families that I interview each year, both old and new. They tell me so much, beyond the HILDA questions, like how it feels to be living in a great country like Australia. I plan to continue with this role till I grow old and grey... oops, I already am!

Glen

This is my third year on the HILDA study and I’m looking forward to the next one. My interviewing landscape varies from suburbs in regional towns, to cattle and sugarcane farms only accessible via creek bed crossings and over rugged and dusty driveways. My work is made easier because I believe in the significance and importance of the data collected. The best part of my job is meeting and interviewing such a variety of people, ranging from the elderly who may have been a part of the HILDA study for years, to new 15 year old teenagers making their very first contribution to the study.

I really enjoy working on this project and all the travelling that comes with it.

John Kenny

John

Thirteen years ago I moved interstate and into the unknown. I left behind a most fulfilling career and an extensive social network. The ensuing two or three years were very difficult for me as I tried to come to terms with the debilitating disengagement I felt with my new community.

Then, nine years ago an inspiring new project entered my life, and what a change it made to my personal well being! The arrival of what I affectionately call "Aunty HILDA", or the "Living In Australia" study brought about that change. During those nine years I have conducted almost one thousand three hundred HILDA interviews, ranging across a very broad and interesting spectrum of local society. I have formed warm friendships with many of the people I see each year and we now share the joys (and at times the difficulties) in our respective lives. That sense of involvement, albeit a limited one, has worked wonders for my sense of belonging.

To unexpectedly bump into a friendly face at one of the many shopping centres on the Gold Coast, or to read about someone I know in the local newspaper, or to hear an interview with one of "my people" on the radio, together with the yearly visits to people's homes has done wonders to dissolve the sense of alienation I once felt. Once again I feel connected with my community. For that reason, along with others too numerous to mention, I am hugely indebted to the HILDA project. Thank you!

Karen

Karen

I first started interviewing on the HILDA study in 2001 when the project began. Working on the HILDA study has really been a great journey.

I've watched as households change from year to year and children grow to make new households with their own family. I usually work in Victoria but have also travelled to other states to conduct the HILDA study- I just love it. So many of my respondents are thrilled to see the great contribution they have made in their time in the HILDA study, and I'm so thankful to be part of it.

I've enjoyed all of these years interviewing, especially connecting with my households and families, and catching up on the last twelve months. I'm looking forward to catching up with my households again this year!

Karen

As an interviewer with Roy Morgan for almost 10 years I have had the privilege to work on the prestigious HILDA project since 2017. The job has taken me all along the scenic Northwest Coast and parts of Northern Tasmania. I love driving and have the best office in the world.

I have the benefit of reconnecting each year with my HILDA families and meeting and forming relationships with new households. They truly make me feel so welcome.
This year on several occasions they thanked me after their interviews saying they appreciated the opportunity to review their circumstances over the last 12 months and they look forward to a brighter future.

I love my job and enjoy working with a supportive and professional team who care about Living in Australia.

Lynda

Lynda

I love my job! As a Living in Australia Interviewer I have the best of ALL worlds. The people I work for are amazing and all of the support team are phenomenal! With this as a foundation, collecting data for this most comprehensive study in this country is both enjoyable and valuable.

Each year I look forward to catching up with my respondents in my local area and some in other states. I hope they look forward to seeing me too! There are some respondents I've been interviewing over the phone. I've never seen some of their faces but I know their voice and love to catch up for our annual chat. It's funny how each year both the respondents and I learn so much about ourselves! The best part is the friendships I've built over the years and that our catch ups lead to invaluable knowledge of living in Australia. This means that the policy makers are taking real people into account. I am so proud to be part of this study and plan to be here for many, many years!

Marlene

I joined the HILDA Study as an interviewer in 2010 and have now worked on the project for over 13 years. Many of the households I visit each year have been with me for the entire time. I look forward to each year of the study as it truly gives us an insight into our participants’ lives and where they are at any given time.

The trust and respect we get from them is amazing. I like the challenge of keeping long term participants engaged and connected to the study, with the hope that they will continue for years to come. When I am not working, I enjoy gardening, aqua aerobics and attending live music events.

Marg

I have been working on the Living in Australia study since 2002, and in that time I have completed over 1,000 interviews for the project. I have travelled thousands of kilometres and met so many amazing people from all different walks of life. It is a privilege to work on such an important study, which helps improve the lives of all Australians.I would like to thank the respondents for welcoming me into their homes and sharing their life experiences with me. I am looking forward to catching up with all my households again this year; it is always lovely to hear their parting comment “We will see you again next year!”

Pam

Pam

I first started working in research in 1991 and was surprised to realise how much I enjoyed meeting with and talking to different people. I live in an area that is diverse and sometimes difficult with dirt roads, cyclones, floods, etc. but Cairns is a beautiful place. Just driving to and from work I get a buzz looking at the scenery that so many people from all over the world travel a long way to come to see. It's been over 10 years now that I've worked on HILDA and I can see the influence of the study in my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren's lives along with my respondents. All in all, HILDA has given me as much as it has the people of Australia.

Stephanie

I’ve been a field interviewer with Roy Morgan since 2013. I live on the beautiful Gold Coast, but Sydney is my hometown.

I’ve worked on lots of projects for Roy Morgan covering a range of topics including travel, tourism, lifestyle and consumer products, and in 2019 I was invited to join the HILDA study. It’s interesting when I drive around the Gold Coast to know I’ve interviewed that street and that street and that area.

Even though I often have ‘butterflies’ at the beginning of a day, once I get started I remember why I’ve done this job for so long. I love people, I’m curious about them and find them fascinating. I am also proud to work on a project like HILDA that has an ethical reputation and makes a difference to people’s lives.

Plus, I’ve made friends and had some wonderful mentors along the way. What’s not to love!

Vicky

Since 2001, I have had the incredible privilege of being an interviewer for the HILDA Study. This role has allowed me to form a deep connection with the people I visit year after year. It’s a unique experience to witness the changes that Australian households undergo over time and to be a part of their journey.

Being an interviewer for the HILDA Study has given me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, hear their stories and understand the challenges they face. It’s a humbling experience that has broadened my perspective and deepened my empathy for others. It’s a rewarding feeling to know that my work contributes to positive change and helps improve the lives of Australians.

Over the years, I have seen Australia go through significant transformations. Through it all, the HILDA Study has been there, capturing the essence of these changes and providing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and the wider community. I’m immensely proud to be a part of the HILDA Study and want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people who have welcomed me into their lives. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your story and for helping shape the future of Australia.

Zoe, interviewer from Victoria

Zoe

I've been working on the Living in Australia study since 2012. I really enjoy the flexibility of my job and being on the road, but most of all I enjoy the social side of it. I love meeting new people, catching up annually with all of the respondents and seeing and hearing about changes in their life.Enjoying what I do makes my job so much easier. Due to all of my hard work, I received the award for 'most interviews completed in Victoria'. This was a massive achievement for me.

Interview with a Living In Australia study interviewer

In July 2007, the 'Life Matters' programme on ABC Radio National broadcast a feature on the Living in Australia study and the HILDA 2007 Research Conference, held at The University of Melbourne during the same month.

The programme featured an interview with one of the Living in Australia interviewers, Peter George, and excerpts from the speech he gave as the Guest Speaker at the Conference Dinner. Here are some of the things he had to say;

One of the hidden pleasures of being a [Living in Australia] interviewer is to reacquaint with the same people every year. It often reminds me of that film 'Same Time Next Year'.
Some people are horrified when they see us because they are gobsmacked that a year has already gone by. Others welcome us with open arms because the finance section of the survey motivates them to get their tax returns in order. Peter George

Peter, who has been an interviewer on the Living in Australia study since 2002, reflected on some of his experiences. He particularly enjoys visiting the wide variety of people who take part in the study as they all have a different story to tell. The feature on our study ended with the presenter, Mark Horstman, saying;

If any of the 13,000 participants are listening – we thank you on behalf of the nation. Mark Horstman