Danielle Wood

Dear HILDA participant, Thank you for being part of such an important survey.

The Productivity Commission provides research and advice to the Australian government on the big economic, social and environmental challenges facing the country.

We use HILDA for a remarkable number of our projects. Recent examples include advice on how the mental health system can work better, how to improve the delivery of affordable housing and reduce homelessness, and options for extended unpaid leave for carers.

We have also drawn on the data for research into worsening job opportunities and declining income for young people  and research into the size and timing of gifts and inheritances from families.

Many of those projects would not have been possible without HILDA data. HILDA gives a much richer picture than other datasets, which take a snapshot of people’s circumstances in a given year. Because of your generosity in sharing your experience and your family’s experiences over a number of years, researchers and policy makers have a much better understanding of the challenges facing us all. We are extremely grateful for your contribution to Australian policy!

With thanks,

Danielle Wood
Chair, Productivity Commission