Taking the Pulse of the Nation

Informing Australian economic & social policy. A Melbourne Institute & Roy Morgan partnership

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Taking the Pulse of the Nation (TTPN) surveys the Australian population to capture their sentiments and behaviours related to current economic and social issues

Since 2020, the Taking the Pulse of the Nation (TTPN) survey has collected compelling information on the changing behaviours and attitudes of Australians. Together, Melbourne Institute and Roy Morgan understand the value in capturing the voices of Australians on the issues that matter right now. We use this information to create expert analyses to directly inform social and economic policies for our Nation.

View the latest trends with our TTPN Tracker. This survey data is available to the public upon request. Please contact us for more information and access.


Latest news

High levels of mental distress among Australians who experienced high school bullying

A recent report by the Australian Council for Educational Research revealed that Australian students face some of the highest rates of bullying among comparable English-speaking countries. Our latest TTPN summary report asked adults how often they experienced bullying in high school to explore the dynamics of bullying in Australia.

Read 12 August Report

Insights into energy concession awareness and energy-related behaviours among concession card holders in Australia

A collaboration between the Energy Charter and the Melbourne Institute, this report presents findings related to concession card holders in Australia, in particular their behaviours related to reducing energy consumption and paying energy bills, the application of concessions to their energy bills, estimates of energy hardship, and the extent of awareness and understanding of the Energy Charter's #BetterTogether National Concessions Awareness and Engagement Campaign, "Keep the money. It's yours."

Read 24 June Report

Many women are dissatisfied with the division of unpaid domestic work between them and their partner

The latest Women’s Budget Statement highlights that women still bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic work, especially in caregiving. How much of this inequality is due to couples choosing traditional gender roles versus women bearing the larger burden? Our recent TTPN summary report shows that although total unpaid domestic work hours have decreased since March 2023 for parents of dependent children, women, particularly mothers, continue to do significantly more household work.

Read 14 June Report

Australians are still feeling the pinch and are more vulnerable to potential unexpected costs

Poverty is a state. Being financially vulnerable increases one’s risk of falling into poverty. Over the past year inflation has dropped from a high of over seven to eight percent in late 2022 and early 2023, to current rates of less than four percent. Rising housing prices, utility bills, medical bills, and everyday expenses like food have been contributing to an increased risk in Australia for people becoming vulnerable and falling into poverty. Using the February 2024 Taking the Pulse of the Nation (TTPN) survey data, we examine cost-of-living challenges based on residents in a high-, medium-, or low-poverty community.

Read 11 June Report

Past reports and insights