Experience of Being a Politician Survey |
About This Survey
The Better Politics Foundation and Compassion in Politics have engaged DemosAU to conduct a survey exploring the state of mental wellbeing amongst politicians in Australia. This follows groundbreaking global research that has been reported in Mere Mortals: The State of Politicians’ Mental Wellbeing and Why it Matters and in investigative documentaries produced in 2024 by the state broadcasters BBC and RTE about the often impossibly difficult and demanding job of being a political leader in the 21st century.
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In this survey we are researching how being a politician has affected your wellbeing, what supports or initiatives presently exist in Australia, and where there are opportunities to improve things further.
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Update September 2025: Professor Pat McGorry supports this Groundbreaking Study into Politicians’ Mental Health and Wellbeing
Professor McGorry - Executive Director of Orygen, and Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne — is urging all Australian elected representatives to take part in this landmark survey:
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“The fact that so many politicians have already contributed to this survey is a tribute to the constructive and open, upfront, mindset of Aussie politics — something the rest of the world I believe can learn from,” said Professor McGorry. “I’m now appealing to all Australian elected representatives, from all sides of the political spectrum, to take part in this short anonymous survey and thereby help us to better understand the pressures affecting the job, support your leadership and your vital role in Australian democracy."
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Why are we conducting this research?
Better Politics Foundation and Compassion in Politics are non-partisan organizations working to improve political systems around the world. Politicians deserve good mental wellbeing. It is clearly in everyone's interests to have politicians who are well and at the top of their game so that you can perform your challenging jobs to the best of your abilities and deliver for citizens and democracy.
Better Politics Foundation and Compassion in Politics are non-partisan organizations working to improve political systems around the world. Politicians deserve good mental wellbeing. It is clearly in everyone's interests to have politicians who are well and at the top of their game so that you can perform your challenging jobs to the best of your abilities and deliver for citizens and democracy.
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Who is this survey for?
Current or former political leaders at any level of government in Australia. We appreciate the interest and dedication of political candidates and political staffers, but unfortunately, they are not included in this research stage.
Current or former political leaders at any level of government in Australia. We appreciate the interest and dedication of political candidates and political staffers, but unfortunately, they are not included in this research stage.
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How long is the survey?
The survey includes 27 questions. Most questions are multiple-choice, optional and you can skip anything that is not relevant or you’d prefer not to answer.
It takes approx. 6-7 minutes to complete. This research contributes to an under-researched and under-reported field of study that is crucial to the health of our democracies.
The survey includes 27 questions. Most questions are multiple-choice, optional and you can skip anything that is not relevant or you’d prefer not to answer.
It takes approx. 6-7 minutes to complete. This research contributes to an under-researched and under-reported field of study that is crucial to the health of our democracies.
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Is this survey and other research associated with it completely anonymous?
Yes, absolutely. This survey is multiple choice, voluntary and does not require you to go into detail about traumatic experiences. We can not identify you unless you choose to tell us information about yourself.
Nevertheless, it may raise topics that are emotionally challenging or triggering. If any part causes concerns, we suggest using the Find a Helpline tool, which makes it easy to find mental wellbeing helpline numbers in more than 100 countries. We are here to help point you to other resources if you need. You can reach out to the research team at any time at kimberly@betterpolitics.foundation.
Yes, absolutely. This survey is multiple choice, voluntary and does not require you to go into detail about traumatic experiences. We can not identify you unless you choose to tell us information about yourself.
Nevertheless, it may raise topics that are emotionally challenging or triggering. If any part causes concerns, we suggest using the Find a Helpline tool, which makes it easy to find mental wellbeing helpline numbers in more than 100 countries. We are here to help point you to other resources if you need. You can reach out to the research team at any time at kimberly@betterpolitics.foundation.