What do you need to complete the Leader Survey at your church?
Survey Coordinator, check your Survey Kit for:
- Survey Coordinators Guide
- Checklist Cover Sheet
- Leader Surveys - paper or online
- Leader Survey Collection Envelopes
(Leaders in multi-site churches only need to complete one Leader Survey)
To start the online Leader Survey, leaders will need your Church Code. It will be sent to your church in two ways:
1. Via post to your church's postal address.
2. Via email (to the email address provided when your church placed an order for surveys).
ONLINE SURVEY LINK: leadersurvey.net.au
Leader Survey Forms - paper or online
The Leader Survey is for people aged 18+ in ministry/pastoral leadership roles e.g. senior minister, pastor, priest and anyone (lay or ordained, staff or non-staff) in a significant position of ministry. This includes any clergy, those who lead ministry to children or youth, people who serve on your church’s council or board etc.
It is optional and confidential.
- One paper copy will be included in your Survey Kit
- We encourage all leaders to use the online survey if possible.
- Leader Survey flyers will be available. Please circulate it to all those invited to complete the Leader Survey.
- Invite leaders to also complete the standard Attender Survey with the rest of the church.
- Leaders can complete this survey any time during your Survey Period.
- Paper surveys may be sealed in the Leader Survey Collection Envelope.
- Online option: leadersurvey.ncls.au
Leader Survey Collection Envelope
Each Leader Survey Collection Envelope is to be used to collect paper Leader Surveys once completed, to protect each leader's confidentiality.
Leaders, once you complete the survey, place it inside the envelope and seal. Return your sealed envelope to your Church Survey Coordinator, or mail your envelope direct to NCLS Research.
Multimedia resources to help run the survey
Use our email template
to email an invitation to leaders to complete their Leader Survey.
Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
YOU ARE INVITED to take part in our Leader Survey
Dear leader,
Our church is participating in the 2026 National Church Life Survey and you are invited to complete the Leader Survey.
The Leader Survey is for people aged 18+ in ministry/pastoral leadership roles e.g. senior minister, pastor, priest and anyone (lay or ordained, staff or non-staff) in a significant position of ministry. This includes any clergy, those who lead ministry to children or youth, people who serve on church council or board, etc.
The purpose of this survey is to support the development of effective and sustainable leadership in Christian ministry.
- You can complete this survey at a time that suits you.
- You may start and continue later using the same computer and browser.
- Leaders in some roles will only need to complete a shorter set of questions.
- You are also invited to complete the standard Attender Survey with the rest of the church.
We invite you to take part in this survey.
- It is anonymous and confidential.
- No individual results are released to denominational leaders.
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper survey form or
- Go online to: leadersurvey.ncls.au
- and enter our Church Code:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
We ask you to complete the Survey by _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of the 2026 National Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. More information about the survey can be found at 2026ncls.org.au/leader-survey
Yours faithfully,