Information for parents and carers
Your child's participation
About the student surveys
My Say My Way (MSMW) runs throughout Term 2, at the same time as the NSW Public Schools Survey, it opens on the first day of term and closes on the last day of term.
Participation is entirely voluntary. Choosing not to participate will not impact your child’s school experience. Your child’s participation is supported through having the option to:
- respond to questions at their own pace throughout the term
- stop the survey at any time
- not complete all questions.
Schools will provide an opt-out consent form to parents and carers prior to commencing MSMW.
If you do not want your child to participate, please complete the consent form and return it to your child’s school. If you do not return the form, the school will assume that you consent to your child’s participation.
Who can participate
In 2026, MSMW is open to all Schools for Specific Purposes and all primary and secondary schools with support units. In 2027, MSMW will be available to all NSW public schools. Teachers will choose which survey tool is appropriate for each student.
Student Accessible Survey
If your child is participating in the Student Accessible Survey (SAS), they can be supported to respond to the questions in a range of ways. This includes:
- being explicitly taught the key vocabulary and concepts prior to starting the questions
- using the practice questions provided to develop the skills needed to respond to yes/no questions
- completing the survey gradually in short sections over a number of days or weeks
- having a skilled communication partner (teacher or other support staff) sit with them to guide them through the survey, providing visual and/or verbal prompts as needed.
- using the in-built accessibility features included in the MSMW app.
Guided Discussion Methods
If your child is participating in the Guided Discussion Methods (GDM), they will be supported throughout the process. This includes having additional resources (such as objects, symbols, pictures or photographs) prepared to support them and providing multiple opportunities and methods through which to respond to the questions.
Data collection and privacy for your child
What information is collected and why
The department will collect personal information from your child, including but not limited to, your child’s opinion on topics such as friendship, safety, learning and belonging. Information will be held and managed by the department. This information is collected to support students to achieve their educational potential, and for other directly related purposes including but not limited to:
- implementing programs that meet student educational and support needs
- maintaining the good order and management of schools
- assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of programs and their impact on outcomes
- conducting lawful research and compiling statistics relating to students
- operational and administrative purposes.
How the department may use the information
Survey results may be used locally at schools to help inform planning. Your child’s teacher and other staff directly involved in their learning will have access to your child’s individual responses. This is designed to give these staff important information to help inform decision-making about your child’s individual learning and wellbeing needs. The results are not open to every member of the school staff.
The department’s analysis of the data will involve linking students’ responses to their student reference number (SRN). Responses may then be linked with other information the department holds, such as students’ scholastic year, gender or geographic location. This will allow the department to group the results for analysis and research purposes. General statistics from the survey results will be disseminated to schools; these statistics will not identify any individual participants.
Your child’s teacher may share a summary of your child’s responses with you, for example during a meeting to inform personalised learning plans or wellbeing goals. The department does not intend to give you a copy of all of your child’s responses. You may contact the department to request access to the survey responses, and your request will be considered in light of the department’s obligations under law.
Who the department may share information with
Only grouped results from this analysis and research may be made public through the department’s publications, with all identifying information removed.
The department will not disclose your child’s personal information to any other person or body, except when you have given your consent or where authorised to do so by law.
Protecting your child’s information
The department will only keep information for as long as the department needs it to fulfil the purposes it was collected it for. After this, the information will be disposed of securely in accordance with the State Records Act 1998 and any other applicable legislation.
The department’s privacy management plan details the department’s practices and procedures for handling personal and health information. It can be accessed from the department’s website. Concerns about the collection or handling of personal or health information should initially be raised with your school’s principal.
Access and correction
You can request to access or amend your information by contacting the department's Information Access Unit. If you have any questions about your privacy on this website or a general inquiry about that department's handling of your personal information, please contact:
- Privacy Contact Officer Legal Services - Privacy, Department of Education, GPO Box 33, Sydney NSW 2001
- Phone: (02) 7814 3896
Parent Carer Insight (PCI) survey participation
About the survey
Schools also have the option to invite parents and carers to participate in the MSMW Parent Carer Insight (PCI) survey in Term 2. The PCI is a digital survey for schools to gather parent/carer perceptions on their child’s educational experience and wellbeing at school.
The PCI survey includes questions on many of the same areas covered in the student surveys, including belonging, safety, learning engagement and teaching practices.
Who can take the survey
This survey is specifically for parents and carers of students in specialist settings (SSPs or support units). It is entirely voluntary.
How does it work
Parents and carers will be offered the survey by participating schools during Term 2. The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete. A unique link to the survey will be provided by the school. The survey can then be completed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. Schools may choose to invite parents to complete the survey on the school premises if parents are unable to access the required technology at home.
Parent anonymity
To ensure anonymity, each school has a unique URL that allows parents to access the survey for their school. The school will distribute this unique URL to parents using a preferred channel of communication, which may be via email, text message, school newsletter or posters around the school. All responses to the survey via this link are anonymous. To further protect parent confidentiality, the department will not report any results when there have been fewer than 3 responses to a question.
Data collection and privacy for parents and carers
What information is collected and why
The department will collect personal information about you and your child including, but not limited to, your scholastic year and gender. The survey also collects your opinions on various aspects of the school. Information will be held and managed by the NSW Department of Education, 105 Phillip Street, Parramatta NSW 2150. It is collected to support school excellence, and for other directly related purposes including, but not limited to:
- implementing programs that meet student educational and support needs
- maintaining the good order and management of schools
- assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of programs and their impact on student educational outcomes
- conducting and publishing lawful research and compiling statistics relating to school experiences
- operational and administrative purposes.
How the department may use the information
Survey results may be used locally at schools to help inform planning and decision-making. Your child’s school will receive a report once surveys are completed, but school staff will not be able to identify you or your child from your responses. The school will only see the results as a combined score of your and other parents’ responses, and only for questions where 3 or more parents responded.
The department will use the data for research and analysis to understand what works best to promote positive outcomes for students, helping to shape effective policies and programs.
Who the department may share information with
Only grouped results from this analysis and research may be made public through the department’s publications, with all identifying information removed.
The department will not disclose your or your child’s personal information to any other person or body.
Protecting your information
The department will only keep information for as long as the department needs it to fulfil the purposes it was collected it for. After this, the information will be disposed of securely in accordance with the State Records Act 1998 and any other applicable legislation.
The department’s privacy management plan details the department’s practices and procedures for handling personal and health information. It can be accessed from the department’s website. Concerns about the collection or handling of your or your child’s personal or health information should initially be raised with your child’s school’s principal.
Last modified date
24/03/2026
Business unit contact email
-
Executive director
Jacqueline Hodges, Silva Hiendra
Executive director’s business unit
Education and Skills Reform