Preliminary findings from the Graduates’ Hopes, Visions and Actions (GHVA) Survey

Abstract

This report presents basic descriptive results from the Graduates’ Hopes, Visions and Actions (GHVA) Survey conducted by the Centre for Tax System Integrity in 2000. The GHVA Survey consisted of eight parts, each designed to measure graduates’ attitudes and opinions towards the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), the Australian Taxation Office (Tax Office) and the tax system. Specific areas of interest were graduates’ views of HECS as a policy, their course and degree they obtained, the Tax Office, the Australian tax system and their taxpaying behaviour. The Survey was also designed to obtain graduates’ views on a select set of policy implementation issues. Of the 1500 questionnaires distributed, 447 completed surveys were returned, giving a response rate of 33%. This report is divided into two sections: Section 1 briefly describes the background of the GHVA Survey. It also presents the method of sampling and data collection, including response rates and sample representativeness. Section 2 explains what is being measured in each part of the Survey, and highlights important findings.