What do you enjoy most about where you live?
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What issues are of most concern to you and your community in 2025?
What helps you stay connected to what's going on?
Do you shop locally to support local business?
These are some of the questions we're asking Australians in our fourth annual Heartbeat of Australia survey, a special collaboration between Australia's largest independent media company ACM - the publisher of this masthead - and the University of Canberra's News and Media Research Centre.
The online survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. It is confidential and individual responses are not identifiable.
Survey participants can go into a draw to win one of five $500 e-gift cards.
ACM chief marketing officer Jarrah Petzold said the Heartbeat survey aimed to capture the sentiment of Australians in 2025, especially those living in regional towns and rural communities.
"ACM is the only major news organisation that prioritises giving a voice to Australians living outside the state capitals," Mr Petzold said.
"Our Heartbeat of Australia survey each year explores consumer sentiment, including how people are feeling about the future, their concerns, their plans for the next 12 months and how they stay informed and connected to what's going on in their community.
"Australians are facing global uncertainty and continuing cost-of-living pressures and our Heartbeat research seeks to understand how we are all feeling about life in our local communities, especially young people and those living in the regions."
Professor Sora Park, of the News and Media Research Centre, said the Heartbeat survey aimed to deepen the centre's understanding of regional Australians and the role that trusted local news sources play in their lives and the wellbeing of their community.
"Our previous Heartbeat surveys in partnership with ACM have given us valuable insights into how people keep up with what's going on in their local community and the connection between access to information and community wellbeing," Professor Park said.
"The annual findings from Heartbeat enhance the News and Media Research Centre's ongoing studies on how and why Australians access news."
The News and Media Research Centre is Australia's only research centre specialising in news consumption, social and digital media networks, and the legal, ethical and social impact of communication technologies.
The centre produces the annual national Digital News Report: Australia, which monitors news consumption as part of a global study of more than 40 countries.
To participate in the 2025 Heart of Australia survey simply scan the code above on this page or visit heartbeatofaustralia.com
