Faith Impact Audit FAQ

If you are a faith-based organisation, we would love to have your participation in the NAYBA Faith Impact Audit. This FAQ page is here to answer your questions and help you prepare by gathering the relevant information before you begin.

About the Survey 

The NAYBA Faith Impact Audit measures the community services delivered by faith groups across a specific region or state in Australia. All faith-based organisations, agencies, schools, and services in the area are invited to participate.

Participants are asked to complete a short survey, reporting on up to five community service activities their organisation has undertaken. There is also space to share good news stories and photos that highlight your impact, along with the option to join a local database to further promote your services to the community.

The results will be compiled into a report and launched at a celebratory event, typically in partnership with local government representatives. This gathering brings together local faith-based leaders and key community stakeholders to honour the contributions of the faith community. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the findings and identify areas for future collaboration and growth.

By capturing the breadth and depth of faith-led service in your region, the Faith Impact Audit helps to:

• Celebrate and strengthen unity across faith groups

• Open doors to partnership with government and community stakeholders

• Demonstrate that faith is a force for good

What do I need to prepare before I start?

The survey will ask you to report on up to five individual community services or programs your organisation provides, within the last 12 months.

For each service, please be ready to provide the following information (based on the last 12 months):

• Total number of beneficiaries served

• Number of volunteers involved and their average weekly hours

• Number of paid staff involved and their average weekly hours

• If you provide food/material assistance, please include the approximate annual cost of additional food/goods given to beneficiaries.

Having this information prepared will ensure the survey is quick and easy to complete.

We also love to share and celebrate good news stories, that go beyond the numbers and show how lives are truly impacted by your service. If you have a story and/or images we would love to hear it (this is optional – but adds to the story of your organisation):

Who should complete the survey?

The survey is to be completed by faith leaders on behalf of their organisation.

If you've received an email about the audit, you are likely the senior leader for your organisation. If there is another member of your team who is better placed to complete the survey (e.g. someone who oversees your community engagement work), please feel free to forward them the email with the survey link.

Where your organisation has multiple locations across the region and/or a separate community care arm, an email should have been sent to all relevant leaders. In this case, we ask that you kindly coordinate with these leaders to clarify who will be submitting surveys and limit any overlap of the community services being reported.

Is the Faith Impact Audit for all faiths?

Though NAYBA is a Christian organisation, the Faith Impact Audit is intentionally inclusive of all faiths. We believe the desire to love and serve others is something we all share. The immpact audit provides an opportunity to celebrate what we are already doing and identify what we might do better in the future.

Is participation mandatory?

No, inclusion in the directory is completely optional. You are being invited to participate because your service plays a valuable role in the local community.

Does it cost anything to participate?

No. All costs associated with the audit for your region have been covered. The greatest contribution you can make is simply to complete the audit survey on behalf of your organisation.

How long does it take to complete the survey?

Around 15–20 minutes, depending on the number of services reported and data availability.

Can I start the survey and then complete it at a later time?

Yes, simply click "Save" at the bottom of any page in the survey, and you will be able to copy a link which you can return to at anytime. A link will also be emailed to you.

What if I can't submit the survey by the due date?

If you are experiencing any challenges with completing the survey or think you may struggle to get it done by the deadline, please email australia@nayba.org.au and we will assist you in whatever way we can.

What defines a 'Community Service'? 

The service/activity should be:

• generally accessible – to people of any/no faith or aimed at a specific cultural/ethnic group otherwise neglected; and

• meeting a need – mainly supporting people experiencing vulnerability, isolation or disadvantage; and

• free or low cost – provided at no cost, or minimal cost, to those benefiting from the service.

Please do NOT include primarily religious activities (e.g. worship service, SRE) or services for beneficiaries outside of Australia.

What types of programs or activities should I include in the survey? 

Please include any programs or activities that meet the following criteria:

• Open to all: They are genuinely accessible to people of any faith or no faith.

• Community-focused: They are primarily aimed at supporting individuals experiencing vulnerability, isolation, or disadvantage.

• Low or no cost: They are provided at no cost, or only a minimal cost, to those benefiting from the service.

  
  

Examples might include food banks, counselling services, mentoring programs, community meals, support groups, chaplaincy in prisons, Meals on Wheels in an aged care home, a mens monthly social gathering, Christmas events, craft clubs, disability support, skills training for migrants, playgroups for local families, disaster relief clean up and more.

Can I include programs funded by government or external grants?

Yes, programs supported by government or external funding can be included if they meet the criteria for what types of programs can be included (above) - especially if they are generally accessible, aimed at supporting vulnerable people, and provided at no or minimal cost to the participant.

However, programs billed directly to Medicare or government schemes - even if free to the participant - should not be included, as the cost is covered entirely through those billing mechanisms.

I represent a school - what can I include?

While general education does not fall under the definition of “community service,” schools can include programs that serve the broader community or support vulnerable groups. These may include:

• Chaplaincy or pastoral care services

• Support services for disadvantaged students and families

• Student-led initiatives that assist those in need in the wider community (e.g. food drives, volunteering, fundraising for social causes)

What if I’m unsure of exact numbers?

Estimates are welcome. Use past reports, rosters, or sign-in sheets to guide your responses.

Why are stories and photos being collected, and will they be made public?

We collect stories and photos to better understand the service and impact your organisation is having. These real-life examples also help us identify potential case studies that illustrate key themes and findings to be used in the final report. Sharing is entirely optional, and if a story or image is selected for publication, we will always seek your permission first.

As well as ongoing programs, we also run a large one-day event. How do I include this in my survey?

If one of your most significant types of community service is a single event, then it should certainly be included in your survey response.

In this case, select the service type that most closely aligns with the event (e.g. "Community connection") and, for the question on "Frequency", select "Once a year". For a single event, the "average number of beneficiaries on each occasion you provided this service" and the "total number of beneficiaries during the last 12 months" will be the same.

Will anyone see my answers?

Rest assured that all personal information provided in the survey will be kept strictly confidential. A link to our detailed privacy consent agreement is included in the survey.

‍Data on the services provided by your organisation will be combined with that of the broader faith community in the region. While the final report will feature some case studies, the key findings will not specify the contribution of any particular organisation or faith tradition.

‍With your permission, we may include basic information about your community service(s) in a public directory for the benefit of those in need. The directory would not contain personal information about you, nor any sensitive information about staff/volunteers or financial resources.

What are the benefits of being part of this audit?

The NAYBA Faith Impact Audit has three main objectives:

1. To build unity among the faith community, as we celebrate our collective strengths and recognise our shared desired to better serve those in need;

2. To open doors to government, business and other sectors by putting verified numbers and financial value to our community service efforts; and

3. To strengthen our witness by spreading the good news about what people of faith are doing in the wider community.

Some of the positive results from previous Australian audits have included:

• the breakdown of barriers and building of relationships between denominations/faith groups;

• the creation of new networks of faith leaders, who are united around a vision for their region;

• the identification of social issues not being addressed, as well as opportunities for greater collaboration; and

• strengthened connections with council/government that have opened prospects for significant funding.

What happens after I finish the survey?

If you have any other questions that are not listed above, please reach out to the NAYBA Team via email: australia@nayba.org.au