ASDF Research is currently undertaking research with those who live in a vehicle (caravan, motorhome, campervan, truck, car etc). The following page provides further detail about the project.

Background and context

The need for this project stems from a range of recent developments:

Those who are homeless against their will is well researched, yet little is known about those who choose to live nomadically in a vehicle.
Currently, the Census captures those who live in their vehicle through canvasing caravan parks and campgrounds on Census night, however there is no national dataset that provides critical information about those who live in their vehicle. The 2016 Census estimating homelessness data suggests that there could be at least 10,000 individuals living in their vehicles (Persons who are marginally housed in caravan parks).

The expected benefits of this project are:

  • Understanding this market. This has implications for:
    • Health and social services
    • Infrastructure (e.g. internet and phone coverage)
    • National and state park management
    • Tourism and accommodation industry
    • Vehicle manufacturing and maintenance
    • Emergency services
    • Local laws
    • The nature of work (e-change)
    • Road maintenance
    • Resource management (water and waste)
    • Animal management
  • Provide baseline data to identify changes in this community in the future.
  • Inform policy development to cater for the needs of nomadic people (e.g. vehicle registration, small business registration, Census design).
  • Help local governments understand their transient population using their services (so they can improve service provision).

The project is wholly funded by ASDF Research. We do not have any corporate sponsors nor collaborations.

Methodology

The methodology for this project is semi-ethnographic with both quantitative and qualitative elements.
The target sample size is 3,000.
Over the span of 3 years, ASDF Research consultants will live and travel in a Toyota Coaster, converted into a home. We will develop a travel plan that covers:

  • All local government areas in Australia;
  • Caravan parks;
  • Paid campsites (state managed);
  • Free campsites; and
  • Roadside rest areas.

Research will be conducted with those staying at these locations. When conducting the research on privately managed sites, this will first be cleared with the manager.
Research will utilise a range of methods:

  • Face to face interviews using an iPad with online survey. This will include qualitative (open ended) and quantitative (answer frame) questions.
  • Distribution of an online survey link with the same questions so people can complete the survey in their own time (unique access codes to track location). Distribution will occur through provision of cards (with a URL) to those who request them, posting on relevant social media groups, and posters at key locations.

A full analysis report will be produced with statistical significance testing on cross-tablulations (using SPSS) and potentially a segmentation analysis (if deemed appropriate). It will explore the following themes:

  • Demographics (Who we are);
  • Motivators (Why we do it);
  • Travelling behaviour (How we live);
  • Work (How we afford it);
  • Challenges (Our challenges); and
  • Opportunities to better support this sector (including policy) (What we need).

In addition, a snapshot will be developed for each state highlighting the key findings of relevance for that state.
A Local Government Area product / Council level snapshot will be on offer upon request (if sufficient sample is collected. This will incur a fee per Council).

Privacy and anonymity

The online surveying package used is hosted in Australia (Limesurvey) and therefore conforms to Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

The researcher is QPR accredited, and ASDF Research is an ADIA trust mark member, ensuring strict adherence to industry standards in project management and privacy management.

We have a collection statement and privacy policy.

Questions

The online survey can be completed online here.

Topic areas covered in the survey are:

  • Living situation (vehicle type, duration).
  • Moving around (desirable features, frequency of moving location).
  • Motivations
  • Likes and dislikes
  • Suggestions
  • Legislation
  • Future plans
  • Health ratings
  • Pets
  • COVID
  • Activities / hobbies
  • Work
  • Demographics

Further information

If you would like further information or to request a data summary, please use our contact form.