Survey of Religious Sisters, Queensland, 1983

One of the major aims of this study was to update statistical data relating to religious sisters in Queensland. The last survey was undertaken in 1976, with the results being published in the draft report of the 'National Statistical Survey of Religious Personnel: Australia - 1976'. The updated study is to show the main statistical trends among religious sisters in Queensland by contrasting statistics of 1983 with those of 1976 by gathering opinions of the leaders of religious sisters concerning their present situation and emerging trends in religious life; collating information on their attitudes towards aspects of religious life; and establishing their opinions on the ministry and future directions within the Catholic Church. The purpose of the survey is to: 1. provide information that may assist the leaders of religious sisters in Queensland in their decision-making and in their future planning; and 2. deepen the understanding of some present trends in religious life in Queensland today for sisters, clergy and laity. The study falls into two parts. Part one consists of the information returned by sisters in their position as major superiors or their representatives, of religious congregations in Queensland. These congregation leaders were asked about the numbers of sisters in their congregation, their birthplace if outside Australia, and the numbers of postulants and temporarily professed sisters, as well as a few on the future of their congregation. This information does not form part of the dataset supplied. Part two is comprised of information provided by individual sisters within these congregations. Respondents were asked about their motivation to enter religious life; religious life within the church; feelings on their vows; importance of spirituality and prayer; satisfaction with their community life and opinions on different aspects of the ministry and the future of the Church. Details were collected on age and number of years in the order. Factual data has been presented with no attempt to interpret or to analyse its implications. Where opinions have been asked and given either by a major superior or an individual sister we, the writers, have sought to be objective in our collation of such opinions.

本研究的核心目标之一，是更新澳大利亚昆士兰州宗教修女的相关统计数据。上一次同类调研于1976年开展，其结果刊载于《澳大利亚宗教人员全国统计调查：1976年》（National Statistical Survey of Religious Personnel: Australia - 1976）的草案报告中。本次更新后的调研，将通过三大维度呈现昆士兰州宗教修女群体的主要统计趋势：一是收集昆士兰州宗教修女领袖对其当前处境与宗教生活新兴趋势的看法；二是梳理其对宗教生活各维度的态度；三是了解其对天主教教会事工与未来发展方向的观点，并对比1983年与1976年的统计数据。
本次调研的目的在于：1. 提供可供昆士兰州宗教修女领袖参考的信息，辅助其决策制定与未来规划；2. 加深修女、神职人员与平信徒对当下昆士兰州宗教生活部分现存趋势的理解。
本研究包含两个部分。第一部分为昆士兰州各宗教修会的总会长或其代表以修女身份提交的信息。调研内容涵盖修会的修女总人数、非澳大利亚籍修女的出生地、见习修女（postulants）与暂发愿修女（temporarily professed sisters）的数量，以及少量关于修会未来发展的问题。该部分信息未纳入本次提供的数据集中。
第二部分则由各修会的个体修女提供。受访者需回答其加入宗教生活的动机、教会内的宗教生活体验、对发愿的看法、灵修与祈祷的重要性、对团体生活的满意度，以及对教会事工各维度与未来发展的观点。调研同时收集了受访者的年龄与入修会时长等详实数据。
本次研究仅呈现事实性数据，未对其内涵进行任何解读或分析。当调研涉及并收集到总会长或个体修女的观点时，本研究的撰写者将尽力以客观中立的态度对这些观点进行整理。