About This Report
The Independent Burners Analytics Group
This report presents data from a survey conducted by a volunteer group of community members. The goal was to gather information to inform future community planning and events.
Peter Simpson-Young
Background in neuroscience and philosophy; currently works in research translation strategy. Co-leads the Bourges Douf theme camp.
Teresa Trevoire
Background as a Sexologist, Psychotherapist, and Communications Strategist. Leads the Garden of Squirting Nymphs theme camp.
COI: SBA membership sub committee, Garden of Squirting Nymphs lead, professional counselling practice
Ariane "Shiny" Blanch
Background in physics, medical research, and IT with expertise in data integration and visualisation.
COI: Burning Man Regional Contact, Former Sunburnt Events Director, Former BOSS Co-Chair
Dr Leanna Pugliese
Doctor of Pharmacy and Investigational Medicines specialist. Founder and Director of Sparkhaus Studio Makerspace.
COI: Sunburnt Arts Director (acting), BM Regional Contact, BoNZA co-producer, former BOSS director/cofounder, former Burning Seed Town Councillor, Restructure team member 2019-2024
Gabe "Doof Daddy" Rey
Risk and Public Safety Investigations Officer for the NSW Government with degrees in Human Geography, Public Safety, and Psychology.
COI: Sunburnt Arts Director (acting)
Dr Roland Warner
ICU specialist and climate organiser with an interest in using data for event planning.
COI: Embers 2025 organiser
Ale Mac
Background as a Psychologist with experience in IT support.
COI: BM Regional Contact Sydney, Embers 2025 organiser
Dr Felipe Aires
Background in Fire Science, Knowledge Management, and Bushfire Management.
COI: Embers 2025 organiser, Ex-SBE director
Alicia Dudek
Specialist in Design Ethnography and founder of MycoReality.
Acknowledgements: Thank you to the 518 community members who participated in the survey. Thank you to the theme camps and volunteers who assisted with distribution. Special thanks to Rowan Kos for project initiation and to Amelia Loye for her prior work in Australian Burner census-taking.
The Independent Burners Analytics Group (I-BAG) is a volunteer group of community members with diverse professional backgrounds. The group operated independently to collect and present the data in this report.
2025 NSW Burns Community Survey Results
An interactive report presenting data from the 2025 NSW Burns Community Survey. This report details community demographics, experiences, and preferences.
518
Respondents
58%
Neurodivergent
425+
Willing to Volunteer
83%
Attended >1 Burn
Respondent Demographics
Who We Are
This section details the demographic data of the survey respondents, including age, location, event experience, and parental status.
Age Distribution
The largest age group of respondents is 35-54, accounting for 73% of the total.
Event Experience
83% of respondents have attended more than one Burner event, and 61% have attended five or more.
Family & Kids' Participation
21% of respondents have children under 18. Of this group, 66% have brought or would consider bringing their children to events.
Parents in the Community
Percentage of respondents with children under 18.
Bringing Kids to Events
Of those with children, the breakdown of whether they bring them.
Geographic Analysis
Geographic Distribution
Interactive heatmap showing the geographic distribution of survey respondents across Australia, with postcode-level clustering and density visualization.
Respondent Locations
This interactive map shows where survey respondents are located across Australia. Each circle represents a Local Government Area (LGA), with size and color indicating the number of respondents in that area. This approach protects privacy by aggregating data at the LGA level rather than showing individual postcodes.
Click on any circle to see detailed information about that LGA area.
State Distribution
The majority of respondents reside in NSW, with representation from other states, primarily Victoria and the ACT.
Values & Needs
Culture & Values
This section outlines primary motivations for event attendance, community connection levels, and data on neurodivergence and accessibility needs.
Primary Motivations for Attending
The most frequently cited motivations for attending events are 'Community & Connection' and 'Self-Expression'.
Top Motivators (by respondent count):
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Community & Connection (76%): Selected by 367 respondents.
Quote: "It's always about community..."
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Self-Expression & Creativity (62%): Selected by 299 respondents.
Quote: "Being able to be myself and drop the mask..."
Current Community Connection
Respondents were asked about their sense of connection to the broader community. 18% reported feeling 'Very Connected', while 31% reported feeling 'Neutral', 'Somewhat Disconnected', or 'Very Disconnected'.
Neurodivergence
58% of respondents identify as neurodivergent or are exploring a diagnosis.
Accessibility Needs
A total of 77% of respondents indicated they would benefit from one or more accessibility features. The most selected categories were related to sensory and physical accessibility.
Sensory & Social Accessibility
Physical Accessibility
Skills & Contributions
Our Capabilities
This section presents data on how community members contribute, their skills, volunteer experience, and interest in leadership roles.
How Respondents Contribute
Respondents contribute in various ways, with the most common being Theme Camp member, Event volunteer, and Individual participant.
Community Skillset
Respondents reported a wide range of practical skills they are willing to contribute, with options to either lead a team or help out.
Volunteer Experience
Respondents have previous volunteer experience across a wide variety of event roles.
Leadership Interest
51% of respondents expressed interest in coordination or leadership roles, from Team Member to Department Captain.
Expected Leadership Time Commitment
Those interested in leadership roles indicated the weekly hours they would expect to commit during event season.
- Team Leads: 1-4 hours weekly (event season)
- Department Captains: 4-8 hours weekly (event season)
- Strategic Roles: 3-5 hours weekly (year round)
Community Personas
Five archetypes were synthesized from the data to help illustrate the different types of participants in the community. Click on each persona to learn more.
Event Logistics
Future Preferences
This section details respondent preferences regarding future events, including event size, timing, location, and ticket pricing.
At a Glance: Community Priorities
This chart consolidates responses to several questions to provide an overview of stated priorities. Building local community and ensuring accessibility were rated as highly important by many respondents.
Importance of Large-Scale Art Burns
51% of respondents consider large-scale art burns 'Essential' or 'Very Important', while 42% see them as 'Nice but not essential'.
Monthly Event Likelihood
Respondents indicated they were most likely to attend events in March, April, October, and November.
Fire Season Trade-offs
When asked to choose between event timing and the presence of fire art due to restrictions, 44% prefer warmer months without burns, while 23% prefer colder months with burns. 34% had no preference.
Preferred Long Weekend
The October Labour Day long weekend was the most selected option, followed by Easter. 43% of respondents indicated any long weekend would work.
Public Holidays Importance
When asked about the importance of holding events on public holidays, 38% rated them as 'Very' or 'Somewhat' important, while 34% rated them as 'Somewhat' or 'Not' important.
Travel Willingness by Event Size
Willingness to travel generally increases with event size. The most selected travel time for a mini-burn is up to 4 hours, while for larger burns, it is up to 6 hours.
Ticket Pricing Analysis
The Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter analysis identified a price range based on respondent perceptions of value and affordability.
Point of Marginal Cheapness
$350
The price point below which the largest number of respondents begin to question the event's quality.
Perceived Fair Price
$400
The intersection of the 'Too Cheap' and 'Too Expensive' curves, suggesting a price that balances value and affordability.
Point of Marginal Expensiveness
$450
The price point above which the largest number of respondents consider the event too expensive to attend.
Participant Feedback
Resources & Feedback
This section summarizes community-provided resources and presents key feedback themes based on open-text responses from the survey.
Community-Sourced Resources
Suggested Event Locations
- Top Suggestions: Glenworth Valley, Dragon Dreaming site (Wee Jasper), Confest site (Woorooma Station).
- Other Leads: Contacts for properties in Bellingen, Mandalong, and "The Lair".
Community Suppliers & Equipment
- Sound/AV: Cody Lawton (Litness Lights), Justin "Cosmos" James (Dynamic Audio Visual).
- Maker Spaces: Newcastle's Sparkhaus and Sydney's RoboDino.
Support for Artists & Theme Camps
- Primary Need: Increased and more accessible funding.
- Shared Resources: Desire for a community "Library of Things".
Potential Community Partners
- Festivals: ConFest, Dragon Dreaming, Modifyre (QLD), Blazing Swan (WA).
- Arts/Maker Groups: Sparkhaus, local Men's Sheds, Newtown Festival.
Key Feedback Themes
This section explores detailed feedback from key contributor groups, revealing common themes around sustainability, communication, and the need for better structural support.
Volunteer Experience
Common feedback from volunteers included requests for shorter, more manageable shifts and better support systems to prevent burnout.
Theme Camp Challenges
Theme camp leads cited workload, financial pressures, and logistics as significant challenges.
Artist Challenges
Artists noted funding limitations and logistical complexities as primary challenges.
Leadership Sustainability
Those in leadership roles expressed a desire for more formalised processes and clearer documentation to ensure sustainability and prevent burnout.
Data-Driven Takeaways
The following points summarize key takeaways derived from the comprehensive analysis of community data.
1. Governance & Communication
A desire for formal governance structures with defined roles and transparent processes was a common theme in feedback.
Feedback indicated a need for a central communication platform to serve as a single source of truth, reducing reliance on social media.
2. Event Planning
Data shows divided preferences, with some favoring one large annual burn and others preferring multiple smaller, more accessible events.
With 58% of respondents identifying as neurodivergent, accessibility (particularly sensory-friendly spaces) is a key consideration for a majority of the community.
3. Community Resources
Respondents expressed interest in a community-wide, opt-in directory of skills and resources to leverage internal assets.
Feedback suggests a need for a dedicated community relations role to manage external relationships for site procurement and compliance.
Survey Summary
The data collected from 518 respondents shows a community with a high percentage of experienced participants (83% have attended more than one event), a large number of members willing to volunteer their skills (over 425 individuals), and a significant neurodivergent population (58%). The information gathered on preferences for event timing, location, and cost provides a quantitative foundation for future planning.