What is involved?
Families
What are the benefits?
Many people enjoy being involved in research that they know will help other people and be of benefit to society. You will be sent regular newsletters telling you how the study is going, and each family will receive a small token of our appreciation. When the study is over you will be sent a summary of the research findings.
Who are we looking for?
We want to hear from employees who:
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Have at least one child aged 16 or under.
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Work on average 14 or more hours a week (this can be on a part-time, full-time, casual, contract or permanent basis).
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Both sole and couple parents (we hope that spouses or partners will be involved in the study, but you can participate even if they don't want to.)
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It is up to you whether you want to participate, but your involvement is of key importance to the project.
What will I be asked to do?
If you agree to be involved you will be asked to do two things:
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Complete the questionnaires about your work, your health and your family's health
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Participate in a health assessment. This will involve measuring you and your children's height and weight, and doing a simple saliva test. This measures chemicals related to stress and immune systems. NO genetic testing is involved.
A researcher will visit your home to give you the surveys to complete in your own time and show you how to take the saliva sample. The researcher will return about a week later to pick up the surveys and saliva samples.
This study has been approved by The Australian National University Ethics Committee.
What won't I be asked to do?
If you agree to be involved we promise that:
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We will not test for DNA or do any sort of genetic testing
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We will not tell your employer anything about you or that you or your family. They will not even know you are participating unless you tell them
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We will not publish anything that identifies individuals or workplaces
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We will only come to your house at pre-arranged times convenient to you but if you would rather not be visited at home we can meet you elsewhere
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You can withdraw from the study at any time if you change your mind
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You are not obliged to answer questions that you don't want to.
Why are YOU important this study?
Workplaces need to know how they can improve working conditions for parents and families need to have a say in what matters to them. Because every family is different (ages of children, one or two parents working, single parents or couples, different types of jobs etc.), we need to hear from you!
What about privacy?
Your privacy is important to us. No identifying information about you or your family will ever be published. Your employer will not have access to information about any individuals involved in the study. This study is completely independent of your workplace.
Your name, address, contact details will be securely stored separate from any samples or surveys. Survey and other research results will only be published in a statistical summary form, which means that you cannot be identified.
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What is involved?
For Families
