National Workforce Survey participant information sheet

2023 National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health participant information sheet

Who is conducting this survey?

This survey is being conducted by the research and evaluation team of the National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health (NWC) at Emerging Minds. The NWC aims to assist professionals and services who work with children and/or parents to have the skills and confidence to identify, assess and support children at risk of mental health difficulties.

The NWC is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, Commonwealth Government.

This survey has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 30181) and will be carried out in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007).

What is the purpose of this survey?

This survey seeks to gain a better understanding of the awareness, knowledge and practices of health, social and community services workers in Australia in regard to supporting the mental health of children aged 0-12 years, their parents or caregivers, and their families. Findings from the survey will be used to guide and improve the activities of the NWC aimed at supporting workers, as well as the organisation and systems they work in.

By ‘child mental health’ we mean: Children’s social and emotional development and wellbeing and capacity to respond and cope with the ups and downs of life, developed within the ecology of their relationships and experiences. Child mental health exists on a spectrum from very good mental health, at-risk, struggling, through to being mentally unwell. Child mental health is not considered only as the existence or absence of mental health disorders.

Emerging Minds acknowledges that families come in many forms. By ‘parent’ we mean: the biological, adoptive, foster and kinship carers of a child, as well as individuals who have chosen to take up primary or shared responsibility in raising that child. This includes parents who currently do not have custodial responsibility for their children as they are still relevant to the child’s wellbeing.

What will I be asked to do?

Participation is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to. If you begin participating, you can stop at any time.

You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire that will take approximately 15-20 minutes. The questionnaire asks about your work and your professional capabilities with regard to child social and emotional wellbeing, child development and mental health.

Confidentiality

The survey does not require you to enter any personally identifiable information. Findings will be summarised before being reported. Only the research team will have access to your survey responses. No research findings will be reported in a way that allows any participants in the study to be identified, including geographic locations.

Limits to confidentiality

As the survey collects your postcode and profession, there is a small chance that you could be identified if you practice in a small community. In order to protect your identity, we will ensure that any potential identifying data is not reported alongside geographical locations. If you elect to enter the competition prize draw, you will provide your name and a way to contact you, such as a phone number or email address. However, this information is not linked to your survey responses at all, and your survey responses cannot be identified by entering the prize draw.

What will we do with the information you give us?

We will store survey responses in a secure location on a server to which only members of the research team have access. Information collected maybe used in reports to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care about the workings and the impact of the National Workforce Centre. We might also report findings from this research in academic articles, at conferences or in books. Your information will remain anonymous with findings reported only in de-identified form.

All data will be stored by Emerging Minds for a minimum of five years before it will be destroyed.

What are the possible risks?

If participating in the survey makes you feel upset for some reason, or you have any other concerns about participating, you are welcome to call the Manager of Research and Evaluation, Dr. Melinda Goodyear on 0412880598 during business hours. Alternatively, if needed, you might want to consider calling Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Will I hear about the results of this project?

Results of the survey will be published on the Emerging Minds website and in its e-newsletter, and may be presented at conferences or reported in academic publications.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Dr Melinda Goodyear at Emerging Minds on 0412880598 or email [email protected].

For complaints about the research project

If you have a complaint or concern about the conduct of this research project, please contact the Monash University Ethics Committee Chair at [email protected].