Research projects – participants needed

Several organisations and Universities are currently running different research surveys and studies seeking various participants, including autistic people.

These are not being conducted by Amaze and any questions about participation must be sent to the contact person listed for each research study or survey below.

Surveys

1. Survey on the experience of adults with disability who access support and services without NDIS funding

Approximately 4 million Australians with disability do not receive funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

This research aims to capture if and how people with disability aged 18 to 64 years who don’t receive NDIS funding are finding and using any support and services they need to participate in the community and the economy.

This is a joint study by the Melbourne Disability Institute at the University of Melbourne, the Brotherhood of St Laurence Research and Policy Centre and Baptcare. The findings will underpin and shape future disability-related research, policy and practice.

How can you get involved?

Two important sources of evidence for this study are online surveys for people with disability aged 18-64 years living in Victoria, Tasmania or South Australia who do NOT have NDIS funding, and for their families and carers. The surveys are open during August and September 2021.

Completing the surveys is voluntary and responses are anonymous. Click on the links below to participate:

• Survey for people with disability 
• Survey for families and carers

Please feel free to share these links with anyone you think might be interested.

Find out more

You can find out more information about the study at https://disability.unimelb.edu.au/home/projects/what-where-and-how or contact the research team leaders:

• Dr Sue Olney, Research Fellow, Melbourne Disability Institute – [email protected] 
• Dr Amber Mills, Senior Research Fellow, Brotherhood of St Laurence – [email protected]

2. Survey for carers to inform the development of resources

Different Journeys and Carers Victoria are running a survey for carers that will inform the development of resources to help employers better understand and assist caregivers gain and retain part time or sessional work.

The resources are being developed by, for, and with carers and draw on the shared experiences and insights. This brief carers’ survey allows you to have your say and takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The survey is open until 2 September.

Survey participants will not be identified and have their privacy protected. All responses will be combined, and findings will be presented for the group of carers.

Click here to participate.

For information on the survey or if you have questions, contact Different Journeys at [email protected].

Research studies

1. Study on mental health involving autistic people aged 18 to 30 years

Researchers at Deakin University are conducting a study on the relationship between social and emotional ability and mental health in autistic people aged 18 to 30 years.

This study aims to improve the understanding of the role that social and emotional processes play in mental health among young autistic adults. It will also help researchers develop new tools for preventing mental health problems in autism.

Participants must be aged between 18 and 30 years. Participation in this study is voluntary and will happen in stages. Participants will be asked to do the following:

1. Participants will go through an online Zoom interview and complete a questionnaire. This process will take 60 minutes.
2. Participants will have to complete several test assessments that includes questionnaires and computer tasks. This process will take 90 minutes.
3. Once the first two tasks above are completed, participants will have to download a mobile app that will ask questions about your emotions over a period of 15 days.

A Plain Language statement about the research can be downloaded here.

Participants can withdraw from the study at any stage and any information provided will not be used.

To participate, email Daniel Ho at [email protected].

If you have questions about the study, contact Dr Natalia Albein-Urios 03 9251 7813 or email [email protected].

2. Study into discrimination complaints lodged for students with behavioural issues

A research team at the University of Adelaide is running a study to hear from people who have lodged a discrimination complaint for a primary or secondary school student with behavioural issues connected with disability (this includes autism).

The study will look into the experiences of people who were involved in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.

This complaint must have been lodged to a relevant body, which includes:

• the Equal Opportunity Commissions in Victoria, South Australia, or federally,
• Tribunals (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, or the South Australian Employment Tribunal);
• Ombudsman bodies in Victoria or South Australia;
• Education Departments in Victoria or South Australia;
• the Victorian Independent Office for School Dispute Resolution.

Participants will go through an online interview that will take place for one hour.

Please email Peta Spyrou at [email protected] to participate or for further information.