Aim: To develop specific journal editorial policies and guidelines for authors who wish to publish content pertaining to Indigenous peoples in Australian Social Work (ASW). Ethics approval number: A201369
Research Team
Chief Investigators
Dr Bindi Bennett: Email: [email protected]; Tel: 0416373780
Dr Susan Gair: Email: [email protected]
Research Assistant: Isabelle Hull
Please feel free to contact Bindi Bennett if you have any questions.
Invitations to participate in either an interview or a survey around developing specific guidelines and protocols when writing on or about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, individuals or communities for Australian Social Work (ASW) have been distributed to interested authors across Australia and overseas. These protocols will be used in the author guideline section of the Journal. They are the first of their kind to be developed in the world. As the Participant Information Statement summarised below indicates, we are interested to gain academics’ insights into what content they think a priority for the guidelines and how they would like them shaped for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The Participant Information Statement provides further information about the research. The study has been approved by the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) Human Research Ethics Committee. Please feel free to forward this information on to interested colleagues.
Project Description: The purpose of this research project is to develop guidelines and protocols for authors pertaining to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content for ASW. If you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, a social worker, and you have an interest in or currently publish in this space, you are invited to participate in this research. The project has been funded by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) at the request of the ASW Editorial Board. The researchers will keep all participants' information confidential from both the AASW and ASW and they will not have access to any individual data.
Participation: Participation is voluntary. Those who agree to take part in this research will be asked to participate in an interview or a survey. Participants who prefer to be interviewed should email Bindi Bennett to arrange a time for the interview. Interviews will take approximately 1 hour. We encourage you to pass this information on to colleagues you believe may be interested via your own networks.
Consent: The survey contains a tick-box for consent, with verbal consent from participants electing to be interviewed. All identifiable data will follow protocols of confidentiality but will be de-identified for all public domains. Consent will cover future publications.
Risks and Benefits for Participants: There are minimal risks associated with your participation, which may include: use of your busy time and the guidelines may not be all you hoped for or be adopted as you had envisaged. Sometimes thinking about the themes discussed in the interview or focus group can create uncomfortable or distressing feelings. You are not required to answer any questions you don’t want to, and you may discontinue or pause the interview at any time if required. If you need to talk to someone you may wish to contact family or friends, your General Practitioner, your Employee Assistance Program, Lifeline (131114) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636). It is not anticipated that this research project will directly benefit you; however, it is the first of its kind worldwide and may have effects for future social workers, your community and journals outside of Australia. We would appreciate your input as a contribution to the discipline and the industry.
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Results: Any data collected as a part of this research project will be stored securely in accordance with USC’s Research Data Management Procedures. All comments and responses will be treated confidentially unless required by law. The research team will be able to identify you if you choose to participate via interview. Interview data, transcriptions and recordings will be stored in a re-identifiable format via coding. Participation status or individual comments will not be shared with the funding body or the Journal.
All interviews will be audio recorded for accuracy of development of guidelines
Participants can review or approve the transcript and verify their comments by providing an email address to send these to
The recording will be destroyed at the end of the project
The stored data and transcripts are re-identifiable via coding
The recording may also be used to develop a publication
Only the research team (CI’s and research assistant) will have access to the recording.
Results of this research project may be presented at external or internal conferences or meetings, or by publication. If you would like a summary of findings of this research project, please contact the Chief Investigator (listed above).
Concerns or Complaints: If you have any concerns or complaints about the way this research project is being conducted you can raise them with the Chief Investigator (listed above). If you prefer an independent person, you may contact the Chair of the USC Human Research Ethics Committee: (c/- Office of Research, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558; telephone (07) 5430 2823; email [email protected]).
Please save the information above if you choose to participate.