Participation

Former auto-workers will be invited directly to be a part of our research. From the respondents, a broad range will be chosen to participate to ensure that a variety of circumstances and backgrounds is represented in our research.

This project will look at the impacts of plant closures and mass retrenchment on workers and their families. We want to know how retrenchment impacts people’s working lives, retraining, education and health. There is not a great understanding of how workers and communities transition into the future in the event of industry closure. With former auto-worker participation, our study will investigate this gap and provide feedback to government and industry on how services and supports can work better in the future. 

We will ask you questions about your employment history, training and education and current circumstances. These questions will form part of longitudinal study with surveys run once a year over five years. This survey will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes. A number of participants will be further invited for face to face interviews to further discuss their responses. 

It is not anticipated that there are any risks to participation in this study beyond those encountered during everyday life. However, if required, we can arrange support by referral to a trusted support group. 

Participation in this study may not directly benefit you. However, our research will have an impact on policy makers and the services provided in the event of future industry closures.  

To thank you for your time you will receive a $50 gift voucher. 

Participation in this study is voluntary. If you choose to be involved in this research and then later change your mind that is okay. You can also change your mind about participating in the research at any time during the surveys and you can also choose not to answer any particular question or questions.

The information collected from this project will be published. Information provided may also be used to assess suitability for further participation in the broader project. Please be assured that any information provided by you for this research will be treated in the strictest confidence. No participant in this research will be individually identifiable in the reports or other publications resulting from this research. 

De-identified electronic data will be stored on password protected computers and documents for up to seven years after the project on the University of South Australia (UniSA) servers. Data will be coded for longitudinal study and only non-identifiable aggregate data will be distributed to project partners and in published journal articles. 

This project has been approved by the University of South Australia’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). If you have any ethical concerns about the project or questions about your rights as a participant please contact the Executive Officer of UniSA’s Committee, Tel: +61 8 8302 3118; Email: [email protected] 

Participants or third parties who wish to lodge a complaint about either the study or the way it is being conducted should contact the Executive Officer of UniSA HREC in the first instance, Email: [email protected] or Tel: +61 8 8302 3118. 

Please contact the following support services if you experience or are experiencing any psychological or emotional stress:

For more support services, Beyond Blue has listed several other providers on their webpage: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/suicide-prevention/get-support-now.

In an emergency, please call 000, the emergency help line.