The Community Recovery study is looking at the experiences of people impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires in Victoria.
The University of Melbourne is partnering with Bushfire Recovery Victoria to ask people how recovery from the fires is going for them and their communities. We think that the findings from this research can contribute to the way disaster recovery support is planned into the future.
Investigators
Dr. Colin Gallagher (lead), University of Melbourne
Dr. Kate Brady, University of Melbourne
Professor Lisa Gibbs, University of Melbourne
Robyn Molyneaux, University of Melbourne
Partners
Bushfire Recovery Victoria
Contact
- Contact Name
- Dr. Kate Brady
- kate.brady@unimelb.edu.au
- Contact Name
- Dr. Colin Gallagher
- colin.gallagher@unimelb.edu.au
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Who can participate?
In July we will be posting an invitation to participate to 7000+ homes in areas of Victoria affected by the 2019-2020 bushfires.
These invitations will ask for a person in the household who is at least 18 years old to complete the survey.
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What sort of questions will the survey ask?
The survey will ask questions about you and your household, about some of the impacts you have experienced as a result of the bushfires and about how you think that you and people in your community are recovering.
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Why are you asking these questions?
As the frequency of disasters increase in Australia and around the world, so does the body of research about recovery that can help communities, governments and agencies better plan for future disasters. However, most of the existing research about disaster recovery comes from the first year after a disaster.
We think it's important that communities, governments and agencies have access to research to help understand the long-term nature of disaster recovery.
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Do I have to participate in the research?
No. Any participation is voluntary. You are not required to participate, and not participating will not impact any access to services or support.
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Will I be paid to do this research?
Invited households who complete the survey will receive a $20 voucher as a gesture of thanks for their time.
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Why are you suggesting that the person (18 years and older) with the next birthday in the household to complete it?
We are trying to randomise the results as much as possible. Suggesting that the person (18 years and older) in the household with the next birthday be the person to participate is an additional way to try to randomise the participants.
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Who will be able to see my information if I participate?
If you participate, only the researchers from the University of Melbourne research team and the research data collection organisation will be able to see your details. All staff in these organisations are bound by ethical rules about how they disclose information. Any data shared with other organisations will be de-identified. Any publication of findings will be de-identified.
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Will Bushfire Recovery Victoria be able to see my personal information?
No. Any findings shared with BRV will be de-identified.
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I didn't receive an invitation in the mail. Can I still participate?
Yes. People who did not receive an invitation in the mail can register their interest to participate in the study and we will follow up with you.
Self registration to participate in the survey is currently closed due to technical difficulties. More information on the self registration process will be available shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Colin Gallagher (colin.gallagher@unimelb.edu.au).
Please not that participants who register (rather than being randomly invited) will not receive a $20 voucher for their time. This study design is based on a randomly selected group of participants, which helps us control for a wide range of experiences. Only offering the payment to people who are randomly invited helps us to maintain the integrity of this way of recruiting participants, and the project has been budgeted for in this way.
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Who is funding this research?
Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) are funding this study.
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Will I be able to see the results?
Yes. We are planning on publishing the initial findings from this study in late 2022 / early 2023 and these will be available on the University of Melbourne website. If you would like to make sure you receive a copy of the report, you can request for your email address to be added to the distribution list by emailing kate.brady@unimelb.edu.au
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I have more questions that aren't answered here. Where can I get more information?
You can email the lead researchers and we will respond to your questions directly:
Dr. Colin Gallagher: colin.gallagher@unimelb.edu.au
Dr. Kate Brady: kate.brady@unimelb.edu.au
How to participate
7000+ households in bushfire affected areas in Victoria will receive an invitation in the mail to complete this survey.
Self registration to participate in the survey is currently closed due to technical difficulties. More information on the self registration process will be available shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Colin Gallagher (colin.gallagher@unimelb.edu.au).