Participant Research Opportunities

Why

With the support of Aspect Autism Friendly, Sydney and Gold Coast Airports have introduced several initiatives aimed at making travel more accessible and enjoyable for Autistic individuals and their families. These can be found below:

• Gold Coast
• Sydney

The Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP) is conducting research to better understand and improve the travel experiences of Autistic individuals and their families through direct feedback and insights.

Our goal is to enhance the airport experience for Autistic travellers and their companions. We believe that by understanding the current travel experiences of Autistic individuals, we can identify effective practices and areas needing improvement.

What are the travel experiences of Autistic individuals? How can we make airports a more welcoming space for everyone?

Take part

We are looking for Autistic adults, as well as parents or caregivers travelling with their Autistic child (of any age), who will be departing from Sydney or Gold Coast Airport from 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024.

What's involved?

1. Before Your Trip: Complete an expression of interest form (approximately 5-10 minutes) to share some initial information.
2. After Your Trip: Share your travel experience through an interview tailored to your communication preferences (e.g., Microsoft Teams, phone, text), lasting approximately 20-30 minutes.

Complete the expression of interest form

Making a difference

The insights gained from this research are intended to inform practical improvements in airport environments, not only at Sydney and Gold Coast Airports but potentially at other airports as well. Working alongside Aspect Autism Friendly, we aim to use these findings to make subtle yet impactful changes to how airports cater to Autistic individuals and their families. This effort is about understanding specific needs and addressing them in ways that can make a real difference in the travel experience. By doing so, we hope to contribute to a broader movement towards more inclusive and accessible travel for everyone.

Research team

Dr Chris Edwards, Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP)

Dr Abbey Love, ARCAP

Dr Ru Ying Cai, ARCAP

Dr Vicki Gibbs, ARCAP

The ethical components of this research have been approved by Griffith University (GU ref no: 2023/860)

We want to hear about your child’s educational experiences.

Participate in this research being conducted by Monash University along with other universities around the globe from the UK, Italy, Norway, India, Canada and many other countries.

Participation involves completing a brief online survey. For more information or to take part, please visit: https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lJbenooX0zX010

Or via the QR code.

For more information please contact:

A/Professor Stuart Woodcock

School of Education and Professional Studies

Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.

Email: s.woodcock@griffith.edu.au

Google scholar: http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Yn39x5YAAAAJ&hl=en

#ParentVoices #InclusiveFutures #ReimaginingDisability #StudentsWithDisability #InclusiveEducation

WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE!

• Do you work in Australian tourism or hospitality companies?
• Do you feel thrive at work sometimes? If not, how can we help to empower you to thrive at work?

Emily Lu from Griffith University is doing her PhD research on empowering workers with disability to thrive in the tourism and hospitality sector.

She is inviting workers with disability or/and neurodiversity to join her research!

There are no risks anticipated for this research.

Emily will be sharing a summary of the overall results of the research with participants in the project.

What to expect:

• Dedicate approximately four hours in total, with the duration of one hour for each Zoom meeting.
• First, attend a group introduction meeting to discuss the research and sign informed consent.
• Second, take or collect photographs or objects representing your meaning of thriving at work.
• Third, provide photographs or objects to the researcher.
• Last, participate in one to two group/individual discussions to share your photos or objects.
  

What’s in there for you:

• All participates will receive a $100 gift voucher per person at the conclusion stage.
• VIP access to the exhibition which advocates for and creates awareness of the abilities and strengths of workers with disability.
• Opportunity to provide inputs on an industry report about empowering workers with
• disability to thrive in the tourism and hospitality sector, and the research team will
• distribute to policy makers and industry practitioners to initiate opportunities for positive change.

If you meet the criteria and are interested in participating in the study, please email

emily.lu2@griffithuni.edu.au

Please feel free to email Emily Lu (the same email address) for any questions

The research project is in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, with the ethics approval number 2023/573. Research participants’ shared information will remain completely confidential and anonymous.

Social media links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7162657760512331776

X: https://twitter.com/GU_Incl_Futures/status/1756893769264513259

Emily Lu LinkedIn

Meld Studios is working with the Queensland Government to develop a digital inclusion website. The website will provide Queenslanders a single place to go to find information and resources to support them to get online and use technology. The website is also for organisations, carers and family who support others to get online.

We would like to invite people whose voices are typically underrepresented in Queensland to help co-design the website. We want to hear from people who might find it difficult to get online or not find it easy to use websites and technology.

We’re looking to speak to people who:

- Live in Queensland

- Are between 18 and 85+ years old

- Identify with having a disability

- Identify as a First Nations person

- Have a carer or support worker

- Speak a language other than English at home

- Are recent migrants

- Live in remote or rural areas

- Have or are experiencing housing insecurity

- Have or are experiencing job insecurity

Participants will be guided through a 2 hour co-design session by our facilitators. They’ll be asked to share their thoughts on the design and usability of the website based on their experiences and provide ideas on how we can make it better. No preparation or previous experience is required to take part.

Would you like to apply to take part? Sessions will be running throughout February and March 2024 and all participants will be paid for their time.

We welcome people to register their interest (along with support workers or family who may wish to apply with you) by emailing or calling Alice Chatwood on alice@meldstudios.com.au or 0410 462 263.

For organisations: If you have any queries regarding the project contact the Queensland Government Customer and Digital Group by emailing digitalinclusion@chde.qld.gov.au.