Research Project Title: An Inclusive Approach to Parenting

Project Sponsors: Grace Papers and Pride in Diversity

Chief Investigator: Grace Papers Team: Kristy Macfarlane

You are invited to take part in this short survey to better understand the needs and experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) parents. Your responses to this survey will inform a research report that outlines how organisations can ensure their policy, practice and programs are inclusive of all parents.

Your participation in this survey is entirely voluntary. You have been approached either through your employer being members of Pride in Diversity or your organisation being clients of Grace Papers Pty Ltd (Grace Papers).

Grace Papers is seeking to collect information from you to understand the needs of either current or potential LGBT parents, to ascertain how the support provided could be improved to ensure that it is inclusive of all family situations.

The overall aim of this research is to recommend best practice inclusive parenting approaches (policies, practices and programs) for organisations, so that the LGBT community has a positive, supportive and inclusive parenting experience.

We have designed a series of evaluation questions to understand the needs of LGBT parents and where current practices may not meet those needs. Your views and experiences are an important part of evaluating the effectiveness of current practices and to recommending changes to improve overall inclusiveness.

This Participant Information Page tells you about the survey, and what is involved. Knowing what is involved will help you decide if you want to participate. Please read this information carefully. Ask questions about anything that you don’t understand or want to know more about. Before deciding whether or not to take part, you might want to talk about it with a relative, friend or colleague.

Participation in this research is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to.

If you decide you want to take part in the survey, you will be asked to click on the “I agree to participate” button. By clicking this button, you are telling us that you:

• Understand what you have read

• Consent to take part in the research project

• Consent to the research that is described

• Consent to the use of your personal information as described. You can print a copy of this participation and consent information to keep.

You can print a copy of this participation and consent information to keep.

1. What is the purpose of this research?

The overarching purpose of the research is to understand how support can be improved, at an organisational level, for LGBT parents. The insights and data will inform a report that outlines how organisations can ensure their policy, practice and programs are inclusive of all parents.

This research has been designed by Grace Papers. The surveys will be hosted on Grace Papers on survey monkey.

2. What does participation in this research involve?

Information will be collected to assess whether current parenting practices are inclusive of LGBT parents. Participants will be asked for feedback on their parenting experiences, with respect to parental leave policies, programs and associated practices.

Furthermore, information will be gathered to understand the parenting context of each survey participant and any perceived bias they may have experienced as an LGBT parent.

There are no costs associated with participating in this research project, nor will you be paid.

3. Other relevant information about the research project

All member organisations of Pride in Diversity will be invited to participate, with the respective Employee Resource Group contact disseminating the survey within the respective network.

All Grace Papers clients will also be invited to participate, with the survey being made available to their key client liaisons, which is in most cases the person accountable for D&I or someone within People & Culture.

4. Do I have to take part in this research project?

Participation in this project is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part, you do not have to.

If you decide to take part in the survey and change your mind as you complete the survey, you are free to withdraw at any stage prior to clicking ‘submit survey’.

Your decision whether to take part or not to take part, or to take part and then withdraw, will not affect your employment, or your relationship with Grace Papers or Pride in Diversity.

If you do decide to take part, you will be asked to click on the ‘I agree to participate’ button below. You can print a copy of this participation and consent information to keep.

5. What are the possible benefits of taking part?

We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this research. However possible benefits may include sharing feedback on your experiences and contributing to the recommendations of what parental leave policies, programs and associated practices would best support LGBT parents. Further possible benefits may include contributing to the inclusion of all parents within your organisation so that they have a positive experience and are set up to thrive.

6. What are the possible risks and disadvantages of taking part?

There are no identifiable risks or disadvantages in taking part in this research project. The questions we are asking are mostly concerning your feedback and perceptions as a current or potential LGBT parent with respect to the organisational policies and practices.

You may feel that some of the questions we ask are stressful or upsetting. If you do not wish to answer a question, you may skip it and go to the next question, or you may stop immediately.

7. What if I withdraw from this research project?

If you do consent to participate, you may withdraw at any time before submitting your survey responses. If you decide to leave the research survey, you can stop completing the survey at any time. Once you click ‘submit survey’, the data will not be able to be identified and therefore withdrawn. You can choose to leave any time prior to clicking ‘submit survey’.

8. What will happen to informatio
n about me?

By agreeing to participating in this survey you consent to Grace Papers collecting and analysing using personal information about you for the research project. Any information obtained in connection with this project that can identify you will remain confidential.

The questionnaires have been developed by Grace Papers and Pride in Diversity and will be hosted on survey monkey.

After collecting the data, Grace Papers will analyse all responses.

Your information will only be used for the purpose of this research project.

It is anticipated that the results of this research project may be published and/or presented in a report made publicly available. In any publication and/or presentation, information will be provided in such a way that you cannot be identified. Only aggregated results will be presented in the publications. If any examples by way of case studies are represented, individual consent will be sought from any individuals involved.

In accordance with relevant Australian and/or Victorian privacy and other relevant laws, you have the right to request access to the information about you that is collected and stored by the research team. You also have the right to request that any information with which you disagree be corrected. Please inform the research team member named at the end of this document or Grace Papers if you would like to access your information.

Any information obtained for the purpose of this research project that can identify you will be treated as confidential and securely stored. It will be disclosed only with your permission, or as required by law.

9. Complaints and compensation

Participants will not be compensated for their participation in this research. Should you have any concerns or complaints, or wish to access support or counselling as a result of your participation in this research, please contact the chief investigator of the research project Kristy Macfarlane; inclusiveparenting@gracepapers.com.au

10. Who is organising and funding the research?

This research project is being organised and led by Grace Papers with expertise and insight provided by Pride in Diversity.

11. Who has reviewed the research project?

The ethical aspects of this research have been reviewed by the ACON Research Ethics Review Committee.

12. Further information and who to contact

The person you may need to contact will depend on the nature of your query. If you want any further information concerning this project or if you have any problems which may be related to your involvement in the project, you can contact the researcher:

Research contact person

Kristy Macfarlane – Head of Client Relationships QLD

0457 519 877 kristy@gracepapers.com.au

For matters relating to research at the site at which you are participating, the details of the local site complaints person are:

Complaints contact person:

Ben Gilbert – Director

0411 022 744

ben@gracepapers.com.au

Withdraw contact person:

Ben Gilbert – Director

0411 022 744

ben@gracepapers.com.au

The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the ACON Research Ethics Committee. If you have any complaints or reservations about any ethical aspect of your participation in this research, you may contact the Committee via research@acon.org.au.

Any complaint you make will be treated in confidence and investigated, and you will be informed of the outcome.