The research is being carried out by the following researchers:

This research is funded by the Summer Foundation.

What is the study about?
You are invited to participate in a national survey of people with a mobility impairment. The aim of this study is to understand what the most important accessible housing features are for people with a mobility impairment (including people with disability and seniors).  We hope to use this information to help inform future housing designs. 

Do I have to participate?
Being part of this study is voluntary. If you want to be part of the study we ask that you read the information below carefully.

You can read the information below and decide at the end if you do not want to participate. If you decide not to participate this won’t affect your relationship with La Trobe University or Summer Foundation or any organisation that may have invited you to be part of this research. 

Who is being asked to participate?
You have been asked to participate because you are a person with a mobility impairment, or a carer or relative of a person with a mobility impairment.

What will I be asked to do? 
If you want to take part in this study, we will ask you to complete an online survey on your current housing situation, your disability or mobility impairment, and what specific design features are important for you in an accessible housing design. It will take approximately 30 minutes of your time to be part of this study.

What are the benefits?
There are no direct benefits from participating in this research, other than that you may find it valuable to share your experiences. The results from this study will be used for advocacy in the Building Better Homes campaign. The wider benefit of this study is to gain more understanding about housing design based on the views of people with a mobility impairment. 

What are the risks?
With any study there are (1) risks we know about, (2) risks we don’t know about, and (3) risks we don’t expect. If you experience something that you aren’t sure about, please contact us immediately so we can discuss the best way to manage your concerns.

Name/Organisation	Position	Telephone	Email
Professor Jacinta Douglas, La Trobe University	Chief Investigator	03 9479 1797	j.douglas@latrobe.edu.au

We have listed the risks we know about below. This will help you decide if you want to be part of the study.

Participating in this study is not anticipated to cause you any disadvantages or discomfort. However, if you become upset, distressed, or fatigued at any time, you may take a break or end the survey entirely. We only want you to share information you feel comfortable sharing.
If you feel upset after being involved in the study, we would encourage you to talk to your usual support person or  your local GP. You can also contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110. There are also several other services that are available for free in Australia: 

What will happen to information about me?
By clicking on the ‘I agree, start questionnaire’ button, this tells us you want to take part in the study. 
We will collect information about you in ways that will not reveal who you are.
We will store information about you in ways that will not reveal who you are.
We will publish information about you in ways that will not be identified in any type of publication from this study.

We will keep your information for 5 years after the project is completed. After this time we will destroy all of your data.The storage, transfer and destruction of your data will be undertaken in accordance with the Research Data Management Policy https://policies.latrobe.edu.au/document/view.php?id=106/. 

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws, any health information collected will be handled in accordance with the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). Subject to any exceptions in relevant laws, you have the right to access and correct your personal information by contacting the research team. 

Will I hear about the results of the study?
The findings from this study will be available on the Summer Foundation website and social media at its completion. It will contain a summary of the findings for the whole group of people who participated in the study, as individual responses will not be identifiable.

What if I change my mind?
If you start the survey and do not wish to complete it, simply close the web browser. However, please note that you will not be able to withdraw your responses to any questions that you have already completed because we cannot identify which survey is yours (as there are no names on it).
Your decision to withdraw at any point will not affect your relationship with La Trobe University or any other organisation listed. 

Who can I contact for questions or want more information?
If you would like to speak to us, please use the contact details below:

Name/Organisation	Position	Telephone	Email
Professor Jacinta Douglas, La Trobe University	Chief Investigator	03 9479 1797	j.douglas@latrobe.edu.au

What if I have a complaint?
If you have a complaint about any part of this study, please contact:

Ethics Reference Number	Position	Telephone	Email
HEC21020	Senior Research Ethics Officer	+61394791443	humanethics@latrobe.edu.au

Consent Form – Declaration by Participant
I (the participant) have read and understood the Participant Information Statement, and any questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I agree to participate in the study, I know I cannot withdraw my responses once I have started the survey. I agree information provided by me or with my permission during the project may be included in a thesis, presentation and published in journals on the condition that I cannot be identified. 

The information collected for this research study will be only used for this specific study.