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The role of occupational therapists in mainstream secondary schools
 
This research is being carried out in partial fulfilment of Doctor of Clinical Sciences under the supervision of Professor Carol McKinstry. The following researchers will be conducting the study - Professor Carol McKinstry, Rebecca Blake (Higher Degree Research (HDR) Student), Dr Jo Spong

1. What is the study about?
You are invited to participate in a study exploring the roles of occupational therapists who are directly-employed (school-employed) within mainstream secondary schools. We hope to learn about how school-employed occupational therapists working in mainstream secondary schools perceive their roles in this emerging area of practice and what are the enablers and barriers of undertaking the role to reach its fullest potential.
 
You have received this information because you have responded to an advertisement for the study.
 
2. 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 or do not want to participate. You might like to discuss your decision to participate or not with someone who is able to support you in making this decision. If you decide not to participate this won’t affect your relationship with La Trobe University or any other listed organisation.
 
3. Who is being asked to participate? 
Occupational therapists from Australia, UK, USA, New Zealand and Canada who are currently school-employed in a mainstream secondary school occupational therapy position of any FTE are invited to participate . Participants also need to be able to understand, and write in, English.
 
When considering your eligibility to participate in this study, please carefully read the following definitions:
“Mainstream secondary schools”
  • describe schools that are designed to educate post primary school students (that is, Year 7 to 12 / Form 1-6, typically aged 12-18).  
  • typically apply principles of inclusive education to ensure universal access to education, however they are NOT:.  
    • specialist education settings (e.g. special development schools, specialist schools, autism schools); 
    • schools designed specifically to deliver to students with “special needs” or disabilities;
    • alternative education schools designed specifically for cohorts of students for whom barriers to participation in mainstream settings are, for whatever reason, insurmountable (e.g. Flexible Learning Option (FLO] schools, Indie School/College, etc.). 
 “school-employed occupational therapist”
  • What it is:
    • To be employed in this position you must be a qualified, registered occupational therapist
    • Be a member of the school’s staff
    • Be employed at any FTE (Full Time Equivalent employment)
  • What it is NOT:
    • External consultant coming into the school to deliver services
    • A position for which professionals other than occupational therapists could be employed (e.g. specialist mental health practitioner, school counsellor, etc.). 
 
4. What will I be asked to do?
If you want to take part in this study, we will ask you to complete an online anonymous survey which will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. We will ask you questions about your perceptions of your school-employed occupational therapy position in a mainstream secondary school, including your perception of what the enablers and barriers are of undertaking the role.
 
5. What are the benefits?
The benefit of you taking part in this study is that you will be contributing to a greater understanding about the roles of occupational therapists who are school-employed within mainstream secondary schools. The expected benefit to society in general is having greater clarity of the roles of school-employed occupational therapists in mainstream secondary schools, which may help to ensure that the full capabilities of occupational therapists are being optimised to support all students with their education.
 
6. 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/OrganisationPositionTelephoneEmail
Professor Carol McKinstry, La Trobe UniversityProfessor in Occupational Therapy03 5448 9111 c.mckinstry@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.
  • Inconvenience as a result of time required – the time required to complete the online survey is approximately 30 minutes.
  • Participants may accidentally reveal identifying information within the online survey – any identifiable information accidentally provided on the online survey will be deleted prior to data analysis.
  • Participation may cause unanticipated discomfort – You may choose to not provide answers to any question on the survey that may provide discomfort to you.

7. What will happen to information about me?
By clicking on the ‘I agree, start questionnaire’ button, this tells us that you meet the criteria to participate in this study and that you consent to take part in the study.

We will collect information about you in ways that will not reveal who you, your colleagues, or your school.
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). , you have the right to access and correct your personal information by contacting the research team.
 
8. Will I hear about the results of the study?
If you would like to know the summary of results of the study please contact Professor Carol McKinstry via email, c.mckinstry@latrobe.edu.au
 
9. What if I change my mind?
If you no longer want to complete the questionnaire, simply close the web browser. Note that we cannot withdraw your responses once you have entered them because we cannot link who you are with your questionnaire responses.
 
Your decision to withdraw at any point will not affect your relationship with La Trobe University or any other organisation listed.  However, if you withdraw your participation from the survey without completing it, please note that the data up until the point that you withdraw your participation, may be used in our analyses.
 
10. Who can I contact for questions or want more information?
If you would like to speak to us, please use the contact details provided in Question 6 above.

11. What if I have a complaint?
If you have a complaint about any part of this study, please contact:
Ethics Reference NumberPositionTelephoneEmail
HEC25135Senior Research Ethics Officer+61 3 9479 1443humanethics@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 agree that the 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.
 
My information will be collected and only used for this specific research study.

Please check your eligibility against the criteria below according to the following definitions:
 
“school-employed occupational therapist position”
I am:
  • employed in a position for which you must be a qualified, registered occupational therapist
  • a member of the school’s staff
  • employed at any FTE (Full Time Equivalent employment) 
I am not:
  • An external consultant coming into the school to deliver services
  • In a role for which professionals other than occupational therapists could be employed (e.g. specialist mental health role, school counsellor, etc.). 

“Mainstream secondary school/s”:
  • I am employed to work within a school/s that is/are designed to educate post primary school students (Year 7 to 12 / Form 1-6, typically aged 12-18).
My school/s is/are  NOT: 
  • A specialist education setting/s (e.g. special development schools, specialist schools, autism schools); 
  • A school/s designed specifically to deliver education to students with “special needs” or disabilities;
  • An alternative education school/s designed specifically for cohorts of students for whom barriers to participation in mainstream settings are, for whatever reason, insurmountable (e.g. Flexible Learning Option (FLO schools, Indie School/College, etc.). 
 
By clicking the start button I am, confirming my eligibility to participate in this study as I am a school-employed, registered occupational therapist working in a “mainstream secondary school” in the UK, Australia, USA, New Zealand or Canada.

 
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