Thank you for your interest in participating in this research project. Please read the following information about the project so that you can decide whether you would like to take part in this research. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have about your involvement in the project. You can also talk to someone you trust, like a family member or friend, before deciding if you want to participate.
Participation in this research is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part, you do not have to. If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you are free to stop at any time, and you would not need to give any explanation for your decision to stop participating.
If you decide to take part, you will be asked to sign a Consent Form and will be given a copy of that signed form and this Participant Information Sheet to keep. Your decision whether you take part, or not to take part, or to take part and then withdraw, will not affect your relationship with The University of Queensland.
This research is seeking to understand how group singing leaders (choir conductors, choir directors, vocal ensemble leaders, music therapy group leaders, group singing teachers, etc.) facilitate, run or guide their activities. The study has a particular focus on how these activities contribute to the health and wellbeing of group members. We are seeking to understand the specific non-music-related challenges faced by group singing facilitators in their contexts, in order to effectively design or recommend a professional development program for these arts practitioners. Thus, the second aim of this study is to conduct a needs analysis to determine the extent to which group singing facilitators have a need for, and interest in, training and professional development in the areas of health and wellbeing.
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete a cross-sectional survey (one-off). If you agree to participate in a follow-up focus group or in future research, you will be given the opportunity to supply an email address (stored separately from the rest of your anonymised survey responses), and we will contact you via email.
The survey will ask questions about your role as a group singing facilitator, about the participants in your singing group, and any challenges you face as part of your role. Some questions will ask about possible training and support needs for singing group leaders. You will also be asked to provide some demographic information, such as your age, gender, nationality. This survey can be completed on any device at a time and place that is convenient to you. The total time commitment is about 10-20 minutes. Participants who complete the study will be eligible to enter a prize draw to win two tickets to a concert of your choice, to the value of up to $500 in total (to be drawn after the survey deadline).
There may be no direct benefit to you as a participant. The potential benefits of the research for the wider society and the research field are that it will provide information about the training backgrounds and needs of group singing facilitators in terms of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their singers, and inform the potential development of future training programs in this area.
If you choose to be contacted for future research, you may be able to participate in a training program for group singing leaders wanting to improve their skills in supporting mental health and wellbeing of their singers.
Participation carries no physical risks. There's a small risk of emotional discomfort due to discussing challenges in your role, and answering questions about the mental health and wellbeing of participants in your group singing activity. If you experience emotional discomfort while completing the survey, you can choose to skip any question, or to withdraw from the study at any time.
By signing the Consent Form you consent to UQ collecting, using and (where applicable) disclosing your information as set out in this Participant Information Statement and the Consent Form. Information obtained in connection with this project will be retained and disposed of in accordance with relevant University of Queensland policies and State and National regulations. For further information regarding the management of research data and information, you may refer to UQ’s Research Data Management Policy.
Any information obtained in connection with this research project that can identify you will remain confidential. Confidentiality will be maintained by using a unique identifier. In a separate file, this unique identifier, along with your email, will be stored securely and will only be accessible to the research team. Once all the surveys are completed, both the unique identifier and your email will be deleted, and the data will be fully anonymised and stored in the UQ Research Data Management system.
It is anticipated that the results of this research project will be published and/or presented in a variety of forums. In any publication and/or presentation, information will be provided in such a way that you cannot be identified, except with your express permission.
The collected data may be used again for secondary/future research or submitted to a data repository. Identifiable data will not be used in this way without your permission. The consent form will describe situations where collected data may be used again.
Any information obtained during the research project is subject to inspection (for the purpose of verifying the procedures and the data) by the relevant authorities and authorised representatives of The University of Queensland, or as required by law. Designated University individuals (data stewards or custodians) may also have access to the information for the purposes of ensuring long term retention and disposal. By signing the Consent Form, you authorise release of, or access to, this confidential information to the relevant research personnel and authorities as noted above.
The personal information collected for this research project includes: demographic information; the name of specific groups/associations in which you are a prominent member; prior qualifications, length of career, and; (optional) full name and email address.
You have the right to request access to the personal information about you that is collected and stored by the research team. If you are seeking to update or correct any information, it is recommended that you liaise with the research team in the first instance (see contact details at the top of this information sheet).
You are also able to request amendment via a University of Queensland Right to Information and Privacy officer (rti@uq.edu.au). For further information regarding the management of your personal information, please refer to UQ’s Research Data Management Policy, Privacy Management Policy and Privacy Management Procedure.
Your participation in this research is voluntary and you are free to withdraw without needing to provide an explanation. If you withdraw from this study, you will not receive any penalty or bias because of your withdrawal. If you decide to withdraw, you can stop the survey at any time.
If you decide to withdraw, we will not collect additional data or information from you. Incomplete surveys will be destroyed and the data already collected will not be used.
Participants will be sent a summary of the study results by email. Results may also be presented at a relevant conference or published in a scholarly journal in due course.
Questions about the nature of this project and participation in it should be directed to the research team (see top of information sheet for details).
This study adheres to the principles of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. The study has received ethics approval in accordance with the review processes of The University of Queensland. You are free to discuss concerns regarding this study or your participation in it with the research team, but if you would like to speak to an officer of the University not involved in the study, you may contact the Human Research Ethics Team via email humanethics@research.uq.edu.au or phone (see contact details at Ethics, integrity and compliance contacts).
This research project’s Ethics ID number: 2025/HE001800.
I have read the Participant Information Sheet and agree to take part in this study. I understand that my participation is completely voluntary and that I may withdraw at any time without consequence. You do not have to give a reason, just close your browser. I understand that the results of the study will be reported in this thesis and journal articles; however, I will not be identified individually.