Ethics, privacy, and your rights as a participant

This research is being conducted as part of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) and follows strict ethical guidelines designed to protect participants.

Your wellbeing, privacy, and autonomy are central to how this research is conducted.

Ethics approval

This research has been submitted for review by the Edith Cowan University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).

At this stage:

  • Ethics approval is pending
  • No interviews will be conducted until approval is granted
  • All study materials will be reviewed and approved as part of that process

Once approval is granted, the ethics reference number will be published on this site.

Voluntary participation

Participation in this research is completely voluntary.

This means:

  • you choose whether or not to participate,
  • you can withdraw at any time,
  • you can decline to answer any question, and
  • withdrawing will have no negative consequences.

Confidentiality and anonymity

Your privacy is taken seriously.

  • Interviews will be de-identified during transcription.
  • Names, companies, locations, and other identifying details will be removed.
  • Any quotes used in publications will be anonymised.
  • Data will be reported in ways that prevent identification of individuals or organisations.

Data storage and security

All research data will be:

  • stored securely in accordance with ECU policies,
  • accessed only by the researcher and supervisory team,
  • retained for the required period under university guidelines, and
  • securely destroyed after that period.

Use of the research

The findings from this research will be used for:

  • a PhD thesis,
  • peer-reviewed academic journal publications, and
  • academic and professional presentations.

No information will be shared with employers, organisations, or third parties.

Potential risks and support

The topics discussed may prompt reflection on work-related stress or challenging experiences.

If you feel distressed at any point:

  • you can pause or stop the interview,
  • you can withdraw without consequence, and
  • you are encouraged to seek support.

If you are in Australia, support services include:

  • Lifeline – 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636

Participation is not intended to replace professional support.

Questions or concerns

If you have questions about the research, you are encouraged to contact me directly.

If you have concerns about the ethical conduct of the research, you will be able to contact the ECU Human Research Ethics Committee once approval details are available.