SHPER
The Project
Researchers at La Trobe University are exploring the experiences of young Australian-Chinese in learning about sex, dating and relationships in their family and school settings.
The aim is to learn more about how cultural background shapes experiences of learning about sex and relationships and to support the sexual health needs of Australian-Chinese.
If you are aged between 18 and 25 years old, have parents born overseas, identify as having a Chinese background, and have either been born in Australia or lived in Australia since you were 12 years or younger, we invite you to participate in an online interview or focus group to talk about your experiences of learning about sex and relationships.
Participants will be reimbursed $25 for their time.
To register your interest, please navigate to the register interest button!
FAQs
Who is running this project?
This research is conducted by Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University.
It has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and granted human research ethics approval from the La Trobe University Ethics Committee (HEC22373).
Am I reimbursed for my participation?
We recognise you’ve taken time out of your busy schedule to share your story with us. All interview and focus group participants are reimbursed with a $25 gift voucher.
Will I be asked uncomfortable questions?
We do our very best to make sure you’re comfortable throughout the interview and you never have to answer a question that makes you uncomfortable or that you don’t want to talk about.
How do I register my interest in participating?
To register your interest in participating, please navigate to the top of the page and click the Register Interest! button
I have more questions
If you have any further questions about the study, or would like more information, email Dr Andrea Waling (a.waling@latrobe.edu.au)
Who can participate?
We are looking to speak with people that:
• are aged 18-25 years old
• reside in Australia
• have parents born overseas
• identify as having a Chinese background
• have been either born in Australia, or resided in Australia since you attained the age of 12
• are proficient in speaking and writing in English.
Do I remain anonymous?
We do not reveal your name or any other identifying information to anyone outside of the research time. When we report the results of the study, we make sure that all your personal information that could identify you is removed.
If you participate in an interview, only the research team will know your identity.
If you participate in a focus group, other members of the focus group will learn your name, however, we request all people in the focus group respect the privacy of other group members.
Can I participate in both an interview and focus group?
While you can only participate in either a focus group or interview, you can let us know in the eligibility survey if you are happy to participate in either format. We will provide you with times for both formats and you can select the option which best suits your schedule and preferences.
What does participation involve?
You can choose to participate in a private one on one interview, or join a focus group with other young people. Interviews and focus groups are held at times that best suit your schedule, and can be either face to face, in a convenient location, or online via zoom.
Typically, interviews take from 30 minutes to 1 hour, and focus groups generally run for 1 -2 hours (we provide breaks in this time!).
Where are interviews or focus groups held?
Interviews and focus groups are held online via zoom technology.
More about the project!
This study investigates the ways that parents and carers of school aged children understand topics of sexual literacy, wellbeing and relationships.
We aim to advance the goals of the Fourth National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2018-2022 to reduce STI incidence and improve sexual health outcomes among young people in Australia by establishing an evidence base to:
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enhance capacity for parents/carers, community workers and teachers to proactively and effectively engage with sexual health promotion and education with young people across multiple sectors and settings.
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build a multi-sector and multi-setting (integrated) approach to sexual health promotion and education that facilitates partnerships between parents/carers, community services and schools.
We hope to learn how parents and carers feel able to talk to their partners, friends, healthcare providers, counsellors or other professionals, and their children about topics of sex and relationships. The aim to: explore how parent’s and carer’s class, gender and sexuality shape sexual literacy and experiences of sex and relationships; and, to identify support needs of parents and carer’s with respect to sexual literacy and supporting their children’s relationship and sexuality education.
This study is focused on parents, carers and families who reside in lower income areas of Victoria. Much of the research on the sexual health education needs of parents and children is focused on well-resourced inner city or inner suburban areas. This research aims to build on existing research by focusing on areas where school and communities may have fewer resources or less engagement with sexual health services.
This research is conducted by Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University and forms one part of a larger project that looks to build an integrated approach to supporting sexual health promotion and education among young people. The researchers conducting the large scale project are: Associate Professor Jennifer Power, Professor Adam Bourne, Professor Suzanne Fraser, Associate Professor Christopher Fisher, Dr Andrea Waling, Dr Adrian Farrugia. The research team assisting on this project are Dr Alexandra James, Dr Thomas Norman, and Jack Thepsourinthone. The project has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and human research ethics approval from the La Trobe University Ethics Committee has been granted for us to undertake research with parents and carers of school aged children (HEC22373).