Consent and information form

Purpose of the Study:
This study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of helping professionals who counsel First Nations males who suffer domestic violence (DV) from current and former female partner/s.  The goal is to better understand the challenges and successes faced by these men and the professionals who help them. Currently there is no known research to understand this specific population.  

Eligibility to participate:

• Over 18 years of age
• A mental health worker, mental health nurse, counsellor, psychologist, social worker, social and emotional wellbeing practitioner, or other relevant health or communitiy worker, who has had experience counselling First Nations male survivors of female-perpetrated intimate partner violence (otherwise known as domestic violence). 

Your Participation:

• If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to partake in a Zoom interview. The interview will take approximately 30-60 minutes and will focus on your experiences and perceptions related to supporting First Nations males who are victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) from a female. The IPV can be in the form of physical abuse, sexual assault, economic or coercive control, emotional abuse, or legal aggression (with false accusations and the weaponisation of children).
• The interviews will be done online at a time of your convenience.  You will also be given the opportunity to tell your own stories and provide your own insights.  

About the researchers: 

• Marcus Priaulx is a qualified mental health counsellor.  His most recent counselling employment was with Wakai Waian Healing which had him counsel First Nations people in Cherbourg, Quilpie, Charleville and other areas.  He is now a youth worker with Integrated Family and Youth Service (IFYS). Marcus has a long association with First Nations people as boxer for 16 years.  When he attended university at the age of 22 his housemates and friendship circle were almost entirely made of First Nations people from Burketown, Doomadgee, Thursday Island and other areas.  Marcus also promoted First Nations Education throughout Australia when working for the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council and Tafe, Qld and campaigned for four years to successfully bring the Clontarf Foundation to Queensland.  The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and by doing so equips them to participate more meaningfully in society. Marcus worked for the organisation for eight years before joining Wakai Waian Healing. 
• Nathan Beel (PhD) will supervise the study. Dr Beel has been a qualified counsellor for over 20 years and has an extensive history as a counselling educator, clinical supervisor and researcher.  He has a Doctorate of Philosophy (Male-friendly counselling) and provides specialist training in this area. Dr Beel is a registered clinical member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. 

Benefits:

• Contribution to knowledge: Your participation to the study will contribute to a better understanding and awareness of First Nations male survivors of the female-perpetrated DV, and the experiences and recommendations from professionals working with this population.  
• Potential for improved services: The findings of this study may lead to improvements in the provision of mental health services to this population.

Risks:

• Cultural sensitivity: People-first language will be used within the writing of the analysis and the information presented so as not to not gratuitously, propagate negative stereotypes.  
• Emotional discomfort: Discussing sensitive topics related to IPV may evoke emotional discomfort.  Care will be taken to prevent harm or re-harm from relaying your experiences.  Check-ins will be made and if you experience distress during the interview, you may pause or end the interview, with no pressure to continue. 

Withdrawal:

• You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, without giving a reason. All data will be de-identified. Please note that data collected prior to withdrawal that has been submitted or accepted for publication, cannot be retracted. However, no further data collection or analysis will occur.

Other: 

• Confidentiality: All information collected during this study will be kept confidential. Your name and other identifying information will not be used in any reports or presentations. Only the research team will have access to your interview data.  Access to your interview transcript will be made available to you upon request and the results of the study can be sent to you at your request. 
• In the course of the interview, if information is disclosed about unreported child abuse or imminent harm to another person, confidentiality may be waived due to reporting requirements.

Questions:
If you have any questions about the study or your participation, please do not hesitate to ask the principal investigator or research supervisor.  
By completing this information and consent form, you indicate that you have read and understood this informed consent form and that you agree to participate in the study.

Compensation

Participation in this research is on a voluntary basis.  

Contact Information:

Phone: 0447 386 949 (Marcus Priaulx);
Email: Q0419614@umail.usq.edu.au (Marcus Priaulx) / Nathan.Beel@usq.edu.au (Nathan Beel)