Information for participants
Participating
Why participate
Australia's population is living longer and our older population is booming.
In fact, the number of Australians aged 65 and over is expected to increase by around 50% in the next 15 to 20 years. This is due to many reasons including changes in migration and fertility patterns, and improvements in life expectancy.
In order to meet the needs of the growing number of older Australians, we need to better understand what affects their health, their lifestyle and how they use health services. To see just how valuable the Study is and the range of projects using data provided by our participants please take a look at our section on research underway.
This Study needs as wide a range of people 45 and over as possible to join and will draw from the unique diversity of the NSW population. We need men and women from all walks of life, all social and ethnic backgrounds, all lifestyles and interests to take part.
How to participate
Over the next two years one in two people aged 45 and over in NSW will be mailed a baseline questionnaire for the Study and invited to participate. If you have received this questionnaire and you would like to be included in the Study all you need to do is complete the questionnaire as accurately as you can, sign the consent form on the last page and post it back in the reply paid envelope supplied.
If you have not received the questionnaire but would like to volunteer to participate in the Study, please click here to register your details, or telephone the Study helpline on 1300 45 11 45 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). Once you have registered as a volunteer, we will then mail you more information on the Study, as well as a copy of the baseline questionnaire for you to complete and return to us if you are interested.
What are you agreeing to if you wish to be included in the Study
In addition to completing the baseline questionnaire, a follow-up questionnaire will be sent to you in the next five years to update our information about your health and lifestyle.
Later on, you may also be invited to take part in additional research, or to provide blood or saliva samples. Whether to participate or not will be entirely your choice.
If your address or contact details change after you have returned the questionnaire, we would be grateful if you could let us know. We will then update our records to ensure you remain part of the study. You can inform the Study of a change of details online by clicking here, or you can telephone the 45 and Up Study helpline on 1300 45 11 45 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
If you would like any further information about participating in the 45 and Up Study you can send an general online enquiry by clicking here, or you can call the 45 and Up Study helpline on 1300 45 11 45 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).