Information for participants

The SEEF Project

The SEEF Project is one of the research projects currently underway for participants in the 45 and Up Study. SEEF stands for Social, Economic and Environmental Factors. It aims to identify how these factors influence the health and wellbeing of our population in mid to later life.

Management

The SEEF Project is led by Professor Adrian Bauman from the School of Public Health, University of Sydney.

To ensure participant confidentiality, the 45 and Up Study Coordinating Centre at the Sax Institute is inviting 45 and Up Study participants to take part in the SEEF Project.

The SEEF Project is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Preventive Healthcare and Strengthening Australia’s Social and Economic Fabric Strategic Award.

Information Being Collected

45 and Up Study participants who join the SEEF Project are asked to complete a questionnaire about their social, economic and environmental situation. Some of the questions asked might be considered very personal but are important for health research.

Further information about why particular questions are being asked is available by contacting the 45 and Up Study Helpline on 1300 45 11 45, and if a participant feels uncomfortable providing the information requested they can leave that question blank and still participate in the SEEF Project.

All information collected will be treated confidentially and used for health research only.

SEEF Project

Participants in the SEEF Project will be asked to complete a questionnaire and it is estimated that completing the questionnaire will take about 40 minutes.

How to Participate

Only people who are already participating in the 45 and Up Study will be invited to join the SEEF Project.

It is anticipated that 100,000 45 and Up Study participants will be invited to join the main SEEF Project before the end of this year.

Currently, participation in the SEEF Project is by invitation only, so we are not able to accept requests to volunteer.

How to Accept the Invitation 

If you have received an invitation to participate in the SEEF Project and you would like to accept, all you need to do is complete the questionnaire you received with your invitation letter, sign the consent form on the last page and return the questionnaire to the 45 and Up Study in the provided reply paid envelope.

How to Decline the Invitation

The SEEF Project is completely voluntary. If you have received an invitation to participate in the SEEF Project and you would like to decline, you can do so and still remain in the 45 and Up Study. If you do not wish to participate, no further action is required and you can discard the questionnaire.

We Will Provide Updates

The 45 and Up Study keeps all participants in the Study up to date about how their information is being used, including information collected as part of the SEEF Project, through the annual Participants’ Newsletter. A list of research projects that are underway is also available here.

Our Commitment to Security and Confidentiality

The 45 and Up Study is bound by Commonwealth and State privacy legislation and guidelines, including the Health Records and Information Privacy Act and the NSW Health Privacy Manual. The 45 and Up Study also has strict procedures and systems to safeguard confidentiality. All information collected will be treated completely confidentially and used for health research only.

Any identifying details given to the SEEF Project (such as name and address) will be removed from the information given as soon as possible and stored separately. No information will be released in a way that would allow an individual or household to be identified, except as is compelled by law.

The conduct of the 45 and Up Study is overseen by the University of NSW Human Research Ethics Committee and the conduct of SEEF is overseen by the University of Sydney Ethics Administration.

By agreeing to be a part of the SEEF Project, participants agree to the 45 and Up Study providing their completed questionnaires to the SEEF researchers.

More Information

If you would like more information about the SEEF Project, please call the 45 and Up Study Helpline on 1300 45 11 45 or email 45andUp@saxinstitute.org.au.

To view the SEEF Project information leaflet for participants, click here.