Expression of Interest to be a Youth Researcher

We are a team of leading researchers on climate change, education, and disaster recovery. We are from Southern Cross University's Sustainability, Environment and the Arts in Education (SEAE) Research Centre in the Faculty of Education. Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles is the Australian project leader. Alongside a large SCU team, the research collective comprises Victoria University Maribyrnong project leader (Dr Helen Widdop Quinton), RMIT’s Climate Change Research Network and Climate Impacts Observatory (Dr David Rousell), La Trobe University’s Climate Change Lab (Professor Lauren Rickards), University of Wollongong (Dr Blanche Verlie), and child and youth researchers from the Northern Rivers, NSW. We would like to invite you to participate as a researcher on the Floods + Me project to explore about your flood experiences and its impact on your education.

This initiative is funded by Maribyrnong City Council with a grant provided by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments and delivered by Southern Cross University and Victoria University.

What is this research about?
This project aims to understand how the recent flooding has affected children and young people in the Maribyrnong region. To do this, the research team have designed a five-phase arts-based research study whereby 30 young people (11-17 years old) are invited to conduct collective and independent research explorations about young people’s flood experiences and its impact on their education and life. This involves any combination of ethnographic interviews, video diaries, drawing, film, photography, painting, storytelling, language, and poetry.
Once you have completed this form, if you meet the eligibility criteria to join the project, the research team will email you a confirmation email along with an information sheet and consent form for yourself and your parent/guardian.

The Human Research Ethics Committee at Southern Cross University has approved this research. The approval number is 2023/138.

Information Sessions
Optional information/Q&A session about the Floods + Me Maribrynong project:
Date: 6 November, 6.30pm
Location: Maribyrnong Community Centre

If you miss the above, please attend our Online information/Q&A session, early November - details TBC.

Anticipated program dates:
Mid-December 2024: Tuning in workshop at Victoria University (Footscray Park)
Late January 2025: Arts-based sharing activities (VU)
Mid-February 2025: Arts-based sharing activities (VU)
Mid-March 2025: Sharing, reflecting and exhibition planning (VU)
Mid-April 2025: Arts-based sharing and planning activities (VU)
Early May 2025: Spotlight moments and finalising the exhibition (online)
Mid May 2025: Launch of our public exhibition of program works (Maribrynong venue TBC)
Note: Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions but need to at least attend the first

Question Title

* 1. Youth Surname

Question Title

* 2. Youth First Name

Question Title

* 3. Youth Location of Residence/s (suburb)

Question Title

* 4. Youth Date of Birth(DD/ MM/YYYY)

Date

Question Title

* 5. Youth E-mail Address

Question Title

* 6. Youth Mobile Contact Number (if applicable)

Question Title

* 7. What best describes your gender?

Question Title

* 8. Parent/ Guardian Name (first and surname):

Question Title

* 9. Parent/ Guardian Email

Question Title

* 10. Parent/ Guardian Contact Number (Mobile Preferred)

Question Title

* 11. Why would you like to participate in this project as a youth researcher?

Question Title

* 12. The project's 'research training workshop' will be a part-day and we would like to know participant preferences in terms of introduction and further workshop/activity sessions timing (up to 5 additional over approx. 6 months) - i.e during school, after school, or weekend. Please indicate your preferences below:

  Availability Preferred Workshop Timing
School day (half day)
After school during the week
Weekend (half day)

Question Title

* 13. Please indicate any special dietary needs or relevant information:

T