To Conduct Research in Catholic Systemic Schools in the Diocese of Parramatta NSW

Research Application

To conduct research in Catholic systemic schools in the Diocese of Parramatta NSW.

For your application to be processed, applicants are requested to:

• Email this completed document along with associated attachments to the address shown below
• Where original documentation is required eg. Working with Children Check, please send by post along with a copy of the application form.

All applications should be sent to:

Mr Patrick Barrett

Manager of Programs (Special Purpose)

Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta

Locked Bag 4, North Parramatta NSW 1750

Email:

Researcher Contact Details:

Name
Address
Telephone
Fax
Email

University or Organization address (if different from the above):

Address

The supervisor(s) of your research program (where relevant):

Supervisor 1 / Supervisor 2
Name
Address
Telephone
Fax
Email

Research is being undertaken as part of… (Tick one):

Bachelors(Hons) degree
Masters degree
Doctorate
Post-Doctorate
Ongoing academic research
National/international study
Other (specify)

Are you currently employed in the Diocese of Parramatta?

Yes No

Research Title

ResearchAbstract (up to 150 words)

Research Context and Description(up to 500 words)

ResearchInvolvementof, and Benefit to,each participant type – student, teacher, parent, school, system

Research Design and Methodologyincludingdata collection instruments

Parental Approval – if you intend working with children, specify how you intend to obtain parental approval for contact with students in schools. Includeexample permission letters/consent forms.

Ethics Approval - you must have approval from the University Ethics Committee. Information should only be collected for the purpose of this research application – any subsequent use of information must be clearly outlined in your application and will require further approval from us.

Privacy Procedures - provide details of privacy procedures including information management practices.

Schools or groupsto be requested to participate. Include examples of copies of letters to Principals.

Suburb / School Name

Timeline– indicate when in the year(s) the research activity will occur. Also provide anestimateof the amount of time required at the school and of any individual participants.

Research Reporting

Indicate the dateby which you would expect to be able to provide a copy of research findings to the Catholic Education Office Parramatta and to participating schools.

Application Notes:

Reporting

It is a condition of approval that, upon completion of a project, the researcher will provide the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta and each school which participates in the project with a Research Findings Summary along with permission for the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta to disseminate information from the Research Findings Summary to its personnel. Please refer to Form C “Agreement to provide research findings to the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta”. Where relevant to the research, it is expected that the Research Findings Summary will compare and contrast the results within the school with those for the total cohort in the study.

Working with Children Check

Where the research methodology requires either the Researcher or any Assistant Researchers to have direct contact with students, Child Protection law requires the completion of the Working with Children Check. In the case of employees of the Diocese of Parramatta, this is done as part of the employment process. For all other researchers, this Check is the responsibility of the University or other institution. The person responsible within the university signs off on the researchers with Form RP1 identifying the researchers, and apply online at:

to obtain a Working with Children screening number which is advised to us prior to obtaining a letter of approval from us.

Approval process

Any submissions to conduct research in schools in the Diocese of Parramatta require approval from the Catholic Education Office. Advice regarding research projects and studies will be sought from relevant officers of the Catholic Education Office who will make recommendations to the Manager of Programs (Special Purpose).

Research relating directly to the System Strategic Direction will be rated much more highly than those applications that do not. The Plan is available at:

In particular, researchers should note:

• Research not directly related to education
• The Catholic Education Office will give approval for non-educational research projects in schools only where there is a demonstration of significant public benefit outweighing the inconvenience to school communities.
• Commercial Gain
• It is not the intention of the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta to provide approval for research that is undertaken primarily for commercial or material gain.

Copyright

Staff employed in Catholic schools and in the Catholic Education Office who wish to conduct research need to be aware that where a publication is made by an employee in the course of employment and as part of the employee’s usual duties, the first owner of copyright will usually be the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta as the employer.

Checklist before submission of application

Document / Required for: / Preferred submission method:
Application Form, p. 2-4 / All research / Email
Form A / All research / Post, with original signature
Form B / Any research involving others besides the Researcher / Post, with original signature
Form C / All research / Post, with original signature
Form D / Research undertaken to satisfy the requirements of a degree / Post, with original signature
Form RP1 – Child Protection Compliance – Identification of Researchers / Whenever the Researcher or any Research Assistants will have direct contact with students / Post, with original signature
Working with Children Check Screening number / Whenever the Researcher or any Research Assistants will have direct contact with students / Post, with original signature
Ethics Committee Approval / All research requiring ethics approval / Email
Draft letter to school principals / All research / Email
Draft letter to parents / All research involving students / Email
Data Collection Instruments / Supporting your application / Email

Sending Documentation

Documents should be emailed to:

.

Documents can be posted to:

Mr Patrick Barrett

Manager of Programs (Special Purpose)

Catholic Education Office

Locked Bag 4

North Parramatta NSW 1750.

Confidential Declaration by Researcher

Where a research project involves any contact with a school in the Diocese of Parramatta

I, ______, having submitted an application for a Research Project entitled ______

______

declare that:

a)The information provided in the application is complete and accurate;

b)I am aware of, and will comply with, the special responsibilities associated with undertaking research with children and young people, specifically, my responsibilities and obligations under the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012

c)I declare that there are no other circumstances or reasons that might preclude my undertaking research with children and young people.

d)In relation to assistants conducting research with children and young people with me and /or on my behalf, I will ensure that they will be made aware of the special responsibilities associated with undertaking research with children and young people, specifically, their responsibilities and obligations under the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012 (See Form B for assistant researchers)

Signature of ResearcherDate

Confidential Declaration by Assistant Researchers

Where a research project involves any contact with a school in the Diocese of Parramatta

a)I am aware of and will comply with the special responsibilities associated with undertaking research with children and young people, specifically, my responsibilities and obligations under the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012

b)I declare that there are no other circumstances or reasons that might preclude my undertaking research with children and young people.

Signature of Assistant ResearcherDate

Agreement

To provide research findings to Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta

As Researcher, I ______

• agree to provide Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta with a copy of the research findings of the proposed study upon completion;

• agree to provide participating schools with a summary of the research findings.

• agree that the Catholic Education Office may publish a summary of these research findings within its systemic publications

Signature of ResearcherDate

Supervisor’s Report

Name of Researcher
Title of research proposal
Name of Supervisor
Supervisor’s position Institution
Supervisor’s address
Telephone Fax
Email address
Relationship to researcher
Please comment on the following aspects of the proposal, in relation to the submitted applications
Significance, purpose and value of the research
Appropriateness of the research design
Methodological adequacy and viability
Ethical considerations
To what extent do you consider the Researcher to be capable of undertaking the research described in the attached proposal?
Is this proposal exempt from ethical approval?Yes / No
If exempt, for what reasons?

Signature of Supervisor Date

Child Protection Compliance: identification of researchers

The requirements of current NSW Child Protection legislation, specifically the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, must be met where they apply to researchers.

The Catholic Education Office in the Diocese of Parramatta meets such requirements for its own employees. The researchers’ own university or other institution must ensure compliance for researchers and others who are proposed to have direct, unsupervised contact with students, apart from employees of the Catholic Education Office in the Diocese of Parramatta.

Research Applicants/Volunteers who propose to have direct contact with students are required to apply for a Working with Children Check screening number. This can be done by visiting

The person completing and signing this form must be the same person as completes and signs the Working with Children Check screening.

Names of persons to be engaged in child-related research:

……………………… ……………………… ……………………… ………………………

……………………… ……………………… ……………………… ………………………

Name of person filling out form (print) ...... Signature......

Witness (print) ...... Signature......

Date ......

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta: Application to Conduct Research Page 1