There are potential risks to you from taking part in this research project.
Chance of distress
The questions in the interviews cover sensitive topics and this may cause you and/or the participant distress. If this happens, you can take a break or leave the interview at any time.
Access a list of free services that provide counselling or psychological help. We will give you a copy of this list during the interviews.
Pressure to participate
It is unlikely, but you may feel pressured to participate in the project. Whether you participate is entirely your decision. If you choose not to participate there will be no detriment to your career or future healthcare. You may leave the interview at any time.
Breach of confidentiality
If you are attending the interview as a trusted person, there is a chance that the participant could share information from the interview with others outside of this project. All attendees are requested to:
- demonstrate respectful behaviour in the interview
- respect the privacy of the other people in the interview
- commit to the confidentiality of the interview.
Identification and re-identification
If you attend an in-person interview, others on your base including peers or leaders, may see you attending.
Please do not share identifying information during the interview. While interviews are confidential, the AHRC cannot guarantee that you cannot be re-identified from the information you share.
You should only share information that you are permitted to disclose. For example, do not disclose legal advice, communications with lawyers, litigation strategy, draft evidence, confidential settlements or settlement discussions, information covered by a confidentiality clause or non-disclosure agreement, or any information subject to a court order or other legal restriction. If you are unsure whether you can disclose information, you should seek independent legal advice.
What if I am, or want to be, part of the Class Action?
In October 2025, a class action was filed in the Federal Court of Australia against the Commonwealth of Australia on behalf of current and ex-serving ADF members who are women. They are seeking compensation for those who may have experienced gender-based sexual assault, harassment and/or discrimination whilst serving in the ADF at any point between 13 November 2003 and 25 May 2025.
Being part of, or wanting to be a part of, the Class Action does not prevent you from taking part in this project. Similarly, you can take part in the Class Action even if you have already contributed to this project.
The project is not related to the Class Action and was not influenced by the Class Action. We will not ask you about the Class Action. We ask that you don’t share information about the Class Action during the survey, in interviews, or in your written submission. Further information, can be found on the ComCover website.
AHRC may have an obligation to disclose your personal information to a third party under certain circumstances
The AHRC will comply with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to keep your personal information private. There are some circumstances where the AHRC project team must disclose personal information you share with us to a third party. These circumstances are outlined below.
- In all states and territories, if the AHRC project team reasonably believes we need to disclose information you have shared with us to a third party to lessen or prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety of any individual or public safety, we may do so. The AHRC project team must take all reasonable steps to seek your consent before disclosing your information to a third party.
- If you share information about harm that has happened or is likely to happen to you or another person because of domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory and the police have not been notified yet, we must report what you have told us to the police. The AHRC project team will take all steps to inform you of our obligation before contacting the police. We will be guided by you, as much as possible, about how and when the police should be told.
The AHRC has obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and documents provided to or created by the AHRC may have to be disclosed by the AHRC in response to a Freedom of Information request, noting there may be relevant exemptions to disclosure.
AHRC will not share your information with Defence. However, other attendees, such as the participant, may be required to report to Defence if you mention something that meets the definition of a “notifiable incident” under Defence Instruction (AG4) Incident Reporting and Management (2026), or if a current serving member is at risk of suicide. These reporting obligations are set out in the Instruction and the Defence Complaints and Alternative Resolution Manual (Chapter 9, Part 2).
Participants are advised of the above reporting obligations and participants should avoid disclosing any information that may cause harm to themselves or others.
