• Ipswich & Greater Springfield Women's Wellbeing Survey. 

  • Thank you for taking the time to take part in this important community survey. Many services for women are developed and applied across communities based on broad assumptions about what women need rather than direct input from the women who use them.

    The reality is many women manage ongoing everyday pressure and these experiences are rarely captured at all. This survey was established to address this. Rather than assumptions we are asking women in the community to tell us what their lives look like, what is and is not working for them.

    This survey has been developed to build a clear, honest picture of what life is currently like for women across Ipswich including mental health, physical and reproductive health, safety, money and the cost of living, housing, work and caring responsibilities, and access to support and services.

    Ipswich and Greater Springfield are among the fastest-growing areas in Australia and whilst state and national research can tell us about women's health and wellbeing broadly, it cannot tell us what is specific to this fast-growing community:

    • what is different here
    • what is missing here
    • what women here are actually asking for.

    Your responses are anonymous and confidential.

    No identifying information is collected, and you are welcome to skip any question or stop at any time.

    The findings will contribute to the annual Ipswich and Greater Springfield Women's Wellbeing Report, providing locally generated evidence to guide community planning, advocacy, service development and future programs across the region.

    There are no right or wrong answers; we are interested in your own experiences and perspectives.

    The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

    Thank you for helping build a stronger, more accurate picture of women's lives in our community.

  • Participant Information

  • Before You Continue

    Please read the following information about this survey before taking part.

     

    Who is conducting this survey?

    This survey is being conducted by Her Alliance in partnership with The Packed with Care Foundation as part of the Ipswich and Greater Springfield Women's Wellbeing Research Project.

    What does taking part involve?

    Participation involves completing an online survey about your experiences and circumstances.

    It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

    Do I have to take part?

    No.

    Taking part is completely voluntary, you may stop at any time before submitting your responses.

    Will my responses be confidential?

    Yes.

    Your responses are anonymous and will be treated confidentially. We will not ask for any identifying information, and all responses will be analysed together with those of other participants. Individual responses will never be identified in any published reports.

    How will my information be used?

    The information collected will be used for research, community planning, reporting and advocacy relating to women's lives and wellbeing within Ipswich, Greater Springfield and surrounding communities.

    Findings will be presented as grouped data only.

    Are there any risks?

    Some questions ask about sensitive topics, including mental health, safety, and financial or housing stress. If a question makes you feel uncomfortable, you may skip it or choose not to continue with the survey before submitting your responses.

    If you require immediate support, please contact your healthcare provider or an appropriate support service. Support information is also provided at the end of this survey.

    Questions about the survey

    If you have any questions, or would like further information, please contact:
    Email: letstalk@heralliance.com.au

  • Consent to Participate

    Thank you for taking the time to consider participating in this research.
  • Before continuing please confirm that you have read the Participant Information and understand what participation involves. (Please read and tick all three boxes below to indicate your consent; you must select all three to continue.)*

  • Eligibility

    The following questions help us confirm whether you are eligible to take part in this survey.
  • Do you identify as a woman?*
  • Are you 18 Years of age or older?*
  • Do you currently live in a suburb in the city of Ipswich*

  • Section 1: Overall Wellbeing

    This first section asks about your overall sense of wellbeing and outlook.
  • Overall at the present time:
    Rows

  • Section 2: Mental Health

    The following questions ask about your mental and emotional wellbeing, some questions cover sensitive topics. Please answer based on your own experiences. If you do not wish to answer a question, you may leave it blank and continue.
  • These question ask how you have been feeling over the past 4 weeks. Please choose how often you felt that way.
    Rows
  • In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following? Select all that apply.
  • Has a health professional ever formally diagnosed you with any of the following? Select all that apply.
  • At what age were you diagnosed with ADHD and/or in the process of being assessed?
  • How much has an ADHD diagnosis or the process of seeking one changed the way you understand your past life experiences?
  • Which THREE factors have had the greatest impact on your mental wellbeing in the past 12 months?
  • In the past 12 months, have you wanted professional support for your mental or emotional wellbeing?
  • Were you able to access the support you needed?
  • What prevented you from accessing support? Select all that apply.
  • If you were looking for a service/support specific for women's needs:
    Rows

  • Section 3: Physical & Women's Health

    The following questions ask about your physical health, including any ongoing health conditions and your experiences accessing healthcare.
  • These question ask how you have been feeling over the past 4 weeks.
    Rows
  • Have you ever felt that a health professional dismissed, minimised, or did not take seriously symptoms or concerns you raised?
  • Do you currently live with any of the following? Select all that apply.
  • To what extent do these conditions affect your ability to carry out your usual daily activities?
  • In the past 12 months, have you delayed or avoided seeing a health professional when you felt you needed to?
  • What stopped you from seeking care? Select all that apply.

  • Section 4: Safety & Security

    The following questions ask about your perceptions of safety in your everyday environments.
  • Overall how safe do you feel
    Rows
  • Thinking about your usual workplace, place of study or volunteering (if applicable), how safe and respected do you generally feel?
  • If you or someone close to you needed support relating to personal safety or domestic and family violence, how confident are you that you would know where to access appropriate help?
  • Which of the following, if any, have influenced how safe you feel in your local community? Select all that apply.

  • Section 5: Money & Cost of Living

    The following questions ask about the current financial situation and the impact of the cost of living. 
  • In the past 12 months, to what extent has the cost of living affected your overall wellbeing?
  • Do you have a bank account in your own name that you can access without needing anyone else's permission?
  • How confident do you feel in your ability to meet your regular financial commitments over the next 12 months?
  • How confident do you feel in your ability to manage your finances entirely on your own (bills, savings, superannuation) if your circumstances changed (e.g. separation, widowhood)?
  • In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following because of financial pressure? Select all that apply.

  • Section 6: Housing

    The following questions ask about your current housing situation and any housing-related concerns.
  • Which best describes your current housing situation?
  • Overall, how secure do you feel in your current housing?
  • How would you rate the affordability of housing in your local area?
  • In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following? Select all that apply.

  • Section 7: Work & Caring Load

    The following questions ask about your current work and caring responsibilities. Please answer based on your current circumstances.
  • Which best describes your current employment situation?
  • How secure do you feel in your current job?
  • Are you currently providing regular unpaid care for another person (e.g. children, a partner, a parent, a family member, or someone with illness, disability or ageing needs)?
  • On average, how many hours per week do you spend on unpaid caring responsibilities?
  • To what extent does your caring role affect your ability to work, study or care for your own wellbeing?
  • In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following at work or while studying? Select all that apply.

  • Section 8: Connection & Everyday Life

    The following questions ask about your relationships, sense of belonging, and the mental load of everyday life.
  • Over the past four weeks, how often have you felt lonely?
  • Overall, how strongly do you feel you belong within your local community?
  • Who do you currently turn to when you need support or advice? Select all that apply.
  • In a typical week, is there someone who checks in on you just to see how you're doing?
  • Over the past four weeks, how often have your own needs been placed after the needs of other people?
  • Which of the following do you currently manage largely on your own, even when other people are involved? Select all that apply.

  • Section 9: Navigating Life & Change

    Throughout life women experience change in relationships, work, health, identity and family life. The following questions ask about your confidence navigating change and finding your footing through it.
  • Over the past 12 months, how often have you felt unsure of what's 'normal' or where to turn for guidance during a change in your life?
  • To what extent do you feel you have a clear sense of identity and feel confident at this stage of your life?
  • If you needed to make sense of a big change or challenge, how confident are you that you would know where to start?
  • Have you experienced a significant life transition in the past two years (e.g. relationship change, parenthood, career change, health diagnosis, bereavement, menopause, retirement)?
  • Which of the following life transitions have you experienced during the past two years? Select all that apply.
  • Thinking about that transition, how easy was it to find clear guidance on what to do next?

  • Section 10: Access to Information & Service

    The following questions ask about your experiences finding information and accessing services within your local community.
  • How aware are you of the services and programs available for women within your local community?
  • How confident are you in finding reliable information when you need it?
  • Where would you most likely look first for information about women's health, wellbeing or community services? Select up to three.
  • Overall, how easy do you believe it is to access the services or information you need?
  • Which of the following currently present the greatest barriers to improving your wellbeing? Select up to three.

  • Section 11: Community Priorities, Gaps & Voice

    These final questions ask about your priorities for the future, and what would genuinely help. 
  • Do you believe there are important needs affecting women in your community that are currently not being addressed?

  • Section 12: About You

    The following questions help us understand how experiences may differ across different groups of women in our community. Your responses remain confidential, no identifying data collected and answer will only be reported in summary form.
  • What is your age?
  • How long have you lived in Ipswich, Greater Springfield or surrounding area?
  • Which best describes your current relationship status?
  • Which best describes your current household?
  • Do you currently have children? (aged under 18 years old)
  • How many children currently live with you?
  • Should be Empty: