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SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS

Our approach

Human services and information resources often target specific communities. They can only be effective if they are evidence-based, that is informed by sound research to identify and define that community’s specific needs.

While relevant service providers can also provide useful information and insights, it is important to give members of the community addressed sufficient opportunity to speak for themselves.

Special needs populations are often vulnerable, shy and hard to reach. Access requires high ethical standards that protect the interests of research participants and respectful engagement that builds trust and rapport.

It is important to find methods of recruitment and data collection that are appropriate for the specific community. Mainstream methods may not be suitable. It is often helpful to collaborate with members of the community researched.

It is important to acknowledge the value of information and opinions provided by research participants and, whenever possible, to give the relevant community access to the findings and opportunity to comment.

SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS

Past work

  • TARS (The Aged-care Rights Service):
    • — Review of Client Intake, Flow and Support Processes
    • — Quality Assurance Study for Retirement Villages Legal Service
    • — Rebranding consultations with staff and potential clients
  • Seniors’ Rights Service: facilitation of strategic planning day for Board members and senior staff; subsequent development of 2015-2020 Strategic Plan
  • NSW Tenants Union: Social impacts evidence concerning eviction of elderly long-term tenants in relation to the proposed Badgerys Creek airport
  • Gosford City Council/PJ Donnellan & Co:
    • — Social Impact Assessment for Land & Environment Court re redevelopment of Tingari Residential Park (LEC GCC vs Baker)
    • — Social Impact Assessment for Land & Environment Court re Erina Gardens and Karalta Court Residential Parks (LEC GCC vs Craig)
  • MedAct / Maternity Action (UK):
    • — Concept testing of Reaching Out Project: Maternity Access and Advocacy Pack
    • — Evaluation strategy and instruments for Maternity Rights at Work Project
    • — Evaluation strategy for Maternity Rights website for service providers.
  • UnitingChurch Burnside/Division of General Practice/NSW Department of Community Services (with T Issues Consultancy):
    • — Evaluation strategy for RAPT AOD Project (Reconnecting Adolescents and Parents Team) AOD Project
    • — Year 1 Review of RAPT AOD Project
    • — Final Evaluation of RAPT AOD Project.
  • Social Change Media/Mental Health Branch, Department of Human Services and Health: concept testing and evaluation of Parenting booklets and materials for radio
  • NSW Health/Department of Health, Housing and Community Services: Evaluation of Innovative Health Services for Homeless Youth Program in NSW (10 youth health services)
  • Cellblock Youth Health Centre/NSW Department of Health:
    • — Concept testing and evaluation of Health Information Project for Homeless Youth (HIP comics)
    • — Concept testing and evaluation of Youth Alcohol Project (YAP comics)
  • NSW Drug and Alcohol Directorate: Strategic Assessment of all Alcohol and Other Drug Services for Young People throughout NSW
    • — Concept testing, evaluation of Amphetamines Campaign (Speed Wise Speed Safe)
    • — Concept testing of minor tranquillisers information brochure for women
    • —Drink Drunk Campaign: Concept testing of alcohol and violence comic
  • Drug and Alcohol Directorate/Centre for Education and Information on Drugs and Alcohol:
  • Department of Community Services: Review of Services for Vulnerable Youth throughout NSW in relation to Youth Services Database Pilot Project
  • Matthew Myers: preparation of paper addressing the evidence of children and of expert witnesses in cases before the Family and Federal Magistrates Courts involving allegations of child sexual abuse
  • Family Planning Association/Juvenile Justice Department: Evaluation instruments for Thinking Through Adolescent Sexuality workshop
  • Inspire Foundation/Mental Health Branch, Department of Human Services and Health: Evaluation of Reach Out! national youth suicide prevention project
  • Western Sydney Area Health Service: Assessment of HIV/STD education needs of young people in Western Sydney
  • Social Change Media/Mental Health Branch, Department of Human Services and Health: concept testing and evaluation of Parenting booklets and materials for radio
  • UnitingChurch Burnside/Division of General Practice/NSW Department of Community Services (with T Issues Consultancy):
    • — Evaluation strategy for RAPT AOD Project (Reconnecting Adolescents and Parents Team) AOD Project
    • — Year 1 Review of RAPT AOD Project
    • — Final Evaluation of RAPT AOD Project
  • NSW Association for Adolescent Health: Best Practice in Youth Health Services (facilitated two day workshop, followed by production of best practice manual)
  • NSW Attorney General's Department: Manual of Policies and Procedures for Youth Drug Court Pilot Program
  • NSW Department of Health/Cultural Partners: Evaluation of Play Now Act Now Youth Alcohol Film Project
  • Centrelink/FaCS:
    • — Customer consultation concerning sole parent review process
    • — Evaluation of new format Age Pension News
    • — Focus testing of You and Your Family December, 1997 and March, 1998
    • — Market testing of SA316 (residential aged care fee subsidy application form and booklet)
    • — Focus testing of Commonwealth Seniors Health card claim form and brochure
  • Department of Social Security (with Juliet London):
    • — Concept testing of TeleService promotional materials
    • — Concept testing of information resources concerning changes to Age Pension eligibility age
    • — Concept testing of change of Age Pension eligibility (extended deeming) information resources
    • — Concept testing of Age Pension All you need to know booklet
    • — Concept testing of Age Pension Investing money: Your choices booklet
    • — Concept testing of Moving House: Your choices booklet
  • Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs/ Keys Young*: Strategies for Disadvantaged Job Seekers telephone survey of key informants
  • Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs/ Centrelink/Keys Young*: Post Implementation Review of Jobs Network Access

*BBPS was sub-contracted to undertake one component of a larger project.

  • NTARF (Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum): facilitation of strategic planning day
  • Araluen Cultural Precinct, Alice Springs: facilitation of strategic planning day
  • Queensland Health/University of Queensland: Data collection from Torres Strait Islander gay men/sistergirls to inform health promotion programs
  • Matthew Myers: research towards paper addressing ways to improve access to Family Dispute Resolution Services for Aboriginal people
  • Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services/ Keys Young*: Mid-term Review of National Indigenous Australians Sexual Health Strategy
  • Department of Health and Family Services/Keys Young*: Evaluation Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Action Plan
  • ATSIC/Keys Young*: Evaluation of ATSIC Service Charter and Complaints Management
  • Health Insurance Commission/ Keys Young*: Strategies for Improved Aboriginal Access to Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits telephone survey of Aboriginal Health Services

*BBPS was sub-contracted to undertake one component of a larger project.

  • Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations: Assessment of Information Needs of People with HIV from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds
  • World Health Organisation/*Australian Centre for Health Promotion: Assessment of Needs for a Tobacco Control Workshop for the Asia Pacific Region (interviews with Health Senior Executives in Asia Pacific Nations including China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Thailand, Vietnam, Micronesia, Taiwan, Fiji, Vanuatu
  • Health Insurance Commission/*Cultural Partners: project management, questionnaire design and data analysis for Overseas Drug Diversion Program Second Evaluation
  • Diabetes Australia/Quay Connection*: Facilitated round table discussions to identify priorities for a Diabetes Public Awareness Strategy
  • Australia Council/Quay Connection*: Community Cultural Development Fund National Models Project Evaluation
  • UTS School of Marketing*/ Goodman Fielder: Attitudes to Gelatine in the Asia Pacific

*BBPS was sub-contracted to undertake one component of a larger project.

  • Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations: Evaluation of Education Program 2012- 2014, including intellectual leadership and capacity development components, plus
    • — Ending HIV national campaign
    • — The Drama Downunder national campaign
    • — Time to Test national campaign
    • — Your Body Blueprint website
    • — Condoman website
    • — Our Team booklet
    • — Taking a Look booklet
    • — Us Mob and HIV booklet
    • — Our Destiny Haz Arrived print resources
  • Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations: Process and Outcome Evaluation of Gay Education Strategies Program, including:
    • — Withdrawal campaign
    • — Relationships campaign
    • — Oral Sex campaign
    • — Negotiated Safety campaign
    • — One Community campaign
    • — Getting in Focus campaign
    • — Living in the Epidemic campaign
    • — Asian Gay Proud campaign
    • — Gay Youth campaign
    • — NTAC Mensline
    • — AACACT referral cards
    • — TasCARD Bass Strait is Not a Barrier campaign
    • — conferences, workshops, manuals and other resources
  • AIDS Council of NSW / ACON:
    • — Evaluation of Trashy Queens Tribes Project
    • — Evaluation of NSW Deaf Communities HIV Project
    • — Fun and Esteem Gay Youth HIV Project Evaluation data analysis
    • — HIV Education Needs Assessment data analysis
    • — Evaluation of The Luncheon Club (health promotion for HIV+ people)
  • Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations:
    • — Assessment of Information Needs of People with HIV from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds
    • — Evaluation of Reflexive Practice Workshop
    • — Evaluation of Gay Educators' Conference
    • — Review of AFAO/NAPWA Education Steering and Education Strategies Groups
    • — PLWHIV community consultation concerning health promotion needs in relation to a proposed website addressing preventable illness
  • Queensland Association for Healthy Communities:
    • — Evaluation of HIV, HCV and STIs Program for Gay and other Men who have Sex with Men (including Two Spirits Indigenous Program), including development of conceptual diagram, stakeholder consultations, community focus groups and audit against national benchmarks
    • — Review of Best Practice in Group Work with Gay Men
  • AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch, NSW Dept Health:
    • — Impact evaluation of CEIDA HIV/AIDS Training Program for drug treatment and needle exchange workers
    • — Evaluation of Needle and Syringe Vending Machine Strategy
    • — Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Education Arabic Speaking Community Project
  • Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations/National Association of People With HIV/AIDS: Concept testing / impact evaluation of:
    • — Indigenous Sistergirl posters
    • — Indigenous gay men and sistergirl life stories project for radio
    • — Everyday Pleasures campaign
    • — Parties campaign
    • — Overseas Travel campaign
    • — Regional Travel campaign
    • — Young Gay Men campaign
    • — Standards of Care booklet for people with HIV
    • — HIV+ Gay Sex booklet
    • — Unprotected Anal Intercourse/ Clinical Markers campaign
    • — HIV Survival Guide
    • — HIV Treatments Breaks campaign
    • — Sexually Transmissible Infections poster
    • — Sex In Queer Places interactive website
    • — booklet for people newly diagnosed with HIV
    • — Having a Life resource for HIV positive people
    • — Side Effects resource for positive people
  • AIDS Council of NSW: Evaluation of Social Marketing Program 2001-2002, including
    • — Safe Summer campaigns
    • — Consider This
    • — When You're Hot, You're Hot (SOPV booklets)
    • — On Any Street (Anti-Violence Project)
    • — Relationships magazine
    • — 15% campaign
  • AIDS Council of NSW: Concept testing of
    • — Summer 2002 materials
    • — Relationships magazine
    • — Post-Exposure Prophylaxis posters
  • Central Sydney Area Health Service: STIGMA HIV/STI testing interactive website and campaign print materials
  • Wellcome Australia/C,W,F,S: HIV Early Treatments Information Campaign: concept testing and benchmark research
  • Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing and Human Services/ Sydney Sexual Health Centre: Process and Impact Evaluation of National HIV Contact Tracing Seminar
  • Gender Centre/NSW Health: Evaluation of Health Service Providers Training
  • Queensland Health/University of Queensland: Data collection from Torres Strait Islander gay men/sistergirls to inform health promotion programs
  • National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research: HIV Related Malignancy Study questionnaire design
  • ANET (Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations – National Association of People with AIDS Education Team): Membership consultation and development of 2011-2015 Five Year Strategic Plan (with Ross Duffin)
  • Queensland Health Communicable Diseases Branch HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and Sexual Health Program: Sex Workers Assessment of Needs 2008 (SWAN Report) (with Julie Bates)
  • Queensland Health Communicable Diseases Branch/Respect Inc:
    • — Facilitation of community workshops
    • — Mentoring assistance with development of first 3 year strategic plan, operational plan and agency implementation plans for Year 1
    • — Design of program logic conceptual diagram, evaluation strategies and tools
  • HIV and Related Programs (HARP) Unit of South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health Region: Gap Analysis of Services for Sex Workers At Risk (with Julie Bates and Christine Harcourt)
  • ACON Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP): Review of All Information Resources (with Julie Bates)
  • World Health Organisation Global Program on AIDS: Multi-centred Sex Industry Research Project research guidelines and Australian component of field work (with Julie Bates)
  • De Cue Pty Ltd /Comino Prassas: Social impact expert evidence for Land and Environment Court class 4 proceedings No 40301 of 2006
  • Poonsup/Storey & Gough: Social impacts of a proposed brothel in Gordon
  • ASP Plastics Fitpack Disposa-Safe: Consumer Stakeholders facilitated workshop addressing safe disposal of injecting equipment
  • NSW Users and AIDS Association:
    • — Review of User’s News (with Julie Bates/Urban Realists)
    • — Evaluation of Goulburn Koories Tribes Project
  • Drug and Alcohol Directorate/Centre for Education and Information on Drugs and Alcohol:
    • — Concept testing, evaluation of Amphetamines Campaign (Speed Wise Speed Safe)
    • — Concept testing of minor tranquillisers information brochure for women
    • — Drink Drunk Campaign: Concept testing of alcohol and violence comic
  • NSW Department of Corrective Services: Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction Education Manual (and later adaptation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody)
  • Cellblock Youth Health Centre/NSW Department of Health:
    • — Concept testing and evaluation of Health Information Project for Homeless Youth (HIP comics)
    • — Concept testing and evaluation of Youth Alcohol Project (YAP comics)
  • Health Insurance Commission/Cultural Partners: project management, questionnaire design and data analysis for Overseas Drug Diversion Program Second Evaluation
  • NSW Attorney General's Department: Manual of Policies and Procedures for Youth Drug Court Pilot Program
  • Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies: HIV Education, Counselling and Support Manual
  • World Health Organisation/*Australian Centre for Health Promotion: Assessment of Needs for a Tobacco Control Workshop for the Asia Pacific Region (interviews with Health Senior Executives in Asia Pacific Nations including China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Thailand, Vietnam, Micronesia, Taiwan, Fiji, Vanuatu
  • WestWood Spice/National Relay Service Outreach:
    • — National User Survey 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
    • — Qualitative research concerning Indigenous Australians with hearing impairment
    • — Needs assessment for promotion of the NRS to older men with hearing impairment
    • — Needs Assessment for Indigenous Users
    • — Research concerning awareness of NRS amongst professional intermediaries
    • — Needs assessment for and testing of responsive website design for mobile devices
    • — User Experience Consultation concerning NRS App
    • — TTY Users Project, including survey of Speak & Read users and focus groups with Type & Read users
  • National Relay Service Outreach/ WestWood Spice:
    • — Concept testing of information resources and advertisements targeting older men and their families
    • — Concept testing of general promotional brochure
    • — Testing of new website design
    • — Testing of viral promotional video
    • — Testing of responsive version of website for small screen mobile devices
  • National Relay Service Outreach / WestWood Spice:
    • — Newspoll/OmniPoll omnibus surveys in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 to measure and track community awareness of the National Relay Service and address additional issues
  • NSW Department of Corrective Services: Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction Education Manual (and later adaptation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody)
  • NSW Department of Corrective Services Prison AIDS Project/Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing and Community Services: Evaluation of National AIDS in Prisons Information Clearing House (NAIPIC)
  • NSW Department of Corrective Services/ University of New England, Northern Rivers*: Prison Officer HIV Training Program design
  • Department of Community Services/urbis keys young* Family Access to Prisoners

*BBPS was sub-contracted to undertake one component of a larger project.

  • NSW Association for Mental Health: Evaluation of the Mental Health Information for Regional and Remote Australia (MHIRRA) service
  • Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care/Sydney University: Facilitation of action research to define best practice in systemic conferencing with clinicians
  • NACAIDS: HIV Counselling Manual for Telephone Counsellors; HIV Counselling Manual for Campus Counsellors
  • Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies: HIV Education, Counselling and Support Manual
  • Central Coast Area Health Service: Consultant trainer in HIV prevention, HIV support, HIV legal and ethical issues over three years for diverse human services professionals
  • Diabetes Australia/Quay Connection*: Facilitated round table discussions to identify priorities for a Diabetes Public Awareness Strategy
  • World Health Organisation/*Australian Centre for Health Promotion: Assessment of Needs for a Tobacco Control Workshop for the Asia Pacific Region (interviews with Health Senior Executives in Asia Pacific Nations including China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Thailand, Vietnam, Micronesia, Taiwan, Fiji, Vanuatu
  • Cancer Council NSW: Preparation of scientific paper for submission to Standards Australia, Measurement and Reporting of Broad Spectrum Capability in Sunscreens
  • School of Public Health, Sydney University: Preparation of research brief for independent marketing research tender

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CONTACT


Phone: 0403 779 748

Email: Dr Rigmor Berg