Research Request
Research Summary:
This study intends to explore the experience of interacting with WINZ from the perspective of Social and Community Workers. The study aims to investigate what is currently working well, what barriers (if any) there are to people receiving assistance, and how the experience of WINZ has changed over time. The study will also explore, how strategy and insider knowledge are used to navigate WINZ systems; whether WINZ is perceived as fair and ethical in their dealings with service users; and what could be done to improve the experience for both service users and advocates.
Participation Criteria:
Participants must engage in welfare advocacy as part of their role.
Invitation to Participate:
Kia Ora, my name is Rachel, and I am a Master of Applied Social Work student at Massey University.
I am undertaking a research project exploring the experience of interacting with WINZ, from the perspective of Social and Community Workers. With this research I hope to gain initial insight into:
• If experiences people have of WINZ are shared by others.
• What is working well.
• What are the problems or possible improvements worthy of further research.
The research will involve semi-structured interviews with Social and Community Workers. The data collected from these interviews will only be used for completion of this research project and any subsequent publications.
As the primary researcher I will conduct the interviews and report on the findings. Throughout the research project I will be under the supervision of Dr Nicky Stanley-Clarke, a senior lecturer in the School of Social Work at Massey University, in Palmerston North.
If you agree to be interviewed as part of this research, it will involve participating in one interview of approximately 60 minutes (at a time that is convenient to you), and revision of the interview transcript at a later date, which will take approximately 20 minutes. The interviews will be undertaken either in-person if you are based in New Plymouth, or online using Zoom.
With your permission the interview will be recorded using an audio recorder or Zoom. The audio file will be saved onto a password protected hard drive, and transcribed either manually or using Otter.ai transcription software (https://otter.ai/). All information will be treated confidentially, pseudonyms will be provided, and all information anonymised. You will receive a Countdown voucher to thank you for your participation.
You are under no obligation to participate in this process. However, if you decide to participate, you have the right to:
• Provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used;
• Decline to answer any particular question;
• Ask any questions about the study at any time during participation;
• Ask for the recording to be turned off at any time during the interview;
• Withdraw from the study at any time prior to completion of the project - this can be done via e-mail (Rachel.McDonnell.3@uni.massey.ac.nz);
• Be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded.
This research has been evaluated as low risk and has the appropriate ethical approval from Massey University (MUHEC no. 4000027518). Feel free to contact myself (Rachel.McDonnell.3@uni.massey.ac.nz), or Nicky about any aspect of the research.
Nicky can be contacted through the School of Social Work at Massey University in Palmerston North on phone: (06) 356 9099 extn 83515 or by email at: n.stanley-clarke@massey.ac.nz.
Thank you for your assistance.
Rachel McDonnell
Date published: 16 August 2023
Date closes: 16 November 2023
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