1. Introduction

 
20% of survey complete.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria has formed a partnership with Flinders University and Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS) to explore Epilepsy Management protocols in the disability sector. Did you know that people with a disability are more likely to have epilepsy – in fact, about 1 in 4 people with an intellectual disability live with epilepsy?

We want to better understand how staff in the disability sector understand and support people living with epilepsy. This information will be used to develop best-practice epilepsy management resources to ensure people and families living with disability can communicate their needs across different settings and serice providers – your input is important!

If you currently work with people with a disability in Australia, please complete this short survey. No more than 15 minutes will be required. Questions will relate to your knowledge of epilepsy, and your workplace's approach to supporting people with epilepsy.

All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and no participant will be individually identifiable in the resulting report or other publications. This survey can be completed and returned anonymously. You are, of course, free to decline to answer particular questions. Please be assured that this will not result in any discrimination, reduction in the level of support, or any other penalty.

How do I complete this survey?

You can read through the questions before you enter any data if you wish. Please try to answer all questions. If you are not sure of an answer, just tell us what you can remember.

The survey closes 30th September 2013.

If any of the questions cause you to feel concerned, upset or needing further suppport, please contact the free Epilepsy Australia helpline (Tel.1300 852 853) if epilepsy related. Lifeline provides a 24 hour crisis service (Tel 13 1114). For more information about this study please contact Juliette Parker, Projects Assistant at the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria on jparker@epilepsy.asn.au or (03) 8809 0672. For information about the services of Epilepsy Australia in all states please visit (http://www.epilepsyaustralia.net/).

Thank you so much for participating in this survey. The final research report will be available to view on the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria webpage in early 2013.

This research project has been approved by the Flinders University Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee (Project number 5965). For more information regarding ethical approval of the project the Executive Officer of the Committee can be contacted by telephone on (08)8201 3116, by fax on (08)8201 2035 or by email human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au

This survey is independently managed by the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria and funded by a NDIS Practical Design Fund grant from the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

The opinions, comments and/or analysis expressed in this survey are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Minister for Disability Reform and cannot be taken in any way as expressions of government policy.

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