Former Resident Research Study

Group Counselling Session

Being a part of our Residential Rehabilitation program can be a life-changing experience. Odyssey House NSW is teaming up with researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), to discover how it’s program improves the outcomes of it’s former residents. Recruitment for the Evaluation Project is currently underway within the Residential Rehabilitation program. Once residents leave Odyssey House NSW the UTS researchers will track the outcomes of the individuals for 12 months.

The Evaluation project will help Odyssey House NSW improve it’s Residential Rehabilitation program for future residents and many more people in similar treatment programs around Australia and worldwide. We greatly thank you for your support!

The Evaluation project will assess the mental, psychological and physical well-being of former residents over a 12 month period. Interviews will be conducted via phone or through online surveys. These results will be compared to the individual’s outcomes when they first entered the Odyssey House NSW program.

  • Follow-up 1: Exit from the Rehabilitation program
  • Follow-up 2: 3 months after program exit
  • Follow-up 3: 6 months after program exit
  • Follow-up 4: 12 months after program exit

Only former residents who were recruited during their stay with Odyssey House NSW can participate. If you were recruited and haven’t heard from the UTS researchers since leaving the program, this means we couldn’t get in touch with you! If you are interested in participating please contact the UTS researchers using the details at the bottom of this page.

Gift Card Reimbursement

You can choose to be reimbursed with Woolworths eGift cards for your time, effort and willingness to participate in the Evaluation project. The eGift card values increase by $5 for each follow-up you complete (maximum of $50). Please contact Rose Miller for more information or to check your current eGift card balance.

How Will My Privacy Be Protected?

Once you leave Odyssey House NSW, only the UTS researchers will have access to the information you provide during the follow-up interviews. None of your personal information will be used in any reports, presentations or publications in which the results of the study are reported. Once data collection for the project is complete your name, contact details and paperwork will be deleted or destroyed. Information regarding any potential illegal activities will not be disclosed unless there is a legal requirement to do so.

I Need Help!

If at any point you feel distressed by your participation in the Evaluation project, please know that you can withdraw at any time. You can also anonymously access one of the following counselling services if needed: Lifeline (13 11 14), Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Relationships Australia (1300 364 277), and SANE Australia (1800 18 7263). If your life is in any immediate danger, you may contact the Australian emergency service on 000 or visit a hospital emergency department.

UTS Participant Information Sheet

You can join a confidential Facebook group for the Evaluation Project. This Facebook group will be used for you to keep in touch with us, and as a way for UTS researchers to keep in contact with you.

Our residential rehabilitation program employs a therapeutic community model of treatment. This is an approach that makes the community the primary influencer for promoting positive personal growth. Residents actively participate to help not only themselves, but also to provide support for their fellow residents. You can access this document to find out more information.

If you would like to express your interest in participating in our study, or have any questions, please contact Rose Miller, University of Technology on Rosemaree.Miller@uts.edu.au