Volunteers needed for F-111 survey

By Andrew Stackpool

WARRANT Officer Peter Hind has been requested to find volunteers for a special F-111 deseal/reseal university survey.

Warrant Officer Hind, CAF’s personal advocate for serving and former F-111 deseal/reseal members, is after 200 partners of current and retired Air Force members to act as a control group for a psychological/socio-economic survey of 120 partners of personnel affected by the deseal/reseal chemicals.

“Murdoch University is asking for volunteers from across the whole spectrum,” he said. “We are looking at partners of all ranks and ages of both serving and ex-serving members.

“But their partners must not have been involved in the deseal/reseal activities of the F-111 aircraft.”

The Western Australian university survey is to be conducted under the guidance of forensic psychologist Leonie Coxon.

The president of the F-111 Deseal/Reseal Support Group, Kathleen Henry, said six representatives of the group had met with Ms Coxon and conducted seven different surveys with her.

“From these we came up with a survey tailored specifically to the partners of the members,” she said.

“While we are now requesting all our Group 1 members [partners of those directly involved in deseal/reseal activities] to participate, we still require a 200-member control group, comprising spouses of serving members who have not taken part in F-111 deseal/reseal processes. We would be most grateful if these people can give their time to help us.”

Partners wanting to volunteer are asked to contact the advocate’s office on 1800 558 022 and speak to Corporal David Janik or Warrant Officer Hind, or email david.janik@defence.gov.au.

The university will then send out a questionnaire, which is to be completed and returned by the end of July. The survey is strictly voluntary and confidential, and will be handled as an anonymous study.

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