University of Queensland researchers are calling upon Ipswich locals to share their life stories.
Coordinated through the Healthy Communities Research Centre, The Ipswich Study is a long-term health research program that will unravel the complexities between neighbourhoods, residents and health by collecting information from volunteer families at regular intervals over 10 years and potentially beyond.
The research team needs 10,000 households to volunteer information about how they live and how they contribute to the places where they live, work and go to school.
“We’ll ask the same people to volunteer to do that over the long term, every few years,” Centre Director Professor Robert Bush said.
“There are just a few cities in the world where people volunteer like this but the benefits are enormous and being part of a long term research study can be surprisingly good fun. Few people ever get the chance to shape their city’s story, but the residents of Ipswich will have this chance.”
For the first time, health research will provide a practical understanding of how people, places and their health are adapting to the economic, social, environmental and technological changes of this century.
The Ipswich Study will officially launch its fundraising campaign on April 22, 2010 at the Ipswich Art Gallery.
Professor Bush said Ipswich’s strong community spirit made it the perfect location to conduct this type of research.
“It’s been two years in the making but in 2010, The Ipswich Study will commence and we need vital support and funding to make this happen,” he said.
“The Ipswich Study will look at a city that is undergoing rapid change and enormous growth, with the population expected to double over the next 20 years. It provides us with a unique place at a unique time to see how old and new parts of the city change and develop to support our health.”
Former UQ Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards, born and educated in Ipswich, has been appointed the first ‘Friend of The Ipswich Study’ and knows only too well how research can play an integral part in providing evidence and solutions that will benefit communities.
Sir Llew and Professor Robert Bush will speak at a dinner hosted by the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, April 13 2010, an exclusive preview to The Ipswich Study concept.
The Healthy Communities Research Centre is based at the UQ Ipswich campus.
Media: Professor Robert Bush, Healthy Communities Research Centre (3381 1083 or r.bush@uq.edu.au) or Stacey Menear, Healthy Communities Research Centre (0411 245 998 or s.menear@uq.edu.au)
