Monash University Study

Wednesday 4th June, 2008

Monash University and the AFPA launch gastro-illness research study

The AFPA has begun work with Monash University to study whether certain work within the AFP may lead to a propensity to suffer certain illnesses. Last week Mr Jim Torr AFPA CEO and Professor Peter Gibson of Monash University signed off on a Memorandum of Understanding between the organisations to conduct the study. Mr Torr stated ‘It is hoped that the study will ultimately result in an understanding of whether certain work, if any, within the AFP may have a propensity to cause gastrointestinal problems for our members.

The study will focus primarily on whether there is a propensity for AFP employees to suffer from gastrointestinal issues as a result of their service with the AFP. The study will cover all AFPA members irrespective of whether they have been on International Deployment Group (IDG) service or have only worked domestically.

Monash University and the AFPA are currently working on the draft of the survey that will be sent to all AFPA members. Whilst it is early days in the drafting, there is still the need for ethics committee approval within Monash University, subsequent to which the survey will be released.

It is hoped that all AFPA members will contribute to the survey. ‘All Members’ refers to members that have or have not been on IDG, and also members that have had no health issues ether now or in the past.

Mr Torr went onto state ‘The study is conducted with the base assumption that all our members are safe to work within any area of the AFP. If the study proves otherwise then obviously we will need to alert our members and the AFP to any risk associated with a particular area of work’.

It is envisaged that the survey will be out in the next few months. If members have any queries relating to the survey that need to be addressed prior to the survey release then please do not hesitate to contact Mr Ian Phillips at the AFPA National Office or email on .

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