Needs Assessment: Young Adults

in Queensland
Student Name
David Mueller
s2942319
Bachelor of Environmental Health

Course Name & Convenor

2218MED Needs Assessment, Program Planning and Evaluation
Bernadette Sebar

Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment Public Health
Due: 11/10/20145
Weight: 40%

Word limit
3000

Word Count
3238

Submitted
Draft: 27/09/2015

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Executive Summary
Community Profile
Previous research has shown that young adults aged 15-24 years have specific health and social needs.
These age group is especially endangered of alcohol and drug abuse, fatal traffic accidents and a high rate
of unemployment. This needs assessment was conducted to help determine priorities for future health
program developments.

Methodology
For this assessment, secondary qualitative and quantitative data was collected from government
reports and academic literature. Primary data was collected from 3 individuals through a Healthy
Lifestyle Needs Assessment Survey and one in-depth interview. The Data was collected for
normative, perceived, expressed, and relative needs. Comparisons and associations were made
using thematic analysis to categorise this data.

Needs Assessment Results

Normative needs identified that this age group is at risk of a high unemployment rate, alcohol abuse and
traffic accidents due to dangerous driving especially for young males. This was confirmed in the perceived
needs with an insecure income situation, regular use of alcohol and illegal drugs and traffic incidents.
Expressed needs showed that the overall health in the sample population is high, but is influenced from a
lack of healthy activities, substances abuse and the lack of use of health and prevention services. Relative
needs were derived from different studies that confirmed that young males are at highest risk from all age
group to be involved in a traffic accident in combination with alcohol and that unemployment in early years
can lead to a long term unemployment and social excursion.

Recommendation
With the use of Hanlons Basic Priority Rating System (BPRS), alcohol abuse has been identified as the
highest rating health problem among young adults in Queensland. Development of a public health program
for young adults should focus addressing alcohol abuse and with it drink-driving and.

Conclusion
Analysis of the needs of young adults aged 15-24 years revealed different health and social concern. The
highest priority for a program should be addressing alcohol abuse, to lower the rate of traffic accidents and
improve social status and better employment opportunities.

DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Contents
Executive Summary

1.0 Community Profile

2.0 Methodology
2.1 Data collection, recording, management and
analysis
2.2 Ethical Considerations

5
5

3.0 Needs Assessment

3.1 Normative
3.2 Perceived
3.3 Expressed
3.4 Relative

6
6
7
8
8

4.0 Analysing Needs and Determining Priorities

4.1 Identifying health needs
4.2 Prioritise issues/problems
4.3 Identify and analyse determinants with the
highest priority

8
8
9
9

5.0 Recommendations for Program Focus

6.0 Conclusion

7.0 References

10

Appendices
Appendix A Participant Information Sheet
Appendix B Participant Consent Form
Appendix C Semi-Structured Interview
Questions
Appendix D Healthy Lifestyle Needs Assessment
Survey
Appendix E Tables and Charts

12
12
12
13

DAVID MUELLER

14
21

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

1.0 Community Profile

The target population of this needs assessment are young, age 15-29 years, living in Queensland (QLD),
Australia. In 2011 QLD had a population of 4,332,739 with a median age of 37 with nearly even contribution
of male and females (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011).Our target population has a size of 888,471
people or 20.5% of the total. Within the group there are 293,917 or 6.8% 15-19 years old and 293,845 or
6.9% 20-24 years old (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011).
Unemployment rate of the 15-19 years old are 17.4%, for the 20-24 years old 10.9%. That makes an overall
unemployment rate of in this population segment of 13.5% (Department of Education, Training and
Employment, 2014). Compared to the total population of QLD with an unemployment rate of 6.1%
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011).
In 2006 there were 29.800 young people studying full or part Time at TAFE and 78,300 people were
studying at a university part or full time (Office of Economic and Statistical Research, 2008).
The health of these group is overall relatively high. However, 55% of young people burden of disease
derived from mental health disorders, injury is the main cause of death, 33% of all cases of invasive
meningococcal disease are in this group, higher rates of Hepatitis C compared to rest of population and in
1997-2001 two thirds of all diagnosed cases of chlamydia were aged 15-24 years especially females 15-19
years. Other key issues are alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, overweight and self-harm (Health
Determinants Queensland, 2002). Other important findings are they are most common victims of crime
and 36% of all homeless fall into this group. But there is a high knowledge and awareness of sun protection
in secondary students.
Alcohol abuse is common in the sample population. 19% of young males engaged in risk/high risk drinking
at least once a week in the last 12 month, which is double the amount as the rest of the population. There
were 3000 hospital separations due to acute alcohol intoxication in 2005-06. The age group 15-19 years
had the highest hospital separation rates among all age groups with average 125 per 100,000 cases, next
age group are the 20-24 years old with an average of 81,5 cases per 100,000 (Australian Bureau of Statistics,
2008).
23% of people aged 15-24 years are using drugs, among twice as high the proportion of people 25years
and over. Most common drugs are Cannabis 18%, Ecstasy 9%, amphetamines 4% and pharmaceutical 4%.
The average age of first contact to Cannabis is 19 years, for amphetamines 21 years and for ecstasy 23
years. In 2005-06 there were 11,700 hospital separations related to drug use, with nearly 60% young
women and within this group 3 out of five because of intentional self-harm. In the same time, males 15-19
years had one of the lowest drug related hospitalisation rates of 216 per 100,000, while 20-24 one the
highest with 428 per 100,000. Women aged 15-24 had the highest drug related hospitalisation with an
average of 491 per 100,000, which reflects the high rate of self-harm among young women. Death through
drug abuse accounts for 6% of all deaths in this age group (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008).
Dangerous driving is highest among all age group in the 20-24 years old with an adjudication rate of 712
per 100,000. In 2005-06, there were 15,100 hospital separations for accidents in the age group 15-24 years,
with man twice as high as women (720 and 318 per 100,000). 36% were due to motorbike accidents, 20%
car accidents and 11% for car passengers. Transport accidents made up 31% of all death in young people
aged 15-24 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008).

DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

15% young man experienced violence over the last 12 month, which is 5 times higher than aged 25 and
older. Most man, 77% were attacked by a stranger and 82% of women by somebody they know (Australian
Bureau of Statistics, 2008).
These factors have numerous implications on the health of young people aged 15-24 years in Queensland.
They necessitate the use of a needs assessment to determine priorities, and to guide future development
of programs that address these health concerns.

2.0 Methodology
2.1 Data collection, recording, management and analysis
This needs assessment is based on collecting a combination of primary qualitative data, and secondary
quantitative and qualitative data. A thematic analysis approach was then used to determine the most
pressing needs for the population of interest.
Secondary data was collected from statistical reports from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare, and peer-reviewed academic literature, found primarily on the Griffith
University Gold Coast Library database.
Primary data was collected from four young people from the Gold Coast, Queensland. One participant was
a 19 years old man who currently works as a kitchen hand at an elderly village. The other was a 23 years
old male gardener who works in this field as a contractor for several years. The third person was a 22 years
old mother of a 1.5 years old child who is currently unemployed. The fourth person was an 18 years old
male, finished year 12 at High school and currently unemployed. This person allowed us to interview him.
The other data was collected via a modified Healthy Lifestyle Needs Assessment Survey questionary for our
sample population and additional health risk were added, based on our community profile findings. The
modified paper was than given to the participants. Because of the limited time and the fact that this
assessment is only for training purposes, a bigger group was not questioned. To ensure true and open
responses, all participants filled out the questionary alone and at their own time.
A basic assumption is that information collected by questionnaires is not 100% accurate and therefore the
answers given have to be checked in some way, but this is only suggested if the information has a high
value (Young, 1973). In our case, we only conducted one interview and with open ended questions, because
it provides insight into the thoughts, values and understanding of the person (Issel, 2014). As a preparation
to the interview, semi-structured questions were prepared to allow a framework for the interview and a
recording were made [see Appendix C].
A thematic analysis was used for the collected data and it was categorized in identified normative,
perceived-, expressed- and relative needs. The categories were based on the five areas of determinants as
outlined in the Ottawa Charter: social, environmental, cultural, individual and health service determinants
(WHO, 2014)
2.2 Ethical consideration
Considering ethics when conducting a public health needs assessment is paramount to preventing any
potential harm, and for ensuring that participants are treated in a respectful and appropriate manner (Issel,
2014; Liamputtong, 2013). Every participants was informed about what their role in the research would
entail, they provided with an information sheet to read, and a university consent form to sign prior to their
interview [see Appendix A and B]. These outlined why the needs assessment was being conducted, what
DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

they would need to do as a participant, possible benefits of the research, and contact details of Griffith
Universitys Research Ethics Manager should they have any further concerns. Additionally, the participants
were informed their identity stayed anonymously, and that they could withdraw from the study at any time
before, during or after their interview or survey questionary. This was done to ensure the participants felt
comfortable during the process of data collection. To maintain anonymity of the participants, the interview
recordings were erased after non-identifying notes had been made and no names were written on the
survey questionary.

3.0 Needs Assessment

3.1 Normative Needs
The unemployment rate (the proportion of the economically active population who are unemployed) for
15-24 year olds was around 25% in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2011 (UK Parliament Website, 2015). The
overall unemployment rate in the UK is 5.5% (Office National Statistics, 2015), which shows that the young
unemployment rate in the UK is five folds higher than the national average. The European average for this
age group was at 21.4% in 2011, which is both due to the economic downturn in 2008 (Department for
Education, 2014). 10.3% of people aged 18-24 are enrolled as full time students in the UK (Department for
Education, 2014).
Males in the UK aged 15-24 have the greatest external risk of death caused by a traffic accident around 16
in 100,000, where females are at greatest risk of intentional self-harm aged 20-24 years (Association for
Young Peoples Health, 2013).
The proportions are the same for young women and young men. A fifth of young men in the 15-24 years
age group are drinking more than the recommended limit of 21 units of alcohol a week in the UK in 2010.
The same proportion of young women are exceeding the recommended limit of 14 units (Association for
Young Peoples Health, 2013).
Around a quarter of all people aged 15-24 smoke regular in the UK in 2010 (Association for Young Peoples
Health, 2013).
In 2012, 64% of all new chlamydia diagnoses are in females aged 15-24 years and the both genders have
the highest risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is a major health issue in the UK, especially in
young women (Association for Young Peoples Health, 2013).
3.2 Perceived Needs
The first male questioned was 19 years of age with the Needs Assessment Survey was concerned about his
job, because they are cutting hours and he is the youngest in the team. He does not smoke, but drinks a
high amount of alcohol around every second day and is using illegal drugs 3 times a month. He is not
interested in a healthy lifestyle and in any kinds of programs. Also he feels affected in his life satisfaction
from alcohol abuse, work stress and financial problems. Therefor he scales himself 4 on the stress scale.
The participant is not interested in public or active transport is using his car for every journey. Also he got
caught 7 times with driving related incidence by the police.
The second male in the questionary is aged 23 and is also concerned about his job. This and the alcohol
drinking gives him a high stress level of four. He drinks daily and uses illegal drugs 8 times a month, basically
DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

every weekend. His diet is not healthy and he is overweight. But the participant would be interested in
health programs like Wii exercise and alcohol management programs. He smokes, but has not desire to
quit because it helps him to relieve stress. Main mean of transport is his car with one alcohol and one
speeding incidence. Occasionally he walks.
The third participant is a 23 years old mother who works casual. She is afraid of losing her job and is very
stressed from her lifestyle and weight. She smokes because of stress and addiction and drinks 2-3 times a
week 1-2 drinks. She uses public and active transport and is interested in many health promotion programs.
Her diet is poor and she considers herself as obese.
The interviewed 18 years old male stated that his health is good. He said that he is going to gym on a regular
base and that makes him feel good, because he looks pumped. He likes it that his friends are looking and
his muscles and the girls are hitting on him. Healthy food is not his think. More fast food and protein drinks.
Vegetables and fruit are boring and there is no energy in it. It is also very inconvenient to get some, it is
much easier to stop at Maccas and buy a burger. He smokes when he is hanging around with his friends.
They are having a few beers nearly every night and every weekend party with heavy drinking. Lots of Vodka,
Beer and Whiskey. He said it is so cool to get drunk with his mates. It is no problem in his mind, because
everybody is doing it and it is so much fun. Also smoking cannabis and taking some ecstasy are just cool
and is happening every weekend. Because it is a cool think and when everybody is taking it they all have a
great time together, it is so much better with it. In his opinion, taking this drugs is not a problem for his
health and he only takes it the weekend, therefor he cannot be addicted in his opinion. He owns a four
wheel drive and loves it to go in the bush with his car and some mates and doing crazy things. Once he got
stopped from the police because of speeding, but otherwise he was lucky so far. He is driving often drunk
or under the influence of drugs, but he said he never get caught anyway. At the moment he is unemployed
and not very concerned about the situation. Occasionally he goes working with his dad who own a
gardening business and that is enough money, because he still lives at home and his father is paying for
the car. He wants to get a job in construction. But not at the moment, because he wants to enjoy life first.
School was already bad enough. The only good thing was sports and seeing all his friends, otherwise it
sucked and he was happy when it was over after year 12. He laughed about the question if he feels
stressed, because live is cool and everything is easy he replied.
3.3 Expressed Needs
In 2011 there were 6.1% of the QLD population unemployed (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011),
compared to 13.5% (Department of Education, Training and Employment, 2014) in our target population.
Our interviewed or questioned participants reported to be either unemployed (male, 18 years) or are in
employed but feel very insecure about it.
The health of these group is overall relatively high, however key issues are alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse,
overweight and self-harm (Health Determinants Queensland, 2002).
19% of young males engaged in risk/high risk drinking at least once a week in the last 12 month (Australian
Bureau of Statistics, 2008) and a fifth of young men in the 15-24 years age group are drinking more than
the recommended limit of 21 units of alcohol a week in the UK in 2010. The same proportion of young
women are exceeding the recommended limit of 14 units (Association for Young Peoples Health, 2013).
All our participants are drinking every week more than the recommended limit. Reasons are socialising
with friends, stress relief and just for fun.
Around a quarter of all people aged 15-24 smoke regular in the UK in 2010 (Association for Young Peoples
Health, 2013). In our sample, 50% were regular smokers and 25% were social occasional smokers. That is
a very high rate and the main reasons here are stress relief. One person indicated that she wants to stop,
but it is hard to quit and she would be interesting in support to quit.

DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

23% of people aged 15-24 years in Australia are using illegal drugs (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008),
compared to 75% in our questioned people. This very high rate can be explained by the perceived stress
through an insecure workplace and resulting financial stress and an insecure future. There were question
about why taking drugs in the questionary, but the interviewed person stated it is so much more fun to do
drugs while hanging around with friends.
Dangerous driving is highest among all age group in the 20-24 years old with an adjudication rate of 712
per 100,000 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008) and males aged 15-24 have the greatest external risk of
death caused by a traffic accident around 16 in 100,000 (Association for Young Peoples Health, 2013). All
our questioned males had incidence related to driving a car, especially speeding and driving under the
influence of alcohol or drugs. These confirms the statistics that this group is at highest risk.
3.4 Relative Needs
Much emphasis on younger age groups health is in place but we need to acknowledge that young adults
need to have health habits or routines reinforced or supported as they move toward adulthood (Bortolussi,
2015). Although the data show some improvement, many concerns remain. Encouraging trends - such as
decreases in rates of homicide, suicide, and some measures of reproductive health -- appear to be leveling
off or, in some cases, reversing (e.g., birth and gonorrhea rates) (Mulye, 2009). But one of the biggest risks
is drink-driving in young males. A Finland study concluded that for young adult males drink-driving was a
part of a more general risky driving style (Keskinen, 2008). Another Swedish study found out that male
drivers and those with lower educational attainment are over-represented in all patterns of accidents
(Laflamme, 2006). This is confirmed by an Australian study that in Queensland from 9323 convictions, the
majority were male persons (77.5 percent). Half of the convictions were of persons under 25 years (Fitts,
2013). Also a significant proportion of university students are engaging in the risk-taking behavior of driving
under the influence of drugs (25%), alcohol (14%), or both (8%) (Davey, 2005).
In regards to unemployment among young adults an Irish study concluded that many young people have
short spells of unemployment during their transition from school to work; however, some often get
trapped in unemployment and risk becoming long-term unemployed (McGuinness, 2012). Furthermore
long-term unemployed youth are at high risk of social exclusion and face multiple health problems
(Kieselbach, 2003). Among those with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, the most prevalent criterion is
hazardous use, which commonly requires sufficient resources to own or access a car (Keyes, 2008). Also
problem drinking is found to have a positive effect on the probability of unemployment and negative effect
on the likelihood of being employed (Terza, 2002).

4.0 Analysing Needs and Determining Priorities

4.1 Identifying health needs
The needs assessment has identified a range of health needs for young people Queensland, Australia.
Thematic analysis has enabled correlations to be made between the normative, perceived, expressed and
relative needs. Alcohol abuse and unemployment were identified as a major concern. Unemployment and
consumption of alcohol and in combination with drink driving were major issues found in all needs
categories in the questioned cohort. Expressed needs showed a clear correlation between age, sex, alcohol
consumption, insecure working environment and drink driving.

DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

4.2 Prioritise issues/problems
It is unlikely that a health program will be able to address every one of the health needs identified.
Therefore it is beneficial to use a systematic approach for determining the most pressing health issues.
With the use of Hanlons Basic Priority Rating System (BPRS), alcohol abuse has been identified as the
highest rating health problem among young adults in Queensland.

5.0 Recommendations for Program Focus

Development of a public health program for young adults should focus addressing alcohol abuse and drinkdriving. The next phase in program planning is the development of a program hypothesis with If and Then
statements and addressees each of the notable determinants (Kettner, Moroney, & Martin, 2008) across
the five categories of the Ottawa Charter.

6.0 Conclusion
As clearly seen in the needs assessment young people 15-24 years have a number of health issues. After
analysing all four categories of needs, alcohol abuse is the first priority for future programs. This would
reduce drink-driving habits and can lead to an overall healthier lifestyle, more self-esteem and better
chances to get a secure job.

DAVID MUELLER

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

References
Association for Young Peoples Health (2013). Key data on Adolescence 2013. Retrieved from:
http://www.ayph.org.uk/publications/457_AYPH_KeyData2013_WebVersion.pdf
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4102.0 (2008) Australian Social Trends. Retrieved from:
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Chapter5002008
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011). 2011 Census QuickStats Queensland. Retrieved from:
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/3?open
document&navpos=95
Bortolussi, J. (2015). Issues related of young adults health. The Journal of adolescent health. 57(1), 127ff.
Davey, T., Obst, P. and Davey, J. (2005). Drug and Drink Driving by University Students: An Exploration of
the Influence of Attitudes. Traffic Injury Prevention. 6(1), 44-52. doi:
10.1080/15389580590903168
Department for Education (2014). NEET Quarterly Brief April to June 2014. Retrieved from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/young-people-in-full-time-education-andemployment-april-to-june-2014

Department of Education, Training and Employment (2014). The Queensland Labour Market and Training
Review. Retrieved from
http://training.qld.gov.au/resources/employers/pdf/quarterly-june14.pdf
Fitts, M., S., Palk, G.R., Lennon, A.J. and Clough, A.R. (2013). Prevalence and characteristics of drinkdriving convictions in Queensland, Australia. Road and Transport Research. 22(2), 40-51.
Health Determinants Queensland (2002). Young people summary. Retrieved from:
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/hdq/documents/22418_3_1.pdf
Issel, L. M. (2014). Health program planning and evaluation: A practical, systematic approach for
community health (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Keskinen, E. and Laapotti, S. (2008). Fatal Drink-Driving Accidents of Young Adult and Middle-Aged Males
- A Risky Driving Style or Risky Lifestyle? Traffic Injury Prevention. 9(3), 195-200. doi:
10.1080/15389580802040337
Kettner, P. M., Moroney, R. M., Martin, L. L. (2008) Designing and Managing Programs: An EffectivenessBased Approach. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
Keyes, K. and Hasin, D. S. (2008). Socio-economic status and problem alcohol use: the positive
relationship between income and the DSM-IV alcohol abuse diagnosis. Addiction. 103(7), 11201130. doi:
10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02218.x
Kieselbach, T. (2003). Long-Term Unemployment Among Young People: The Risk of Social Exclusion.
American Journal of Community Psychology. 32(1), 69-76. doi:
10.1023/A:1025694823396

DAVID MUELLER

10

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Laflamme, L., Kullgren, A., Hasselberg, M. and Vaez, M. (2006). First car-to-car crashes involving young
adult drivers: main patterns and their relation to car and driver characteristics. International
Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion. 13(3), 179-186. doi:
10.1080/17457300600579672
Liamputtong, P. (2013). Qualitative research methods. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University
Press.
Mulye, T., P., Park, M., J., Nelson, C.,D., Adams, S., Irwin, C. and Claire, D. (2009). Trends in Adolescent
and Young Adult Health in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health. 45(1), 8-24. doi:
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.013
Office for National Statistics (2015). Statistic Bulletin: UK Labour Market, September 2015. Retrieved
from:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/september-2015/statisticalbulletin.html
Queensland Government Office of Economic and Statistical Research (2008). Children and young
people in Queensland. Retrieved from:
http://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/products/reports/children-young-people-qld-c06/children-youngpeople-qld-c06.pdf
Terza, J., V. (2002). Alcohol abuse and employment: a second look. Journal of applied econometrics.
17(4), 393-404. doi:
10.1002/jae.671
UK Parliament Website (2015). Youth unemployment statistics. Retrieved from:
http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05871
World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/

DAVID MUELLER

11

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Appendix A Participant Information Sheet

Young Adult Health interview/questionary
Participant Information Sheet
Who is conducting the research?
Bernadette Sebar, School of Public Health, Griffith University, ph. 3382 1122, b.sebar@griffith.edu.au
David Mueller, School of Medicine, Griffith University, ph. 3382 1351, david.mueller@griffith.edu.au
Why is the research being conducted?
General health is a significant issue for young Australian. This research project examines young adult health to determine
what factors in the environment are contributing to negative influences.
What are the expected benefits of the research?
The anticipated project outcomes are improved knowledge of the factors which influence young adult health in Queensland,
thereby enabling more appropriately targeted initiatives to reduce physical and psychological harm.
What will you be asked to do?
You will be asked to participate in an interview/questionary of approximately one hour duration relating to healthy lifestyle
habits. You are not required to disclose any personal information and are expected to respect the privacy of other participants.
The researchers are aware that clinicians face time constraints so will endeavour to conduct data collection in a time efficient
manner at a mutually agreed time.
Participation in the research
A number of young adults, aged 15-24 years, will be asked to participate in this research project. We will endeavour to include
a cross section of sex and ages to ensure that the data reflects a wide variety of experience and interaction. It is believed that
participation in this study poses minimal risk to participants. The researchers will ensure that your participation and information
are not identifiable. Your decision to participate is voluntary. Your decision to participate or not participate will not have any
impact on you as an employee or health professional. You can withdraw at any time without comment or penalty.
Confidentiality
To ensure your confidentiality, the research team will manage the data collected throughout the research. In some cases your
data will be identified by a non-identifying code that will enable the researchers to link your data to potentially identifying
information (e.g. profession, site). However, these codes and any identifiable information will be kept in separate locked
cabinets, accessible only to the research staff. All other data collected will be de-identified and kept by the researchers in a
separate locked cabinet. Participants will not be identifiable in any publication or reporting resulting from this research. With
all participants permission, the focus group may be audio recorded for transcription purposes. This recording will be erased
following transcription and no identifying information will be kept with the transcription material.
Questions/further information and feedback on the project
For additional information about the project, contact Bernadette Sebar, School of Public Health, Griffith University, email:
b.sebar@griffith.edu.au, ph. 3382 1122. A short summary of project findings will be prepared and made available to
participants for further feedback.
The ethical conduct of this research
Griffith University conducts research in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving
Humans. If you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of the research you should contact the Manager, Research
Ethics on 3735 5585 or research-ethics@griffith.edu.au .
Privacy statement
The conduct of this research involves the collection, access and / or use of your identified personal information. The information
collected is confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except to meet government, legal or
other regulatory authority requirements. A de-identified copy of this data may be used for other research purposes. However,
your anonymity will at all times be safeguarded. For further information consult the Universitys Privacy Plan at
www.griffith.edu.au/ua/aa/vc/pp or telephone (07) 3735 5585

DAVID MUELLER

12

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Appendix B Participant Consent Form

Young Adult Health interview

Participant Consent Form

Consent to participate
I confirm that I have read the information sheet and in particular have noted that:
Participation in this project includes participating in an interview/questionary (one hour).
I believe I understand the purpose, extent and possible effects of my involvement in this research project.
I have had an opportunity to ask questions and I am satisfied with the answers I have received
I understand there will be no direct benefit to me from my participation
I understand that I am free to withdraw at any time, without comment or penalty
I understand that completing and submitting this consent form signifies my consent
I understand that I can contact the manager, Research Ethics on 3735 5585 or research-ethics@griffith.edu.au , if I have
any concerns about the ethical conduct of the project.
I voluntarily consent to participate in this research project.
Consent to participate in this research is indicated by the return of this signed consent form.

_______________________________
(Print name)

DAVID MUELLER

_______________________________
(Signature)

13

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Appendix C Semi-Structured Interview Questions

Semi Structured Interview Questions

1. How do you rate your current level of health and what do you do for your health?
2. Why do you feel that way?
3. What are your main health concerns?
4. What do you think about healthy food?
5. Do you smoke or drink?
5.1.1. When, yes: How often?
5.1.2. Is this a problem for you?
6. Are you taking any other substances?
5.1 How often are you taking them and how do you feel about it?
5.2 In all, do you think that these things are a problem for you and your health?
5.3 Would you stop with any of it?
5.4 What could encourage you to stop with any of it?
6

Do you have a car?

6.1 Did you ever had any incidence in regards to your car? Like drink driving, alcohol or so?

About your work. How is your current work situation?

7.1 Do you feel comfortable in your position and that your job is safe?

Did you enjoy your time at school?

8.1 What is your highest level of education?

Do you feel stressed in your life?

DAVID MUELLER

14

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Appendix D - Healthy Lifestyle Needs Assessment Survey

Part A: About You

Instructions: Please indicate information about yourself by ticking the relevant box or by writing in the
spaces provided
x Male

Female

2. Do you identify as any of the following?

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Non-English speaking background
Neither of the above
15-19

X 20-24

5. Work status (organisation)

Permanent / Full time
Temporary / Full time
Casual

Other (please specify)

Permanent / Part time

Temporary / Part time

contra
ctor

7. Do you feel your workplace is safe?

Yes
No Why not? Not so much work and his son is unemployed and needs money and work

8. Length of service for

Less than 1month
5-12 month
2 years +

1-5 month
1-2 years

Part B: Lifestyles

9. How many serves of fruit do you eat each day? (One serve of fruit is: one medium sized piece, two
smaller pieces, 1 cup of canned or chopped fruit, cup 100% fruit juice, 1 tablespoons of dried fruit).
1

DAVID MUELLER

15

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

10. How many serves of vegetables do you eat each day? (One serve of vegetables is: cup of cooked
vegetables, 1 medium potato, 1 cup salad vegetables, cup cooked legumes).
1
11. Are fresh fruit and vegetable options available for you to purchase at your workplace?
No
12. How often do you do 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of
the week? This level of activity means you sweat and feel youre working, but you can still carry on a
conversation. It can include jogging, brisk walking, swimming, riding a bike etc., and can comprise two
or more shorter sessions of 10-15 minutes each.
Never
13. If you do not exercise regularly, what are your reasons? Tick ALL that apply
Lack of time

No interest
Too tired

Health problems
Don't know where to start

Dont think it's important

No convenient facilities available for exercising
Other (please specify)
14. Do you smoke?
Yes [Go to Q15]
No [Go to Q17]
Sometimes [Go to Q15]
15. Do you want to stop smoking?
Yes [Go to Q17]
No [Go to Q16]

16. What are your reasons for not wanting to quit? Tick ALL that apply.

I enjoy smoking
Don't know
I'm addicted
Not interested in quitting

Too hard to quit

Not ready! It's my choice
Helps relieve stress
Other (specify)

17. How often do you now have an alcoholic drink of any kind?
Never [Go to Q19]

Once a month
1-2 days per week

less than monthly

2-3 days per week

3-4 days per week

DAVID MUELLER

16

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Everyday
18. On days that you have an alcoholic drink, how many standard drinks do you usually have? (One
standard drink = Heavy Beer 285ml (pot) = Spirit/Liqueurs 30ml = Glass of Wine 100ml.)
3-4
19. How often do you have a flu vaccination?
Never

20. How often, if at all, do you take one or more protective measures when exposed to the sun e.g.
sunscreen, hat, umbrella, protective clothing?
Occasionally
21. Which of the following health services, if any, have you used in the past 12 months?
Medical check-up

Breast screening
Oral health/Dentist

Skin cancer screening

Cervical screening

Prostate screening
Naturopathic

Nutrition and dietetics

Diabetic screening

Physiotherapy/Chiropractic

Rehabilitation and Return to Work

District services/Employee Assistance
Services
Medical

Service

Other (specify)

22. If you did not use any of the above health services in the past 12 months, why not?
No Need
Don't understand the services
No time
The services were not available
Other (please specify)
23. What is the distance from your home to your place of work?

KM

24. Please think about a typical week and how you travel to and from friends. How
many single trips do you in a typical week (e.g. if you travel between home and work 5 days a week,
the number of single trips would be 10)?
number of single trips
25. How many of these trips are by:
Private car/motorbike
Walking
Riding a bicycle
Other form of non-motorised transport
Public transport (e.g. train, bus, ferry, taxi)

DAVID MUELLER

17

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

26. Have you ever been caught speeding, driving intoxicated or hooning in regards to your car? When
yes, how often since you have a driver license

27. If yes to question 26, what were the incidences?

Drunk drive
Under illegal substances
speeding
hooding

Part C: Health and Wellbeing

28. When rating your current stress levels, how stressed do you feel? (1 = no stress at all, 3 =
somewhat stressed, 5 = extremely stressed).
4

29. Have any of the following personal factors affected your life satisfaction in the past 6 months?
Tick ALL that apply.
Alcohol or drug use by myself and/or a member of my family
Difficulty balancing home and work responsibilities
Difficulty getting to and from work
Childcare and/or elder care problems
A family member or close friend has been ill, injured or died
Arguments with my spouse, partner, children or roommate
Personal illness or injury
Divorce or separation
Birth or expected birth of a child
Physical, verbal or emotional abuse
Weight and/or health issues
Depression/anxiety/mental illness
Financial strain
Nothing
Other (please specify)

30. Are any of the following a concern for you with regards to your own health? Tick ALL that apply.
Weight control

Injury rehabilitation
DAVID MUELLER

18

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Stress management
Women's health
Diabetes (management)
Physical inactivity
Cholesterol
Skin cancer
Blood pressure
Depression
Other (please specify)

Alcohol/drug dependency
Men's health
Musculoskeletal disorder
Diabetes (prevention)
Occupational stress
Smoking
Nutrition
None

31. What is your approximate height and weight? Please remember that your responses are
anonymous.
165

cm

or

ft.

75

kg

or

stones

32. Which of the following do you believe best describes your current weight?
Underweight
Healthy weight range
Overweight
Obese
Morbidly obese
33. Do you use illegal drugs?
Yes _______8____times a month
No
34. Have you been diagnosed with any of the following? Please tick ALL that apply.
High blood pressure
Low blood pressure
High cholesterol
None of these

DAVID MUELLER

19

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Part D: Healthy Lifestyle Programs

35. Which of the following activities, if any, would you participate in as part of a Healthy Lifestyles
program?
Walking challenges
Walking groups
Wii exercise programs/challenges
Lifestyle coaching
Weight loss competitions/programs
Yoga/Zumba/Fitness classes
Team events (e.g. marathons, touch football)
Nutrition challenges
Mini expos
Presentation/awareness sessions
Smoking management clinics
Alcohol management programs
On-site testing e.g. blood pressure, body composition, healthy heart screens etc.
None
Other (please specify)
36. If applicable, how much would you be willing to pay for a Healthy Lifestyles program activity each
time?
Nothing
Less than $10
$10 -$20
$21-$30
Depends on the activity
Don't know
37. What is your preferred time to take part in any Healthy Lifestyle activity?
Before 9 am
Between 9 am and 12 pm
Between 12 pm and 2 pm
Between 2 pm and 5 pm
After 5 pm
38. If there was one thing that could be implemented in your life which would enable you to improve
your health, what would it be?

Thank you for participating in this questionnaire &

helping us help you!
DAVID MUELLER

20

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

Appendix E Tables and Charts

RISKY/HIGH RISK DRINKING(a) AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK - 2007

ADJUDICATIONS FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING RELATED OFFENCES(a) - 2006-07

(a) Principal offence.

(b) Higher, Magistrates and Childrens Courts
adjudications per 100,000 people.
(c) May include some Queensland
Magistrates Courts defendants aged less
than 15 years.
Source: ABS Criminal Courts Collection.

DAVID MUELLER

21

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

USE OF SELECTED ILLICIT DRUGS(a) 2007

Age group (years)
15-24

25 and over

Type of drug

Marijuana/cannabis
Ecstasy
Meth/amphetamines
Pharmaceuticals(b)
Cocaine
Heroin, methadone and other opioids(c)
Use of any illicit drug(d)

18
9
4
4
3
*1
23

7
2
2
4
1
11

'000
683.5

'000
1 595.9

Use of any illicit drug

(a) In the last 12 months.

(b) Use of pain-killers, tranquillisers, barbiturates and/or steroids for non-medical purposes.
(c) Refers to non-maintenance use of methadone.
(d) Also includes LSD/synthetic hallucinogens; natural hallucinogens; ketamine; GHB and any injected
drugs that were not medically prescribed. Components do not add to total as respondents may have
used more than one illicit drug.
Source: AIHW 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.

DAVID MUELLER

22

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

HOSPITALISATION DUE TO
TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS(a) - 2005-06
(a) External causes codes from Chapter XX of the
10th Revision of the International Classification of
Diseases, Australian modification (ICD-10-AM).
(b) Hospital separations per 100,000 population.
Source: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity
Database.

ADJUDICATIONS FOR ACTS INTENDED TO CAUSE INJURY(a) - 2006-07

(a) Principal offence.

(b) Higher, Magistrates and Children's Courts adjudications per
100,000 population.
(c) May include some Queensland Magistrates Courts
defendants aged less than 15 years.
Source: ABS Criminal Courts Collection.

PEOPLE AGED 15-24 YEARS: UNDERLYING CAUSES OF DEATH - 2004-2006

External causes
Transport accidents
Intentional self-harm
Accidental poisoning
Accidental drowning and submersion
Assault
Falls
Other external cause
All external causes
Drug-induced deaths(a)
Neoplasms
Other
All causes of death

All causes of death(b)

Males
%

Females
%

33.5
21.6
5.0
2.0
1.8
1.4
10.0
75.4
5.3
6.6
18.0
100.0

25.2
15.4
5.0
0.6
2.3
0.6
9.1
58.1

100.0

no.
955

no.
389

7.2
12.9
28.9

(a) Proportion excluded from total as includes codes from multiple chapters of the 10th Revision of the
International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).
(b) Three year average.
Source: ABS Causes of Death Collection.
DAVID MUELLER

23

NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOUNG ADULTS IN QUEENSLAND

DAVID MUELLER

24