To whom it may concern,

Re: Request for assistance with research into retired firefighters

My name is Nicholas Gahan and I am seeking your assistance to recruit participants into a study about retired firefighters (see attached Participant Information Sheet).

I am a current Doctor of Social Work student at Charles Sturt University. I am also a Senior Firefighter with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services based in Brisbane Region. I have been an operational urban firefighter for thirteen years and have been a rural volunteer firefighter for fourteen years.

I am currently undertaking research which aims to examine the experiences of firefighters either living in or transitioning into retirement.  The outcomes of this research maybe used to aid fire agencies (both urban and rural), to better manage their staff as they transition into retirement and provide avenues for retired firefighters to remain engaged with their respective services post-retirement.

I have contacted your organisation because you engage with former or current firefighters who may be interested in participating in this research. There is no minimum service requirement as a firefighter to participate.  With current COVID-19 restrictions in place, participation will simply be a single telephone interview which will take place at a day and time convenient to you.  The telephone interview will take approximately thirty-minutes.  Information regarding your name, age and respective fire agency will not be recorded and all your statements in the interview will be anonymous.   

This research has received ethical approval from the Charles Sturt University Ethics Committee (ethics approval reference number - H21088).

Please reply to this email or contact me on the telephone number below to let me know if you are willing to support/participate in this study.  Please also feel free to pass this information onto anyone in your networks who you feel may wish to participate. If you have any questions or wish to discuss the project further, please contact me by phone or email as below. Thanks for considering this request.  

Yours Sincerely,
Nicholas Gahan
0407221694  
ngahan@csu.edu.au