Completing the online survey

I have lost my survey link and/or password

Please call the Ten to Men Helpdesk on 1800 019 606, or email [email protected] and we can provide you with a new login code. You may need to provide verification information for this query.

Can I use my smartphone/tablet to do the online survey?

Yes. The survey has been designed to be compatible with smartphones and tablets.

I'm having difficulty accessing the online survey – what should I do?

Please call the Ten to Men Helpdesk on 1800 019 606, or email [email protected].

I don't want to do it all in one go. Can I save it and come back and finish it later?

Yes. You can save it and finish it at a later time. Make sure you have saved before exiting though or you will have to start again.

I’m experiencing technical difficulties with my survey. Who can I speak to?

You can call the Ten to Men Helpdesk on 1800 019 606, or email your query to [email protected].

How secure is the online survey?

To ensure that your information is kept secure, we use strong encryption technology. This means that the information you send is not able to be read by anyone, except those involved in the study who are authorised to access it. Your information will be confidential and any information linking you to your responses will be removed or stored separately. You can also help ensure the security of your information by keeping your log in details in a secure place. 

Learn more about how we handle privacy and confidentiality.

Do I get paid for taking part?

We will be giving you a $20 eGift card as a thank-you for completing the survey. You can choose to spend this at a selected retailer or ask us to donate it to Beyond Blue or the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia on your behalf.

Can I receive my e-gift card by mail?

Yes. If you do not have an email address, you can choose to receive your $20 e-gift card by mail. Please note that there could be a delay in receiving your e-gift card by mail compared to email.

Can you send me a hard copy of the survey?

No. This survey is only available to be completed online. If you have questions, please call the Ten to Men Helpdesk on 1800 019 606.

About Ten to Men

What is Ten to Men?

Ten to Men is a study on male health. It is a longitudinal study, meaning that we return to participants every few years for an update (a ‘wave’), so we can understand how changing life stages and circumstances affect boys’ and men’s health and wellbeing over time. This is the first study nation-wide longitudinal study of men’s health in Australia.

Why does my participation in Ten to Men matter?

Researchers use de-identified and combined responses from the study to identify what could most help improve the health and wellbeing of Australian men and boys. The longer you and other participants continue in the study, the clearer the picture becomes about the key factors that impact on health and wellbeing. Looking at participants’ health over time, we can see how health-related experiences and behaviours in early life affect health and wellbeing in later life.

Why is the study called ‘Ten to Men’?

The study’s name refers to the age range of participants at Wave 1 (10-55 years – from ten to men). It also refers to the study following participants over time, as the 10-year-old cohort grow into men.

Who funds the study?

The study is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

How will the data be used?

Ten to Men was developed as part of the Australian Government’s 2010 National Male Health Policy. It is now guided by the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030. Data from the study will be used by researchers and policy makers to improve our understanding of men’s health in Australia, and to inform government policies and programs related to men’s health.

To see some of the findings that have emerged from Ten to Men so far, visit Research findings.

I’d like more information about the study. Who can I speak to?

You can contact the Ten to Men Helpdesk on 1800 019 606, or email your query to [email protected].

The survey questions

Why are you interested in these topics?

The Australian Government’s 2010 National Male Health Policy identified several priority areas for male health. These priority areas have been built upon in the more recent National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030. The topics covered in Ten to Men have been selected to inform these priority areas.

Who came up with the questions?

Many of the questions in this survey have been included in previous waves of Ten to Men, though some new questions have also been included. Several of these questions have been used in other Australian or international research. Selection of the questions for this online survey was overseen by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, in consultation with men’s health stakeholders and a group of leading researchers. Find out more information on the study team.

What if I don’t want to answer some of the questions?

If you don’t feel comfortable answering any of the questions, you can skip over them. If a question upsets you, you can talk to the study team (1800 019 606), who can give you information about support services. Contact numbers for support services are also provided within the survey instrument.

Data storage and security

Who has access to the data?

Strict procedures are followed by all involved in the management and running of the study to ensure only authorised people have access to the information provided to us, and all interviewers, researchers and others involved in the study comply with the Privacy Act 1988. Learn more about how we protect your data.

Where is the data stored?

The data will be stored by the Social Research Centre in accordance with strict security procedures. Electronic data will be stored on password-protected computers. Only authorised researchers can access them.

Privacy and consent

How is my privacy protected?

Ten to Men adheres to strict privacy laws and ethical frameworks. The study is bound by State and Commonwealth privacy laws, and we have set up a range of procedures to protect your privacy and confidentiality. Personal information, such as your name, date of birth and address is separated from your survey responses and from any health information we obtain from other sources.  In addition, all researchers using the data must sign a deed of confidentiality. These measures ensure that no-one can identify you from your survey answers.

Find out more about the Research Information Privacy Policy on the Social Research Centre website.

Why do you need my consent?

Ethical research practices require that all participants provide informed consent to take part in the survey. This means that you are informed about the purpose of the research, who is conducting the research, what happens to your information and how you can refuse to take part without penalty.

Ten to Men asks for your consent to take part in this online survey, which occurs when you complete the survey.

Do I have to participate?

No. Participation in Ten to Men is voluntary and you can withdraw from the study at any time. If you wish to leave the study, please call us on 1800 019 606.

Does Ten to Men have ethical clearance?

Yes. Ethics clearance is given by the Australian Institute of Family Studies’ Human Research Ethics Committee. If you would like to contact the committee you can submit an enquiry form.

Learn more about ethical approval for Ten to Men.

Data linkage

What is data linkage?

Data linkage involves bringing together data from multiple sources. This wave, we are seeking permission to link your Ten to Men survey responses with your Department of Human Services data. When you use a health service, like going to a doctor or dentist, this visit is recorded by the Department of Human Services (but not the reason for your visit). Linking this information with your Ten to Men survey responses will add immense value to the study by:

• providing detailed and accurate information about health and health outcomes
• adding valuable information that might not otherwise be able to be included in Ten to Men
• letting us remove some of the more detailed questions from the survey. This helps reduce the length of the survey and enhances the survey experience for participants. 

If you are already a Ten to Men participant

I am already a Ten to Men participant and didn’t receive any information about completing another survey. Why?

If you are a Ten to Men study participant and have completed previous surveys but did not receive a survey invitation, don’t worry! This survey is for new participants joining the study. We will be in touch with all current Ten to Men participants soon. You are vital to the ongoing success of the study!

Why are you asking for more participants to join the Ten to Men study?

The Ten to Men study is expanding and we are recruiting more men aged 18 to 55 from all over Australia to be a part of this important study. We’re using a range of ways to reach this new random sample of men, including letters, and social media. You might even come across our call out communications here and there.

By increasing the number of participants in the study, researchers and policy makers will be able to draw upon data from an even larger and more diverse group of men to learn more about their health, wellbeing, and lifestyle as they go through life. Findings from this data can be used to inform policy changes to improve services and programs that support male health and wellbeing in Australia.