Gender Equality in Group Training Organisations Survey

1. What is the purpose of this survey?

The survey aims to capture feedback and insights on internal policies, procedures and workplaces cultures at NAEN member GTOs via a survey for senior leadership and a survey for individual GTO staff. The data collected (de-identified[1]) will be used to inform the gender impact assessment of the GTO sector. It recognises that GTOs play a vital role in shaping the experiences of apprentices and influencing the culture of host employers. By understanding how the GTO sector is positioned internally, we can better support GTOs to lead positive changes across the wider apprenticeship system.

2. Who should complete the survey?

There are two surveys:

1. One is an organisational survey aimed. Representatives from senior leadership should fill this survey out. This focuses on organisational policies and practices.
2. One is for all GTO staff. This one focuses on individual experiences and perceptions.

Senior leaders are eligible to fill out both.

3. How long will the survey take to complete?

The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

4. Do I have to participate in the survey?

Taking part in the survey is completely voluntary. You can choose not to participate, take a break or exit the survey. Your decision to participate or not to participate in the survey will not impact relationships with any involved practices under the RISE project.  If you exit the survey, your responses will not be saved. However, once the survey has been submitted, it will not be possible to alter or withdraw the responses as they will not be identifiable.  

When asked questions related to sensitive topics around experiences of discrimination, harassment, and gender inequality, you will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’. In short-answer questions of the same nature, you can write ‘prefer not to say’ if you are uncomfortable providing an answer.

It is important to note that if you purposely or incidentally include identifying information that does disclose experiences of discrimination, harassment, and/or gender inequality, the research team will not contact you. Guided by respect for autonomy and a commitment to confidentiality, we will not follow up or report disclosures, or report your experiences to your GTO if names are provided. However, recognising that these experiences may be distressing, we have provided details of relevant support services at the beginning and end of the survey, as well as in the Plain Language Statement, should you wish to access them.

5. Will my employer see my answers?

No, your employer will not see your answers. Your employer, supervisor, GTO, and/or NAEN will not have access to your individual responses, or be informed about who has or has not completed the survey. None of the information you provide will be linked back to you.  All responses will be treated as confidential and de-identified prior to analysis. Your responses therefore cannot be accessed or used by employers or other stakeholders in any way that could result in backlash, disadvantage, or negative consequences.

6. Where is my data stored?

The survey will be administered via WHISE’s Survey Monkey account, and data stored securely on WHISE’s SharePoint system using password-protected systems. This data will then be screened for any potentially identifiable information which will then be removed prior to analysis. For further information about how personal information is protected and managed, please refer to WHISE’s Privacy Policy.

Note that although WAVE will not be collecting or recording your IP address alongside your survey response, Survey Monkey “records respondent IP addresses in backend logs and deletes them after 13 months.”  The data will then be deleted from Survey Monkey. The data will reside with the research team, and retained only until the end of December 2027, aligning with the conclusion of the RISE project grant, after which it will be permanently destroyed.

7. When does the survey close?

The survey will be open for 8 weeks, closing on the 31^st of March 2026. Please complete your response before this date to ensure your feedback is included.

8. Can I share the survey with others?

Yes, if you are GTO internal staff. You can circulate the survey internally to ensure all staff from your GTO have the opportunity to participate once it has been distributed to you by senior leadership. If you are part of senior leadership, please ensure you both share the survey with your staff and share the information and remind your team about the participation in the survey during meetings and/or through email reminders.

9. Who will be able to see the survey results?

Only the research team will be able to see the original responses and results of the survey. Participants or other stakeholders will not be able to access direct results of the survey. De-identified high-level summary of findings will be shared through a summary report available to the NAEN GTO network (including survey participants) and key stakeholders (e.g. funding partners) and via the internal RISE website.

 An outcome report of group findings will be also produced from the de-identified data. This will be used to inform a targeted, sector-wide strategy to strengthen gender equity across the GTO sector. A publication of the survey outcomes (de-identified high-level summary of findings) is a subject for future approvals and may or may not be published. The research team may also present de-identified summary of survey findings at relevant industry and partner forums or conferences to support sector-wide learning and action on workplace sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination.

It is important to note that any external reporting/ publication of this nature will always remain at a summary level to show overall trends across the sector. Selected de-identified quotes from short-answer responses may be used, but only where they cannot be linked to any individual or organisation. All internal and external reporting will strictly adhere to confidentiality and privacy standards.

10. Who can I contact for questions about the survey?

If you have any questions about the survey, experience technical issues, or need to report any concerns, please contact the research coordinator, Elena Leddra (eleddra@whise.org.au).

[1] De-identified means all identifying details have been taken out of the information, so it can’t be linked back to you. This helps ensure your privacy is protected while the information is used for research, analysis, or reporting.