About the ROSE Project interviews

The aim of this research project is to find out about older women’s unwanted sexual experiences in later life and the support older women need.

By ‘unwanted sexual experiences’ we mean someone (it could be a husband, partner, carer, someone else you know or a stranger) pressuring, tricking or forcing you to do sexual things that you don’t want to do or making you feel like you couldn’t say ‘no’. This could include feeling pressured or obligated to have sex when you didn’t want to, being physically forced to have sex, or agreeing to sex because you felt afraid or unsafe. It can also include someone touching you or doing sexual things when you did not or could not consent (such as when you were asleep) or pressuring you into sexual acts that you were not comfortable with.

Read project information here
Read (easy read) project information here
Participate in an interview

Click on drop boxes below for information:

  • Women living in Australia who have had an unwanted sexual experience that happened since the age of 60 years or older.

  • The research involves taking part in a confidential interview with a researcher from the University of Melbourne.

    • In the interview we would like to hear about your experiences and support needs.

    • The interview can be by phone, video conferencing or in person at the University of Melbourne

    • The interview will take approximately 60 minutes.

    Interview participants will be given a $50 gift voucher to thank them for their time.


    After the interview, if you wish, you can take part in an optional photography session with world-renowned photographer Ponch Hawkes (www.ponchhawkes.com) to create photos that represent your experiences. These photos do not have to be of you personally but might be objects or places. The photos will be displayed online and in a public exhibition to educate the community about older women’s unwanted sexual experiences. If you participate in a photo session you will be given another $100 voucher.


    All information you share will be kept confidential. When we report on the findings or exhibit photos, no real names will be included.

  • If you would like to participate in an interview, please fill in this expression of interest form The form asks some questions to find out if the project is right for you.

  • Read more about the interviews here or the easy read here.

    Email us:

    Email: womens-health@unimelb.edu.au

    Call:

    Mandy McKenzie at the University of Melbourne: (03) 8344 5159

    Laura Tarzia at the University of Melbourne: (03) 9035 8604

  • For information or support  visit:

Watch the videos below which explain the interviews and optional photo sessions.

Watch a video with the researchers explaining the interviews

Watch a video with the photographer explaining the photo sessions