Community Researcher

Help us find out how our community works

Do you enjoy asking questions, finding things out and understanding why things work the way they do?

Get Around Caboolture is looking for people who would like to help us research real questions about transport and our local communities.

You might be a university student, recently retired, working, between careers or simply interested in what happens in your local community.

What would you research?

We'll develop projects around questions that are worth finding the answers to.

For example:

• Why is there no pedestrian crossing at a particular location?
• Why is a bus stop located where it is?
• What happens when someone tries to make a particular journey without a car?
• How accessible is a particular route?
• Who is responsible for a particular problem?
• What does the relevant law, policy or planning document actually say?
• What does the available data tell us?
• Has an issue been raised before?
• What could realistically be changed?

A project might involve researching information from home, looking at maps or data, visiting a local site, observing what happens, talking with people or bringing different pieces of information together.

The aim isn't simply to find things that are wrong. It's to understand what is actually happening and see what we can learn.

You don't need specialist qualifications

We welcome people with different backgrounds and experiences.

Experience in research, law, planning, engineering, transport, GIS, community services, disability, government, journalism or communications would be useful, but isn't essential.

Your professional experience, life experience and knowledge of the local area may be just as valuable.

How it works

Get Around Caboolture is a small community organisation. We don't have an office or a regular place where volunteers meet.

You'll initially work directly with GAC on a research project that suits your interests, skills and circumstances. Some projects can be completed from home; others may involve visiting a local site.

There are regular catchups to support you when it suits. You can contribute according to your availability.

As more people become involved, there may be opportunities to work together and share what we discover.

We're starting small

We're looking for a few people who are interested in this kind of work and would like to help shape what Get Around Caboolture's community research program becomes.

If you enjoy being involved and know someone else who might enjoy it too, you're welcome to introduce them to Get Around Caboolture.

What you'll gain

You'll have the opportunity to:

• work on real questions affecting local communities
• use or develop research and investigation skills
• learn about transport, planning, policy and local government
• contribute to evidence-based community advocacy
• work directly with Get Around Caboolture on projects with a practical purpose
• meet people with different skills and experiences as the volunteer network develops

About Get Around Caboolture

Get Around Caboolture is a community organisation working to create more transport choice for people in Caboolture and the surrounding communities.

We focus on practical approaches to improve walking, riding a bike, public transport and access to the places people need to go.

If you're curious about your community and would enjoy helping us find things out, we'd like to hear from you.