Frequently Asked Questions
Please choose from one of the categories below:
What’s does it mean if I register as an ISLAND Project member?
Registering as a member of the ISLAND Project (see the ‘click here to register’ link on our home page) means you will have your own personalised page on this website and will receive quarterly newsletters about the ISLAND Project.
To register, you create a secure, personal ISLAND record for yourself by entering your email address as your username and choosing your own password. After you have registered you can return to your record on the ISLAND Home page any time you like using the ‘log in’ function.
Once you have registered as a member you will have the opportunity to join in ISLAND research, and participate in community activities and courses aimed at reducing the risk of dementia.
Why is my email address already in your system when I try to register?
This is probably because you have already registered for one of the Wicking Dementia Centre's online MOOCs in the past. Please don’t be concerned about this. All you need to do to participate in ISLAND is log in through the ISLAND Home page instead of registering for a new profile.
Why do I need to log in after I’ve registered for the ISLAND project?
The ISLAND Project runs on a platform that is also used to run some of the Wicking Dementia Centre’s online courses. This platform keeps your information secure, so that only you can see your own information once you have logged in as yourself.
What’s the difference between registering for ISLAND and logging in?
Registering means you are creating a new record for yourself on our ISLAND Home portal.
Logging in means that you have already created a personal record and are going back in to see it.
Who can register for the ISLAND Project?
Anyone who is over 50 years of age and lives in Tasmania.
I am a migrant – can I register?
Yes, you can, provided you live in Tasmania and are over 50 years of age.
Why do we have to be over 50 years of age to register our interest?
We have found that most people tend to consider their potential risk of dementia after they reach 50 years of age. ISLAND is a project that is looking for the potential for behaviour change and we think that this group will have the highest motivation.
If you are under 50 years of age and have an interest in learning more about dementia please visit our Wicking Centre web page.
How do I change my personal information on the ISLAND web site?
When you have registered for ISLAND and logged in and created a profile, you will have access to your own personalised ISLAND home page. At the top of the page is a tab entitled ‘My Details’. Click on this table to update your personal information at any time.
Is the ISLAND Project really for the whole Tasmanian community?
Yes it is! Anyone who lives anywhere in Tasmania who is over 50 years of age can be involved.
Can I register if I don’t have an email address?
No, at this point in time the ISLAND Project is entirely online so you can’t register without an email address.
ISLAND is fully online at present because this allows us to reach large numbers of our population more easily than a face to face or postal format and it allows our participants to complete research activities at a time that is convenient to them.
Why do I need to have my own email address to participate in ISLAND?
This is because your email address is used to log in to your personal profile in our online system to access surveys and activities for the research. For your data to be useable, we need to know who has provided it, and this is not possible if more than one person logs in using the same email address.
Everyone registering for ISLAND will need to have their own, unique email address.
If you do not have your own email address, there are several options for free accounts (e.g. Gmail, Outlook) and these are relatively easy to set up. Click here for information about setting up a Gmail account. Click here for information about setting up an Outlook account.
Why do you need to know our postcode?
In some cases we will conduct research and offer community activities and courses for people who are located in particular areas of the state. We will use your postcode to determine if we can invite you to join these activities.
After I register and/or log in, what can I expect to happen next?
You will receive a welcome email thanking you for your registration.
You will receive periodic contact from the ISLAND Project team, including a regular newsletter, sent to your email address.
You will also have the opportunity to join the ISLAND research, by doing some online surveys. In the future, you may be invited to join a particular research activity. It’s difficult to say when this will be or what the research topic might be because it depends on when we receive approval to commence each separate research opportunity.
Why do I need to complete surveys and my ‘dementia risk profile’?
In order to be able to show if involvement in ISLAND leads to reduced dementia risk behaviours, we need you to tell us about yourself when you begin the ISLAND Project and every year thereafter. All the information you provide to us in these surveys is extremely valuable to our research.
One of these surveys is call the Dementia Risk Profile. This provides information about your own status against several known modifiable risk factors for dementia. Again, if we are going to be able to demonstrate that people have reduced their risk of dementia, we need you to fill out this survey when you commence the ISLAND Project and at other times that we may ask you to.
What is ISLAND baseline?
ISLAND baseline refers to a suite of surveys that we ask you to complete when you sign up for the ISLAND Project. Once you have done your baseline you will be invited to do some more surveys at 12 monthly intervals thereafter. These surveys provide us with information relevant to your general health, knowledge and attitudes about dementia and your personal risk profile for dementia. There are seven surveys in ISLAND baseline, each one takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
ISLAND baseline information is very important to our research study because it provides the ‘starting point’ for each participant. Without this information we can’t tell if being involved in ISLAND makes a difference.
Do I have to do all the ISLAND baseline surveys at the same time?
No, you do not have to do all the surveys at once. You will have six weeks to complete these surveys from when you begin. You can come and go from the ISLAND Home website as many times as you need to. But you do need to complete each individual survey in a single session. It is not possible to save responses and finish that survey later.
You can continue on, or take a break when you get to the beginning of a new survey
How do I move around/ navigate within each survey?
To save your answers and move to the next page within a survey, just click the blue Next button located to the right at the top and bottom of your screen
If I don’t complete all the surveys at the same time, how will I get back to the next survey that I need to complete?
Your progress through the surveys will be displayed on your ISLAND Home page. If you take a break and return later, you can select where you are up to on the progress bar to start the next survey. Remember, you can only do the surveys in order, so you won’t be able to access surveys you have finished or skipped past using the progress bar.
Your ISLAND Home page will show all the surveys you have completed and those waiting to be done.
What do I do if I get half way through a survey and decide I no longer wish to complete it?
Use the “Exit and clear survey” button at the top right of the screen at any time if you decide that you no longer wish to complete that particular survey. You will no longer be able to access this survey.
How do I save my responses in each survey?
To save your answers and move to the next page within a survey just click the blue Next button located to the right at the top and bottom of your screen.
On the final page of each survey, after answering the questions, click on the “Submit” button. This will save all of your answers.
Are all survey questions compulsory?
No, however questions with an asterisk must be answered before you can continue.
I haven’t finished my surveys on time, what do I do now?
We allow six weeks for participants to complete their ISLAND baseline surveys. Unfortunately, if you do not complete them in that time you are no longer able to access them.
If you have done the 4th survey (i.e. more than half) you will qualify to join the research but may not be invited to do things that are contingent on having completed the other surveys.
If you have not made it to the end of the 4th survey, you will be presented the opportunity to do your baseline again after the six-weeks have passed from your first attempt.
Click here to view the Participant Information Sheet
What sort of research will I be asked to participate in?
All the research we undertake in the ISLAND Project will have a focus on dementia prevention. Participation in the ISLAND Project will be tailored to the capacity for people to become engaged, in other words you can opt in or opt out at any point. At a minimum, we will ask people to complete surveys periodically (for example, every year). We will then ask you on occasion to participate in other studies. At that point in time you can choose to give your consent to participate, or you may choose not to participate in the research activity we contact you about.
Why do I have to consent to each research activity?
You will be asked to consent to every research activity that we offer. The consent process gives us assurance that you understand what is involved in the study and what is expected of you, and that we have your permission for us to use the information you provide in research and analysis.
What do you mean by de-identified data?
De-identified data means that any data you provide will be detached from your name and any other identifying information so nobody will be able to tell who provided any individual responses. Put simply, it means your data cannot be found by anyone looking at our de-identified data.
Enrolments are closed
We are unable to offer further HECS waivers via the ISLAND's Campus study. Due to unprecedented domestic demand for university places, the University has capped the number of courses it can offer with fee-waivers, in order to continue providing high-quality learning and teaching experience for all of its students.
Unfortunately this means that we are unable to enrol any more participants in the ISLAND Campus research project.
What is the purpose of this research project?
We are evaluating whether a new computer test that has been developed at the University of Tasmania can predict cognitive decline and risk of dementia. The new test is called ‘TAS Test’ and assesses hand movements and thinking processes. We need lots of people to try out the new test and give their feedback.
We are very grateful to you for helping us with this research – THANK YOU!
How long does TAS Test take?
It takes about 30 minutes to complete, but you can take a break part way through and come back to complete it later on by simply pressing the link on your ISLAND portal.
Can I do TAS Test at any time of day or night?
Yes you can! But it is important to keep your room brightly lit whilst you do TAS Test as the video tests do not work well in a darker room.
I have already done TAS Test before. Should I still do it again?
Yes please! We are keen for people to do TAS Test each time we send out an invitation as we would like to track people’s performance on it over several years. This really helps our research as we can link your previous results with your new ones. We would also like you to give us feedback on the new version compared to the old version.
Where can I get some help with Tas Test?
You can ring or email the ISLAND Project team on 6226 4790 or at island@dementia.utas.edu.au. There are also a set of frequently asked questions on our website that may assist you- https://island.mooc.utas.edu.au/page/35/faqs
If you need to access equipment or need some help setting equipment up, you can also contact your local library for some face to face help. You will need to book in a time to use their computers and speak with their staff and you can find your local libraries number via this link - https://locations.libraries.tas.gov.au/
What kind of computer should I use?
Please use a desk top computer or a laptop computer. Do not rest the laptop on your knees – but instead place it on a table in front of you and sit down. It is important the computer is resting on a hard surface so it stays steady throughout the tests.
We are sorry but TAS Test will not yet work on a mobile phone or iPad/tablet computer.
Can I use my iPad or smart phone instead?
No, not yet. This is the first version of TAS Test and it only works on laptop computers and desktop computers. We will develop a version that will work on iPads, tablets and mobile phones in the future. If you do not have your own desktop or laptop computer, you can access a desktop computer via your local library – just phone them to ask. Or perhaps you have a friend or relative that you could visit and use their computer equipment instead?
How do I check my computer’s microphone and camera are working?
We have put a test page near the beginning of TAS Test and this will automatically check for you. If your camera is working, you will see an image of yourself on the test page. If your microphone is working you will see some wavy rainbow-coloured waves on the test screen when you speak out aloud. If these are not working, try clicking the drop-down menu at the top of the test page and selecting a different camera or microphone or pressing the “trouble shooting” button.
I don’t have a camera on my computer, or I cannot get it to work. Can I still do TAS Test?
Yes you can! Your participation is really important to us, even if you cannot complete every single part of TAS Test. There are 5 parts to TAS Test and you can do 4 out of the 5 parts if you do not have camera on your computer, or you cannot get it to work the first time round. The only part you will not be able to do is part 1 – the Video Test. Simply press the red “skip test” button for the Video tests and you can start TAS Test from the second part called “Keyboard Test”. Alternatively, if you are keen to do everything in TAS Test, you could try to borrow a laptop or visit a friend to use their desktop computer or laptop.
I don’t have a microphone on my computer, or I cannot get it to work. Can I still do TAS Test?
Yes, you can! You can still do 4 parts of TAS test if you do not have microphone on your computer, or you cannot get it to work. The only part you cannot do is the last part (Part 5). You can simply press “skip test” when you get to part 5 which is called ‘Describing Test’. Alternatively, if you are keen to do everything, you could try to borrow a laptop or visit a friend to use their computer/laptop if they have a microphone connected.
Can you help me fix or setup my computer camera or microphone?
Sorry but our research team cannot help directly with this. Given that our only way of contacting you is by email or telephone, we are not able to help you fix or set up your equipment in your own home. But the good news is that your local library may be able to help you complete TAS Test by letting you use their computer equipment. If you are struggling to set up your computer camera or microphone, you could simply press “skip test” for parts 1 and 5 of TAS Test. Or you could call your local library to see if you can book a time to use their computer equipment.
What is Chrome?
Chrome is the program (or ‘browser’) that connects your computer to the internet. When you look up a website on your computer, you will use Chrome, or another similar ‘browser’ program like ‘Safari’ or ‘Firefox’.
The icon for Chrome looks like this
TAS Test has been designed to run smoothly on Chrome so we recommend you use Chrome if you have it available on your computer. Click on your desktop to see if you can find this icon.
How do I install Chrome on my computer?
You can look for the Chrome icon on your desktop and then simply click on it to activate it on your computer
If you cannot find it, try typing “install Chrome” into the Google search bar and you will be given instructions how to install it. If this all gets too complicated, we suggest you simply try using whatever computer program you have on your laptop or desktop and see how TAS Test works on it. You can give us feedback on your experiences in the questionnaire at the end too. Alternatively, you can call your local library and ask for their help to use one of the library computers as these usually all have Chrome already installed on them.
Will TAS Test work on Firefox and Safari?
Yes, TAS Test should work well with these browsers, but there is a small chance that some of the tests may get stuck– if this happens, just press the red “skip test” button or go back to the ISLAND portal to re-start the link to the remaining parts of TAS Test.
Will TAS Test work well on MS Edge (Microsoft Edge)?
Yes, TAS Test should work well on this program (browser). There is a small chance that some of the tests may get stuck– if this happens, just press the red “skip test” button or go back to the ISLAND portal to re-start the link to the remaining parts of TAS Test.
Will TAS Test work well on Internet Explorer?
No, TAS Test does not work on this browser. Try to install Chrome if you can (see tips above), borrow a friend’s laptop with Chrome already on it, or call your local library and ask if you can use the library computer as these all have Chrome already installed on them.
I made a mistake on one of the tests. Can I do TAS Test again?
Yes, you can repeat most parts of TAS Test again if you make a mistake by pressing the “try again” button but some of the tests do not allow repeat testing. Do not worry about this as we can learn lots from people making mistakes on TAS Test so all your time and effort is still very useful to the research. Also, you will have lots more opportunities to complete TAS Test again in the future too as we plan to invite people to complete TAS Test every year. So please do not worry too much if you make a few mistakes.
I accidentally skipped one of the tests. Can I repeat it again?
Yes – for some of the tests, but not all. After some of the tests you will see a “try again” button that you can press but not all the individual tests have this. Please note that the “back” button does not work on TAS Test and sometimes causes the test to stop if you press it. If this happens, try pressing “skip test” or returning to the ISLAND portal to complete the remaining tests in TAS Test. Also, please do not worry if you accidentally skipped a test and cannot return to it using these methods as you will have plenty more chances to do TAS Test again in the future.
I lost my internet connection part way through doing TAS Test. Did the first part of my data save?
Yes, the tests are automatically saved whilst you are doing them. When the connection is back up again, you will be directed to where it stopped.
I am holding my hands in the correct position for the video tests (with my palms facing the camera and my hands held steady) but I cannot trigger the automatic recording. What am I doing wrong?
Try one of these tips: switch on all the lights in the room, or open the curtains, as TAS Test works best in a well-lit room. Try slowly moving your hands further away from the computer screen (about 50cm from the screen) as one of the most common mistakes is putting your hands too close to the camera. Make sure you keep your hands still for at least a second or two so the camera can recognise the shape of your hand – in other words, do not start performing the test (finger tapping, hand opening etc) before the camera has detected your hands in the green boxes. If the wall (or room) behind you has a lot of patterns, or pictures on the wall, or people walking around, this sometimes interferes with the camera’s ability to detect your hands so try changing your position so you have a plain wall behind you. If all of this fails, simply press the red “skip test” button and give us your feedback in the questionnaire so we can see how to improve TAS Test.
Does it matter if my hands go out of the green boxes on the screen during the video tests?
No, as long as your hands are fully visible to the camera for most of the test, that should be fine. Try to keep your hands visible on the computer screen as much as you can during the video tests. Basically, if you can see an image of your hands on the computer screen, then we will be able to analyse your hand movements.
Will I get to see my TAS Test results?
At this stage, we are not giving individual feedback on results but we will store your data and hope to be able to give you your results sheet in the future – this should allow you to see how you performed on different parts of TAS Test. We will also update everyone who completes TAS Test on the overall progress of this project and show how the whole research group performed on different tests. We will keep you updated via newsletters and webinars.
I would like to give some feedback on TAS Test. How can I do that?
Great! We really value your feedback and ideas on how we can improve it!
At the end of the tests, you will have the opportunity to complete a questionnaire and you can tell us what you thought about TAS Test, and also your suggestions for how we can improve it.
What is ISLAND Resilience Initiative baseline?
ISLAND Resilience Initiative baseline refers to a suite of surveys that we ask you to complete when you sign up for The ISLAND Resilience Initiative. ISLAND Resilience Initiative baseline information is very important to our research study because it provides the ‘starting point’ for each participant. Without this information we can’t tell if being exposed to stressors, or life difficulties, makes a difference to people’s wellbeing.
Do I have to do all the ISLAND Resilience Initiative baseline surveys at the same time?
No, you do not have to do all the surveys at once. You can come and go from the ISLAND Resilience Initiative Home website as many times as you need to. But you do need to complete each individual survey in a single session. It is not possible to save responses and finish that survey later. You can continue on, or take a break when you get to the beginning of a new survey.
How do I move around/ navigate within each survey?
To save your answers and move to the next page within a survey, just click the blue Next button located to the right at the top and bottom of your screen.
If I don’t complete all the surveys at the same time, how will I get back to the next survey that I need to complete?
Your progress through the surveys will be displayed on your ISLAND Home page. If you take a break and return later, you can select where you are up to on the progress bar to start the next survey. Remember, you can only do the surveys in order, so you won’t be able to access surveys you have finished or skipped past using the progress bar.
Your ISLAND Home page will show all the surveys you have completed and those waiting to be done.
What do I do if I get half-way through a survey and decide I no longer wish to complete it?
Use the “Exit and clear survey” button at the top right of the screen at any time if you decide that you no longer wish to complete that particular survey. You will no longer be able to access this survey.
How do I save my responses in each survey?
To save your answers and move to the next page within a survey just click the blue Next button located to the right at the top and bottom of your screen. On the final page of each survey, after answering the questions, click on the “Submit” button. This will save all of your answers.
Are all survey questions compulsory?
No, however questions with an asterisk must be answered before you can continue.
If I skip a survey and my data is incomplete, what happens? Can I still access the Bushfire and Your Health short course?
There is no consequence for skipping surveys, in terms of accessing the Bushfire and Your Health short course. You are under no obligation to complete every survey, however any time you are willing to spend on filling these in will assist researchers in being able to answer questions around stress and resilience. We are very happy to get the data that you do provide.
I want to provide a saliva and hair sample, when will I receive my collection kit?
Collection kits are planned to be sent later in 2021. We will finalise times as soon as possible, but first require an expression of interest, completion of a brief survey and confirmation of your postal address. If you prefer to give a hair sample in person, we will arrange to conduct a drop-in session when a researcher will be available to meet you at the clinic. You will be contacted via email when we have confirmed times.