Exploring Mental Health Reporting Culture, Policies and Practices in Rural Commercial and Private Pilots in Australia

This project will explore how rural and regional private and commercial pilots in Australia experience mental health assessment, reporting and support within the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) system.

It focuses on how factors such as stigma, confidentiality concerns, fear of license loss, workforce shortages and limited access to specialist services in rural areas influence pilots’ willingness to disclose mental health concerns and seek help. Participants will take part in confidential semi-structured interviews conducted online or by phone and deidentified transcripts will be analysed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns and themes. Findings are expected to inform more supportive, context-appropriate policies and practices for rural aviation communities.

Research team

Sithu Reynolds, Medical Student, Charles Sturt University

Associate Professor Rachel Rossiter, School of Rural Medicine, Charles Sturt University
Dr Indra Choudhury, School of Rural Medicine,
Charles Sturt University
Dr Sean Quinn, Astley Medical Centre, St Mary's NSW

Our aim

To explore how rural private and commercial pilots experience and respond to mental health reporting policies, regulations and practices in Australia.

  1. How do rural pilots experience mental health assessment and reporting within CASA aviation medical policies and processes?
  2. What cultural, organisational and systemic factors do rural pilots identify as impacting their disclosure of mental health concerns?
  3. How do current regulatory and organisational policies impact rural pilots’ willingness to seek help and engage with mental health support in rural aviation contexts?

About you

Rural private pilots and/or
Rural or regional commercial pilots (e.g. charter, regular public
tansport, aeromedical, agricultural operations)
Current or recent aviation practice in Australia (within the past 5 years)
Operating primarily in rural, regional or remote contexts as defined by
Australian remoteness classifications

Participants may be active or recently retired.

What's involved

Data will be collected using semi-structured interviews conducted via a secured video-conference platform at a time convenient to the participant. Interviews are expected to take 45-60 minutes. Alternative means may be suitable should the participant wish to participate via other means

For more information and to continue with your interest in participating in this project, please download and read the participant information sheet. This will provide a link at the end for you to register your interest.

The information provided will remain confidential and consent can be withdrawn at anytime. Please note we will not require any information that identifies your workplace.

Submit your Expression of Interest to participate