COVID-19 MEMBER SURVEY TOPLINE RESULTS

Wave 1 April 2020 

Changes to business due to COVID-19

Most research businesses had already made significant changes to the way they are running their businesses at the time of the survey. The next wave of the survey will look specifically at the JobKeeper initiative also (as this was introduced during the survey Wave 1 period). AMSRO members continue to have access to legal advice (via the AMSRO free legal hotline) when implementing changes to business strategies.

Changes to Existing Projects

Most businesses have experienced project deferrals and cancellations, but it is positive to see that just over half have had new COVID-related projects specifically commissioned also. AMSRO will continue to advocate on behalf of our members, with a follow-up Government communication planned over the coming weeks.

Changes to revenue

The majority of members expect to see revenue decline in both this and next financial year. AMSRO’s Revenue Statistics survey should provide some indication of the scale of the actual impact after the current quarter data is submitted in July.

Effect of COVID-19 on mental health

The expected impact on the mental health of members and their teams is a significant issue and one that AMSRO will continue to focus on through the provision of support. Watching out for those struggling and finding ways of managing this situation will be necessary. A recording of AMSRO and CIE Legal's recent Mental Health First Aid Tool Kit webinar is available should you require.