Form-filling: are you a rock-star or a novice?
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
Ever had to fill in a form? Some of us have filled in so many that we have ‘form-filling fatigue.’ Onerous at the best of times, form-filling is particularly difficult when English is not our first language, or if we are stressed or anxious, or if we live with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, or any one of a number of neurological conditions. If, sometimes, we think that forms are unintelligible, we would not be alone. Don Watson, former speech writer for public officials and author of Death Sentence has said, ‘The managerial class has forced on us a public language that makes no sense.’ This debilitating statement rings true when we realize that forms issued by government typically require us to submit between 40-60 pieces of information!
Some of us have to fill in more forms than others. The late Stella Young, always witty and good humoured, was perhaps only half joking when in 2017 she said, ‘I really love filling out forms - quite fortuitous, really, given that as one of Australia's 4 million-ish disabled people, ticking boxes and recording my life for other people is what I've spent a fair chunk of my time doing.’
Why then, do we need forms? The short answer is that organisations are required by law to collect information. Nothing we can do about it! So, given there’s no escape from form-filling, here’s a mini quiz to test your prowess. ‘Yes’ answers make you a rock-star form-filler. ‘No’ answers make you a novice; in which case you are welcome to contact us for some form-filling assistance.
Prowess Quiz
1) Do you know there are different ways of completing forms (by hand or on-line)?
2) Do you know that all forms have a title?
3) Do you read the instructions (repeatedly, loudly and clearly to yourself) until they make sense?
4) Do you understand the terminology used in forms (that means underline strange words, look them up and re-write them in your own words)?
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
5) Do you practise completing different forms as a hobby like some people do Sudoku or crossword puzzles, usually with a morning coffee or while watching Netflix?
6) In the last six months, have you filled in any of these?
Vehicle accident report; parking permit; births, deaths, marriages registration; car registration; change of licence form; housing application; insurance application/renewal; loan application; school or university application; jobseeker form; job-keeper form; income tax form; and any number of others…
How did you go in the Quiz?
If your score makes you a rock-star and you would like to help others fill in their forms, please let us know. If you’re a novice and want a hand, let us know. Sponsored by the City of Melbourne, our program can provide help over the phone, or in person when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Two people starring wide-eyed at a form is better than one!
Pauline Griffiths