Research within Youth Justice and Victim Support

The Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support supports research that strengthens evidence-based decision-making and contributes to effective policy and practice.

Our participation in commissioned and collaborative research is designed to ensure:

  • it contributes to our goals, policy, and priorities
  • it is relevant and managed in accordance with legal and administrative requirements
  • it protects the dignity, wellbeing, and privacy of staff, clients, and research participants
  • research questions are of sufficient value, purpose, or significance for the department to justify the expenditure of any necessary time and effort required of youths and/or staff
  • the research methodology is appropriate and feasible, and aligns with research questions and intended outcomes
  • the research meets community expectations and is conducted to high standards of ethical conduct and probity
  • research findings will have practical application
  • it is conducted in a culturally safe way, upholds the principles of data sovereignty, and enables self-determination for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and peoples.

Youth Justice research priority

All research must conform to:

Research involving the clients of the department must comply with the research and confidentiality provisions under the Youth Justice Act 1992.

Involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths and families are disproportionally represented in the youth justice system, all research proposals must comply with the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research.

Researchers should apply the principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge lens and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respectful language guide to their research design and rationale.

Ethics applications should demonstrate how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and experiences have been considered and responded to in project development and design.

HREC approval for applications

Applications can be submitted prior to Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or equivalent approval, however, approval of the research application will be contingent on HREC approval or evidence that a HREC application has been lodged. Research cannot commence until the HREC approval is finalised.

Researchers who have been approved to conduct research in collaboration with our department will be bound by our research Deed of Agreement, and Research Confidentiality and Data Management Undertaking.

Research application process

  • You must submit an application to conduct research if you are requesting access to:

    • Youth Justice clients (youths in detention, on community-based orders, or involved in departmentally-funded programs) whether directly (via our department) or indirectly (via a community organisation or other department)
    • Youth Justice staff
    • Youth Justice facilities (detention centres, youth justice service centres)
    • Youth Justice data.

    You do not need to apply if your research involves data already in the public domain.

    Researchers must apply via the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team to:

    • conduct research with our department (including service centres)
    • access departmental data.

    Do not go directly to service centres or youth detention centres to seek research approval.

  • Research applications will be accepted during 3 rounds per year. We will approve a maximum of 10 projects per round. Approximate timeframes for 2026 are outlined below.

    OpensClosesAssessedOutcome
    Round 1 Mid-March End-April May June
    Round 2 Mid-June End-July August September
    Round 3 Mid-SeptemberEnd-OctoberNovemberDecember

    Applications may be considered between research rounds at the discretion of the department.

    To apply to conduct research in collaboration with us:

    1. Email the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team, via researchandevaluation@youthjustice.qld.gov.au, to schedule your initial project meeting.
    2. Prepare and submit your application prior to the closure of the research round:
    3. Email your supporting documentation to the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team, via researchandevaluation@youthjustice.qld.gov.au:
      • completed risk management plan (DOCX, 336KB) or (PDF, 290KB)
      • HREC ethics application form (or most recent draft)
      • HREC ethics approval (if approved before submitting this application)
      • participant materials and consent forms
      • research data collection tools such as surveys, interview schedules, or standardised instruments
      • blue card(s) (scanned copies) for all researchers having direct contact with youths.

    *Note: If these documents are not yet available, please forward this information as soon as practicable.

  • General

    Youth Justice

    Cultural responsiveness

    Data

  • The assessment and approval process takes approximately 8 weeks following the closure of the research round. Applications are considered regarding other research proposals, existing research projects, and a number of criteria, including the alignment of the proposal with the department’s research priority.

    Your application will be screened by the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team and, if qualified, will be subject to review by a research review panel and other key stakeholders within the department. You will be advised of the outcome by email. If your application is approved, you will be emailed a letter of approval and asked to sign a Deed of Agreement, and Research Confidentiality and Data Management Undertaking with the department which outline the conditions of project approval and matters related to data confidentiality.

    Qualifying criteria

    Applications should meet the following criteria to progress to the assessment stage:

    1. One or more planning meetings have been held with the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team (please email or call to arrange this after the research round opens).
    2. Project methodology and timeframes are feasible.
    3. Any data requested is available.
    4. Aligns to the research priority which is to support research with practical applications to Queensland's unique context.
    5. Demonstrated benefit to our department, youths, their families, and the wider community in Queensland.
    6. Consideration of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in project design (e.g. cultural training, ethics approval, data sovereignty, consultation, culturally appropriate outputs).
    7. All required documentation has been submitted.

    The Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team will consult with researchers who submit applications that do not qualify to provide feedback and support researchers to modify proposals, if needed. Researchers will be afforded three business days from the date feedback is provided by the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team to submit modified proposals.

    Shortlisting and endorsement

    A review panel will assess applications against the following criteria, weighted accordingly:

    • 30% – Alignment to the research priority
    • 20% – Clear and robust methodology
    • 20% – Demonstrated cultural capability and consideration
    • 15% – Achievable benefits and positive impact
    • 15% – Makes a valuable and unique contribution to the evidence base.

    The research review panel will shortlist applications for endorsement by internal stakeholders and, subsequently, approval by the Research Governance Group.

    Approval

    You will be advised of the outcome of your application by email. If your application is approved, you will be emailed a Letter of Approval and asked to complete the Deed of Agreement (PDF, 1.4MB) or (DOCX, 536KB), and the Research Confidentiality and Data Management Undertaking which outline the conditions of project approval, as well as matters related to data confidentiality. Please note that these documents are currently under review and updated versions will be made available at a later date. For clarification (if any), please reach out to the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation Team at researchandevaluation@youthjustice.qld.gov.au.

    Commencement

    The signed Deed of Agreement, Research Confidentiality and Data Management Undertaking, ethics approval, and blue cards (if applicable) must be received by the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team prior to project commencement. We will advise you when your project may commence.

Research translation and implementation

Conducting high-quality research is important, but it is also critical that the research is accessible, relevant and usable. Research translation is about bridging the gap between knowledge and action.

Implementation science is about how we use evidence, as well as evidence-based practices and programs, in everyday policy, program, and practice environments to maximise positive outcomes for our clients.

Translation and implementation planning aims to support researchers and our staff to ensure:

  • research findings are translated into products that meet decision-makers' needs and preferences and assist decision-makers to implement research findings
  • research-informed products are used by decision-makers to inform strategic policy, programs, and practice by policy, program, and practice decision-makers (end-users)
  • impact arising from the translation and implementation research can be monitored and evaluated
  • departmental research findings and impact are disseminated and communicated to audiences other than direct end-users, such as the general community, other government and non-government social services providers, the academic community, and/or specific sectors within those broad groups.

Researchers will be asked to undertake translation and implementation planning as part of their project. Researchers can use our translation and implementation planning guide (PPTX, 1,011KB) or (PDF, 381KB) and translation and implementation plan template (DOCX, 607KB) or (PDF, 222KB).

Youth Justice translation and implementation plans can be detailed and updated over the life of the project and recorded at a high level in the research application form. Projects with a high degree of investment and significant expected impacts require more detailed translation and implementation planning, which is expected to occur within a translation and implementation planning workshop facilitated by us.

Contact us

Contact the Youth Justice Research and Evaluation team via researchandevaluation@youthjustice.qld.gov.au.