The Research and Resources Hub provides a monthly outline ofQueensland-relevant researchactivities concerning the wellbeing of children and young people. At the beginning of each month, the Scan will outline research activities that haveoccurred within QFCC and across the sector over the past month. The Scan will also preview upcoming research-related activities.
This is the Scan’s first edition, covering research activities that have occurred since the beginning of 2016.
What we’ve doneRumble’s Quest
Rumble’s Quest, a computer game-based measure of children’s emotional and social wellbeing, was launched in May. The measure was developed by Dr Kate Freiberg and Professor Ross Homel of Griffith University, with QFCCassisting with development of support materials for the measure. The launch was attended by the QFCC project team and Assistant Commissioner Andrea Lauchs. QFCC’s Applied Research Projects teamwill assist Griffith University to trial the measure in schools and NGOs. Trialling is anticipated to begin in July.
Talking Families
Over the past few months, QFCC’s Community Education team has worked with IPSOS to prepare the reports based on the data collected for the Talking Families campaign. The reports describe Queenslanders’ parenting stress, help-seeking behaviours, and perceptions of stigma regarding help-seeking. It is hoped that the final reports will be ready in June.
Stability in out-of-home care
QFCC’s Applied Research Projects team has begun work on a project thatwill document, from the perspective of agencies providing out-of-home care services, the factors that impact on stability of care. The project will include exploration of the challenges that may be unique in protecting and caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The project team hasconsulted with six agencies who offer out-of-home care services, and Foster Care Queensland.
QFCC Research and Resources Hub
Between January and April, QFCC developed a Research and Resources Hub. The Hub will help facilitate research activities within QFCC, and coordinate research partnerships between QFCC and external parties. The Hub will also disseminate research findings within QFCC and to the community and sector. An initial focus of the Hub’s activities will be the research gaps identified by practitioners and researchers from the child protection and family support sector.
From the sector
Effects of the PCYC outdoor intervention program on youths’ mental health and behaviour
Bowen, D. J., & Neill, J. T. (2016). Effects of the PCYC Catalyst outdoor adventure intervention program on youths’ life skills, mental health, and delinquent behaviour. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 21(1), 34-55.
Findings suggest that the Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association’s Catalyst program, which is an outdoor adventure-based intervention, has positive effects on life-effectiveness skills (e.g., emotional resilience and communication) and psychological wellbeing in 13–15-year-old youth at risk of developing negative life trajectories. However, there were mixed results for behavioural functioning. After the intervention, there was a decrease in some negative behaviours (e.g., fighting and stealing), but an increase in others (e.g., skipping school and using drugs).
Systematic review of violence interventions
Cox, E., Leung, R., Baksheev, G., Day, A., Toumbourou, J. W., Miller, P., Kremer, P., & Walker, A. (2016). Violence prevention and intervention programs for adolescents in Australia: A systematic review. Australian Psychologist, 51, 206-222.
The review revealed limited effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing adolescent violence. Results did not support the effectiveness of universal interventions aimed at reducing bullying and alcohol- and other drug-related violence. More promising results were obtained for universal interventions aimed at antisocial and general violent behaviour. The review highlights the difficult of comparing results across studies using different outcome measures.
Preschool attendance
O’Connor, M., Gray, S., Tarasuik, J., O’Connor, E., Kvalsvig, A., Incledon, E., & Goldfield, S. (2016). Preschool attendance trends in Australia: Evidence from two sequential population cohorts. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 35(2nd quarter), 31-39.
The paper reports on preschool attendance of Australian children in the year prior to starting school, in 2008 and 2011. In both cohorts, most children (just over 73%) attended preschool the year before starting school. However, attendance was substantially lower for children from non-English-speaking backgrounds, children from Indigenous backgrounds, and children from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, compared with children not in these groups.
What’s coming up
QFCC Research in the Round, 28 June, Brisbane
QFCC will host its inaugural Research in the Round forum at Queensland University of Technology. The forum will facilitate information sharing among researchers and practitioners in child protection and related fields. Three speakers will present information about their current research. Associate Professor Daryl Higgins, Deputy Director of Research at Australian Institute of Family Studies, will coordinate discussion between audience members and speakers.
Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) Conference, 6-8 July, Melbourne
QFCC will attend the conference – Research to Results: Using Evidence to Improve Outcomes for Families –and,on the evening of Thursday, July 7, will host a social event that features discussion of the translation of research evidence into results for Queensland’s vulnerable children. One focus will beQFCC’s work to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking through the Talking Families campaign. The event will also present information about the oneplace community services directory, and QFCC’s involvement in Rumble’s Quest, a computer game-based measure of children’s social and emotional wellbeing. For more information, visit
Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI) Conference, 19-22 July, Sydney
ACSPRI, which promotes and enhances social science methods in Australia, will hold its conference Social Science in Australia: 40 Years on in Sydney in July. The conference brings together researchers and methodologists from various disciplines, and will address research paradigms and designs; research methods and techniques; research technology and tools; and datasets, data collections, and data archiving. For more information, visit
Early Years Conference, 4-5 August, Cairns
The conference, which is a collaboration between government departments and non-government organisations, will aim to support family and child wellbeing through promoting partnerships and evidence-based practice. For more information, visit
Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) Conference, 15-17 August, Sydney
The ACWA 2016 conference – Pathways to Protection and Permanency: Getting it Right for Children, Young People, and Families – will address the importance of decision making in promoting the security of care for children. Specific issues addressed will include research, policy, and practice; children’s best interests; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities. For more information, visit
Australasian Youth Justice Conference, 13-15 September, Brisbane
The 2nd Australasian Youth Justice Conference, From Evidence to Practice, will be presented by the Australasian Juvenile Justice Administrators and the Griffith Criminology Institute. Keynote speakers include experts in indigenous peoples and the law; youth mental health; psychiatry; and youth justice. For more information, visit
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