Apply for a research partnership

On this page you can find all the information you need to apply for a research partnership. It explains the process step by step. While we will do our best to make the process as smooth as possible, please be aware that it may take 3-4 months to complete. It is good to consider this when planning your project.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applications for a research partnership may be submitted by researchers, academics and postgraduate students. We also accept applications from NGOs, peak bodies, government departments and the private sector.

Research areas we can collaborate on are:

• Housing
• Homelessness
• Child protection
• Out-of-home-care, including the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS) dataset
• Disability (data available up to 2016/17)

To see what data in these research areas is already publicly available, please visit our DCJ statistics page.

For information on other research areas across the Department of Communities and Justice, please visit our Research Hub.

The application process step by step

Step 1 – Ethics approval

Obtain ethics approval for your research project from a Human Service Research Ethics Committee that is registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). This step should ideally be completed before you send us your application. It can, however, be undertaken concurrently with the research Partnerships processes but evidence of approval from an Ethics Committee must be provided before the research agreement is signed.

Please note that Ethics approvals from an Aboriginal Ethics Committee is a requirement for any project that: 

• disaggregates data analysis and findings for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people or 
• if you are planning to interview clients or staff for any programs where there is an overrepresentation of Aboriginal people compared to the population

Step 2 – Application

Fill in the Research Partnerships Application Form (DOCX, 128.4 KB) and send it to ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Step 3 – Assessment

Our team will assess your application. We will consider questions such as:

• Does the project align with the DCJ Research Strategy 2020-2025 and the DCJ Strategic Direction 2020-2024.
• Are the research questions and the methodology robust?
• Is the project feasible and the data available?
• Is the data requested appropriate to answer the research question?
• Does the project include Aboriginal researchers, collaborators and/or advisory groups? Do Aboriginal people have a say in or ownership of the research design and the interpretation and reporting of research findings? Given the over-representation of Aboriginal people in our client groups has there been consideration of the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty and Indigenous data governance?
• Are the suggested timeframes achievable?

Step 4 – Endorsement

The research partnerships team will seek endorsement for your project from our program, policy and Aboriginal outcomes teams. This is to make sure that your research is relevant to programs and practice, can help improve the lives of our clients and is culturally safe and with sufficient Aboriginal governance. If you are requesting access to DCJ staff or clients, we will ask our operations and district colleagues to confirm that your project is feasible as well as safe for participants.

Step 5 – IT security assessment

If you are requesting access to DCJ datasets, our IT security team will undertake a risk assessment to ensure that our data is transferred and stored safely.

Step 6 – Research agreement

We will negotiate a research agreement with the research organisation. The Research Partnership Program has a standard research agreement that includes sections on the scope of the research, conflicts of interest, information use and protection, publications, insurances, intellectual property, liability and indemnity and dispute resolution.

• Please note that under our research agreement you will be required to submit for approval any journal articles, reports, book manuscripts, presentations or conference papers that use DCJ data prior to presentation or submission for publication.

Step 7 – Final approval

If your project involves the use of DCJ data, final approval will be sought from the relevant data custodian. If your project involves participation of DCJ staff or clients, final approval will be sought from the relevant Deputy Secretary.  If approval/s are granted, both parties will sign the research agreement

Step 8 – Project start

We will arrange the data transfer or refer DCJ staff and/or clients to your project.

Step 9 – Research Execution

• You will be asked to send us your publications and reports before you submit them for publication.
• We will ask you for a simple annual report.
• We can collaborate with you to translate your findings for policy and practice. For more information on knowledge translation see the Work with us to translate your research findings page.

Step 10 – Completion of project

Any questions? Contact us at ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au