1. Landscaping the Research/Policy Nexus
Dr Kate Liley | Manager | Evidence and Modelling

2. Overview The view from here
The research context for the Queensland Department of Communities
Landscaping tools
Research Management Framework, Policy and Procedures
In the field
Putting research to work
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field

3. Overview: Landscaping the policy/research nexus
The research/policy nexus can be a ‘jungle’ of data, ideas, needs and approaches from government and academic sectors.
The right tools can help to landscape the ‘jungle’ and forge good working relationships…
…leading to the development of evidence to inform and support government policy and service priorities.
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field

4. Machinery-of-Government
In March 2009, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh made significant changes to the Queensland Government to provide better coordination and services to Queenslanders.
The new streamlined government is the most significant reform in almost two decades and involves the restructure of 23 departments into 13 departments.
These changes have necessitated the streamlining of research, evaluation and review policy and procedures across an expanded Queensland Department of Communities to ensure the department continues to collaborate in, and commission the development of robust evidence with which to inform policy and practice for its service areas.
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field 4

5. Our Service Areas
The Queensland Department of Communities service areas are:
Housing and Homelessness services
Child Safety, Youth and Families, Community Participation
Disability and Community Care Services & Multicultural Affairs Queensland
Sport and Recreation Services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Queensland Department of Communities participation and investment in research includes commissioned research based on a purchaser-provider model and collaborative research through Australian Research Council Linkage Grants of approximately $4.73M across service areas.
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field

6. Policy and Service Priorities
In terms of research, our Strategic Framework and Strategic Plan translate to prioritising research that aligns with the departmental vision of Fair, cohesive and vibrant Queensland communities and our purpose in providing integrated community services that strengthen Queensland.
Our Policy and Service priorities are:
contributing to the Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland Strong, Healthy, Green, Smart and Fair ambitions by leading the Target Delivery Plan on Volunteering and contributing to the Chronic Disease, Waiting Lists, and Jobless Households targets;
Implementing National Agreement and Partnership commitments effectively, including those on Affordable Housing, Disability, Mental Health and Home and Community Care; and
From the Queensland Department of Communities Strategic Framework at
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field 6

7. Policy and Service Priorities
Closing the Gap by working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders and others, supporting reconciliation and driving reform in services, infrastructure and planning in communities and making mainstream services more responsive;
Supporting Queensland’s children and families at risk of entering the child protection system through earlier intervention and better access to a range of services;
Driving policy and service reform to strengthen Queensland’s community service system and working with the NGO sector to implement the Queensland Compact;
Supporting Queenslanders impacted by natural disasters and other crises; and
Delivering a substantial capital works program to support improved client services.
From the Queensland Department of Communities Strategic Framework at
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field 7

8. ‘Line-of-sight’ National Research Priorities
Strengthening Australia’s social and economic fabric
State Research Priorities
Health and well-being
Whole-of-Government Priorities
Towards Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland
Department of Communities Research Priorities
Strategic Framework and Strategic Plan (Collaborative Research)
Service Area Research Priorities
Identifying and addressing gaps in the evidence base (Commissioned research)
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field 8

9. Strategic Planning in Research I
The Department separates research purpose from research process
The department’s processes for managing research (including principles, standards and templates) are independent of the department’s purposes (priorities and strategy) for supporting research (e.g. the department’s policy, program, service, HR and finance processes continue even in the event of change to priorities and strategy under a continuous improvement model)
This approach supports the department’s capacity to commission and collaborate in research that may run for more than one year, effectively providing continuity and consistency in management practice.
Under these conditions and with an expanded department, a distributed management model for research was initiated.
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools
In the Field 9

10. Strategic Planning in Research II
The Research Management Framework, policy and procedures sets out a clear pathway for the department across standards of research quality and conduct:
Ability to monitor contractual responsibilities and funding commitments
Need to comply with legal and ethical requirements
Clarity for researchers on collaborating with the department
Set departmental standards for commissioning and collaborating in research
Guidelines for assessing research project proposals and managing roles and responsibilities of researchers and department.
Guidance for business units on R&D priority areas and quality of research projects that the department should support.
Landscaping Tools
The View from Here
In the Field 10

11. Research, Evaluation and Review Policy
Research Management
Research, Evaluation and Review Policy
(Who does what?)
Research,
Evaluation
and Review
Procedures
(How do we do it?
Research Management
Framework
(What standards
do we apply?)
Evaluation and
Review Guidelines
(What standards
do we apply?)
Landscaping Tools
The View from Here
In the Field 11

12. Benefits Realisation
Increased certainty about processes and expectations for the department and researchers
Improved translation of research into evidence for policy and practice
Improved relationships between the department and researchers
Benefits to clients who participate in research – ethics review, informed consent, adverse incident monitoring and reporting
Potential to leverage resources and support for research
Private sector – Universities, NGOs, business
Public Sector - Other Commonwealth, State, Local government
Specialist research funding agencies
Landscaping Tools
The View from Here
In the Field 12

13. Research Management Framework
The Research Management Framework (RMF) is a designed to guide the participation of the Department of Communities in commissioned and collaborative research. The RMF embodies the current Research, Evaluation and Review Policy and Procedures for the department.
Key elements include:
Pro forma such as data licences, confidentiality agreements, example Information and Consent forms, Data Release Application under s297 of the Youth Justice Act 1992
Research application process and calendar for both ARC Linkage Projects and non-ARC Linkage Research
Landscaping Tools
The View from Here
In the Field

14. Strategic Planning in Research III
Acknowledging the line of sight from the National to the department’s research agenda, key research questions emerge such as:
What are our interventions?
Best practice policy and services delivered to high need populations- locations
Who are our clients (and where are they)?
Identifying and monitoring valid and reliable indicators of need, risk and protective factors affecting the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities
How we will know when we have achieved our outcomes
Changes in the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities attributable, in whole or in part, to an intervention or series of interventions
Landscaping Tools
The View from Here
In the Field 14

15. Research Register (Abridged)
In the Field
The View from Here
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16. Key Steps in EBM
STEP 1: CONSTANT UPDATE OF COMSIS, DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE GATHERING
STEP 2a: NEEDS IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS/BEST PRACTICE
Identification of need, risk and protective factors for localities
STEP 2b: REGIONAL VALIDATION OF NEEDS ANALYSIS
Identification of need, risk and protective factors for localities
matched to regional experience
STEP 3: SERVICE SYSTEM ANALYSIS
Includes Service System Analysis (Geospatial mapping of need against service locations, service capacity, catchments, service continuum and community capacity)
STEP 5: IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND REVIEW
STEP 4: DECISION MADE and FINALISATION OF DEPARTMENTAL PLAN
In the Field
The View from Here
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17. Principles of Evidence Based Management Frameworks
Focus on particular target group and/or issue (community of interest).
Smallest number of measures with greatest analytic power.
Combine high quality quantitative data and professional judgement.
All data on common small area geography (community as place).
Present as multiple layers of meaning relevant to policy makers, service providers and clients.
EBM results are indicative not definitive and the process delivers options not solutions.
In the Field
The View from Here
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18. Collaborative long term research
ARC Linkage Grant: The Neglected Dimension of Community Liveability: Impact on Social Connectedness and Active Ageing
Professor Laurie Buys, Queensland University of Technology
Current three-year ARC Linkage Grant with Gold Coast City Council and the Seniors Council of Queensland
Project looks at the individual, societal and structural dimensions of ‘social connectedness’ and identifying risk and protective factors that influence social participation and ‘active ageing’.
Project will identify and describe:
- risk and protective factors relevant to community liveability in diverse
contexts and locations;
- best practice strategies, and
- practical guidelines for state and local governments, community services and agencies.
Project will produce a ‘Community Liveability Package’ detailing:
- risk and protective factors related to social isolation;
- housing guidelines, mobility options; and
- neighbourhood/community environments
Key points: An example of ARC research that speaks to the strategic priorities of the Department
Current Status: We are currently in the middle of data collection – but it might be helpful to explain briefly our process of getting to our current stage.
GPS and Mapping:
We spent considerable time and effort investigating various mapping programs and systems (thanks Kate!) and the necessary hardware and software.  At the same time we researched and trialled over 10 GPS units.  I won’t go into lots of detail, but after some months we found the best possible (and conducted training sessions for the team):
GPS units
Computers (with extra large screens for mapping)
Mapping programs (using Google Earth)
Participants:
We recruited participants for the four stages of the research:
Brisbane High Density (12 participants)         GPS tracking 17 – 23 March              Interviews 12 – 19 April           
Brisbane Low Density (12 participants)          GPS tracking 8th – 14 April                Interviews 6 – 11  May
Toowoomba (12 participants)                         GPS tracking  24 – 30 April                Interviews 27 – 28  May
Roma (12 participants)                                   GPS tracking  19  - 25 May                Interviews  16 – 17 June
Each participant engages in two aspects of the research project.  Initially over a one week period, participants a) carry the GPS device everywhere and b) record their travels, activities and experiences in a diary.  Approximately two weeks later, the participants have an in-depth interview with our research team – exploring the maps and discussing their life and community. 
We completed the High Density stage and are now in the middle of the Low Density stage (on schedule!).
Our research students (Desley Vine and Elisabeth Zeitler) are powering away with their projects.  Desley successfully completed her Stage 2 and Confirmation of Candidature (with no changes!!).  Elisabeth successfully completed her Stage 2 and is approaching her Confirmation of Candidature (she is aiming to transfer to a PhD).
Current Research team:
Kim van Megen  -       responsible for recruiting and organising participants and interviews
Elisabeth Zeitler  -       responsible for mapping
Rosemary Aird -         conducts interviews and coding
Jeff Sommerfeld -      conducts interviews
Stephen Snow -          mapping
Luisa Grossman -       mapping
In the Field
The View from Here
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19. Commissioned Short Term Research
Funding Allocation Models for the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP): Combining Indicators into a funding formula (Allen Consulting Group)
The intention of this project was to:
develop principles that could reasonably apply to funding models that accounted for indicative community need and the likely costs of servicing that need;
Provide an illustration of how available indicators could be combined into a formula
Evidence and Modelling have revised this model to inform discussion around matching service needs matching to target populations
Key points: Shows building on an evidence base, and a research output for senior execs and cross government consideration
In the Field
The View from Here
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20. Resource Allocation Approach
Define
Target
Population
for service area
(NBPRAF process)
Define key
Indicators
as factors for weighting
(Disadvantage,
Remoteness)
Prioritise
indicators
Derive
Weights
(RAM Model)
Apply weighted
need
across regions
Consider weighted
data (quantitative)
in regional
context (qualitative)
In the Field
The View from Here
Landscaping Tools 20

21. Indicators of need, population-based proportions and Weightings
PROPOSED WEIGHTING
Brisbane
Central Queensland
Far North Queensland
North Coast
North Queensland
South East
South West
Share of Youth Population (general need measure)
1.106
0.960
0.915
1.013
1.070
0.976
Proportion of SLAs that are remote (ARIA)
0.869
1.067
1.302
0.857
0.981
Population share of Q1 and Q2 (at-risk)
0.975
1.022
0.939
1.019
1.042
1.028
Population share of Indigenous in Region (over-representation measure)
0.958
0.992
1.096
0.942
1.063
0.965
0.984
All factors basis
1.005
1.000
1.066
0.937
1.010
1.002
0.978
In the Field
The View from Here
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22. Large population and central office function
Outcome Example
High needs region with additional costs of rural and remote service delivery
High needs region with additional cost of rural and remote service delivery
Large population and central office function
In the Field
The View from Here
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23. Synthesis
Geospatial analysis is one method of synthesising and communicating information and data:
basic map of Queensland and statistical local areas
thematic layer (such as disadvantage)
Dot density of Target Population
community capacity analysis (internal research)
service system and other relevant service data
Cost and benefit analysis
Service system network analysis
In the Field
The View from Here
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24. Example output: Quantitative data
In the Field
The View from Here
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