The project represents an innovative collaboration between researchers, primarily based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and 10 government jurisdictions in WA.
The government departments involved in the Project are:
- Department of Health
- Department of Communities
- Department of Justice
- Department of Treasury
- Department of Training and Workforce Development
- Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Department of Education
- School Curriculum and Standards Authority
- Mental Health Commission
- WA Police
The Kids Research Institute Australia is dedicated to translation of research findings into policy and practice. In collaboration with community and consumer groups and the State government agencies, findings from the DPP will help inform whole of government intervention and prevention strategies to improve outcomes, influence policy frameworks as well as evaluate and monitor existing initiatives and policies that affect the health and well being of children, youth and their families.
The primary aims of this collaboration are to:
- Extend and expand the pioneering population level data linkage across multiple disciplines and government sectors in WA;
- Ascertain whether changes in factors at the child, family and community level increase or reduce vulnerability to adverse outcomes in mental and physical health, education, child maltreatment, juvenile offending, in all WA children;
- Identify areas of prevention and intervention across multiple government sectors, particularly regarding mental health, disabilities, child protection, juvenile justice, educational achievement and school attendance;
- Use these data to evaluate existing government initiatives and determine, at a population level, how initiatives have impacted on educational, social and health outcomes;
- Improve the collection, utilisation and reliability of Government department data in program evaluation and policy development; and
- Respond to the government departments’ agendas and policy frameworks, while enhancing whole of government initiatives.
Developmental Pathways Project Governance
The DPP adopts a governance structure that ensures maximum communication across all levels of the project.
- The Directors’ General Steering Committee includes the Directors General from all the participating agencies. The Directors’ General Steering Committee directs policy based research, and sets the research agenda. Their job is to decide the priority areas for their agencies, and to direct researchers toward those key areas.
- The Advisory panel sits below the Directors’ General Steering Committee and provides high level advice and expertise to the researchers. The Advisory panel has members from each of the government departments, as well as The Kids Research Institute Australia.
- The Research Management Group sits below the Advisory Panel and is kept informed of all scientific, research and management issues. This group also has members from each of the government agencies, members from The Kids Research Institute Australia, and all the researchers’ involved in the DPP.
At each level of governance there is a consumer and community representative. Consumer representatives help provide direction and advice, from a community perspective and help focus each of the projects on areas of importance to consumers.
