Data linkage project

A particular focus of Yuwaya Ngarra-li is on increasing the understanding and strategic use of administrative data to inform our planning, evaluation and progress towards Yuwaya Ngarra-li’s long-term aims. This is achieved through an iterative process of collaboration and capacity building between the DEG, UNSW and other stakeholders. 

Most of Yuwaya Ngarra-li’s early analysis of administrative data used publicly available data, including aggregated census, police, court, fines and education data. To enable more detailed analysis of youth justice system interactions, in 2022, Yuwaya Ngarra-li analysed de-identified unit record data provided by BOCSAR to measure changes over time in diversions, criminal court, and youth detention, before and after the Two River Pathway to Change model commenced. The findings were interpreted in conversations between the DEG and Research and Evaluation team and published as a research report. However, it was clear that justice system data are only one part of this puzzle, and that health, child protection, housing and education data are also important to a holistic understanding. It was also apparent that analysing publicly available data from different government agencies is not able to provide that understanding. The lack of flexibility of and gaps in publicly available data, and the limitation of analysing individual datasets in isolation, demonstrated the need for linked (de-identified) unit record data from multiple agencies to build on this work. 

The first step in planning the data linkage study (in Phase 1) was the development of a Data Linkage Protocol, led by the DEG secretary Virginia Robinson. Underpinned by Yuwaya Ngarra-li’s core principles, the Data Linkage Protocol is guiding all stages of the study, through an iterative process of sharing knowledge, interpretation and decision-making between Yuwaya Ngarra-li’s Research and Evaluation team and the DEG. 

Understanding institutional pathways of Aboriginal children and young people in Walgett: A data linkage study

Yuwaya Ngarra-li’s current work on data linkage is focused on a population based retrospective cohort study linking child protection, out of home care, health, housing, education, fines and criminal justice data for children and young people from Walgett and their immediate family members. This will enhance understanding of, and inform locally-led responses to, the relationships between institutional contact and pathways and different experiences and outcomes for children and young people in Walgett, and what works to help Aboriginal children and young people to thrive. 

The overall objective of this data linkage study is to improve the community’s understanding of and inform locally-led responses to the complex relationships between different experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people in Walgett and what works to help children and young people to thrive. This study will also have impact beyond the Walgett community as a demonstration of the operationalisation of IDG protocols; how research institutions and government departments can support Indigenous communities to lead their own research agendas.