Completed Projects

For more information about each project - please contact either Project's Chief Investigator or TILES.

2012

The Tasmanian Early Intervention Pilot Program (TEIPP): helping reduce alcohol misuse among young australians
Chief Investigator: Dr Isabelle Bartkowiak-Théron
Funding:Tasmania Police
The specific aims of the TEIPP evaluation were as follows:

• determine the ongoing need in Tasmania for an early intervention approach for young people under the age of 18 years in relation to alcohol;
• determine the effectiveness of the TEIPP in relation to the extent it impacted on changes in attitudes, use and behaviours surrounding the consumption of alcohol by young people under the age of 18years; and
• provide recommendations to the Tasmanian Government and initiative stakeholders in relation to the continuation of the TEIPP at the completion of the commonwealth-funded EIPP (DPEM Early Intervention Policy Framework, 2010).

TEIPP Evaluation Report Sept 2012 pdf 1.96MB

Project Reports:

IRC Final Evaluation Report Nov 2012 pdf 1.81MB
IRC First Interim Evaluation Report August 2011 pdf 1MB
IRC Second Interim Evaluation Report Final April 2012 pdf 1MB
IRC Discussion Paper Final December 2011 pdf 792KB

Police Commissioners 'Tales from the Field'
Chief Investigator: Professor Jenny Fleming
Funding: Public Administration Trust Fund

Longitudinal Review of the Risk Assessment Screening Tool (RAST)
(confidential report - not available)
Chief Investigators: Mr Ron Mason and Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: Department of Police and Emergency Management (DPEM)
As part of the overall response to family violence, Tasmania Police utilise a Risk Assessment Screening Tool (RAST) to assess the risk of a victim experiencing future violence. TILES was commissioned to conduct a review of the RAST. The project was divided into two parts: validation and a longitudinal analysis.

Policing Issues and Crime - Analysis of Tasmanian Data
Chief Investigators: Professor Jenny Fleming and Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC)
The research comprised statistical analysis of a dataset containing Tasmania Police data held by the AIC.

2011

"The Public gets what the Public wants?" Managing public expectations of the police
Chief Investigator: Professor Jenny Fleming
Funding: British Academy and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
A UK workshop was held in London in June 2009 and in Australia (Hobart) in December 2009. Workshop in Hobart >

In Search of a Process: Community Policing in Australia
Chief Investigator: Professor Jenny Fleming
Funding: University of Tasmania

2010

The Concentration of Offending and Related Social Problems in Tasmanian Families
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Roberta Julian and Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr Vanessa Goodwin
Funding: Department of Police and Emergency Management (DPEM)
The aim of the study was to explore the extent to which crime and related social problems (e.g. chronic dependence on social security, poor health, transience, truancy, neglect, poverty) are concentrated in Tasmanian families, with a view to identifying ways to break the cycle of inter-generational crime and better respond to the needs of families with multiple problems.
TILES Briefing Paper No.8 pdf

Review and Evaluation of the Officer Next Door Program
Chief Investigators: Dr Nicole Asquith, Ms Mary Eckhardt, Ms Romy Winter and Ms Danielle Campbell
Contact: Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: Housing Tasmania
Review and Evaluation of the Officer Next Door Program - Report 1.56MB pdf

Evaluation of the 'Trial of Alcohol Interlocks' Project
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Roberta Julian, and Mr Ron Mason
Funding: Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
This project provided assessment and evaluation services for a trial of alcohol interlock usage amongst Tasmanian drivers with past alcohol offences.

2009

Evaluation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) funded Suicide Prevention Community Based Initiatives Program (confidential report))
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Roberta Julian, and Ms Jacqui Prichard
Funding: Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) Inc
The primary goal of the project being evaluated is to increase the capacity for prevention, intervention and postvention management of suicide-related crises in refugee and other vulnerable migrant communities and associated support services in Tasmania. The evaluation of the Program will involve the collection of evidence relating to each of these objectives. This will be achieved through reviews of the project implementation and governance, the training programs, and the development and pilot of the decision tree.

A Conversation on Trust: Community Policing and Refugee Settlement in Regional Australia
Campbell D and Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: Australian Research Council and the Industry Partners (Tasmania Police and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship) for the funding received under the Linkage Projects Scheme.
Final Report pdf

2008

Community Policing and Refugee Settlement in Regional Australia – A Case Study of Tasmania
Chief Investigators: Ms Danielle Campbell, PhD Candidate, Inspector Craig Waterhouse, Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant, Industry Partners: Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and Department of Police and Emergency Management (DPEM). This 3-year project described, analysed and theorised police-refugee relations in regional Australia. It compared refugee settlement in two rural/regional areas in Tasmania through the lens of police-refugee relations. In particular, it identified ways in which community policing can enhance settlement experiences and reduce crime among refugees in regional Australia. It is significant in that it examined both positive and negative aspects of community policing in the context of refugee settlement in order to develop a best-practice model. Given the Government’s policy of encouraging settlement in regional Australia, there was an urgent need to analyse these processes.
contact: Associate Professor Roberta Julian

Evaluation of Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative Mentoring Project
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Dr Raimondo Bruno and Ms Romy Winter
Funding: Mission Australia
TILES is assisting with the design, coordination and conduct of an evaluation for the Illcit Drug Diversion Initiative Mentoring Project. The Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative aims to divert minor drug offenders from the criminal justice system and into compulsory assessment, treatment and/or education.

Trialing Social Norms Strategies for Minimising Alcohol-Related Harm Among Rural Youth
Chief Investigators:Dr Clarissa Hughes, Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Inspector Matthew Richman
Funding: Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF)
TILES and the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) were excited about conducting the first Australian trial of the Social Norms approach to substance abuse prevention in Tasmania. TILES and UDRH were awarded nearly $500,000, from the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF), to conduct trials in Huonville and on the West Coast of Tasmania.Detailed Social Norms web pages were set up to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing around this program.

2007

Operational Performance Reviews: Issues for Police Effectiveness (confidential report)
Chief Investigators: Peter Southgate, Associate Professor Roberta Julian and Inspector Matthew Richman
The paper traced the development of Operational Performance Review (OPR) and similar management systems in the police service, particularly in New York, Queensland and Tasmania. It examined an evaluation of OPR in Queensland and, followed an account of the Tasmanian Corporate Performance Review system, discussed the results of a replication of the Queensland study using Tasmanian data. In the light of these results, and with reference back to the US experience, the paper concluded with suggestions for how to achieve a better understanding of the ways OPR systems actually work.

Making sense of partnerships: A study of police and housing department collaboration for tackling drug and related problems on public housing estates
Monogram Series No 26
Contact: Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, an initiative of the National Drug Strategy.
Final report pdf

2006

Forensic Science and Policing in a Cross-Cultural Context – The Case of Australian Police in Bali (confidential report)
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Associated Investigators:Dr Pam Allen, Dr Rob Hall
Funding:University of Tasmania through its Institutional Research Grants Scheme (IRGS)
This pilot project aimed to identify key social, cultural and organisational factors that affected the work of Australian forensic police and scientists who were deployed in Bali as part of the Disaster Victim Identification team. While the research focused on members of Tasmania Police it also involved interviews with members of the Australian Federal Police and Indonesian Police, analysis of media reports on Australian-Indonesian police relations, and an organisational analysis of the two police services. The research analysed an important area of expertise available among Tasmania Police and contributed to the development of benchmarks in cross-cultural training for Australian police being deployed in the Asia-Pacific region. The research has the potential to contribute to the positioning of Tasmania and TILES as a key site for training and research in forensic and community policing for Australian police being deployed in the Asia-Pacific region. This research will add value to previous research by TILES on forensic policing.

Enhancing the Implementation and Management of Drug Diversion Strategies in Australian Law Enforcement Agencies (confidential report)
Chief Investigators:Professor Aynsley Kellow, Dr Rob Hall, Inspector Matthew Richman, Dr Megan Alessandrini, Ms Marnie Bower, Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Professor Rob White
Funding: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund (NDLERF)
This Project systematically assessed the implementation and management of drug diversion strategies in law enforcement agencies in Victoria , Tasmania and South Australia. It identified evidence-based good practice. Fundamental to the Project was the development of an implementation and management matrix and a performance-strengthening evaluation model that can be applied to, and by, all police organisations in Australia. It was an innovative project that drew on the expertise of researchers in the fields of policy studies, administrative law, criminology, police studies and public sector management. It also drew on the expertise of police practitioners. Fundamental to the Project was its portability and applicability across law enforcement agencies and over diversion frameworks. It was envisaged that the Project outcomes will be applied to all law enforcement agencies in Australia. It was also anticipated that there will be significant benefits for stakeholders in the judicial and health sectors. The Project methodology involved three identical mass surveys administered to all police officers in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia seeking information about their perceptions of, and orientations toward, their State's drug diversion strategies. Extensive face to face interviews were also conducted with other key judicial and health stakeholders.

Local Implementation of Ramsar Convention Obligations – Grassroots Governance in China and Australia
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Baogang He, Dr Robert Hall , Dr Lorne Kriworken
Funding: University of Tasmania through its Institutional Research Grants Scheme (IRGS)
This project examined local implementation of Ramsar Convention obligations in China and Australia. It aimed to identify patterns of local governance and the impact these have on the implementation of, and compliance with, convention obligations. Factors facilitating and impeding compliance were identified. The Project helped to fill a significant gap in understanding grassroots implementation of international environmental agreements.
contact: Dr Robert Hall (UTAS)

Evaluation of Project Currawong (confidential report)
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Paulette Musket, Inspector Matthew Richman
Funding: Department of Police and Emergency Management (DPEM)
Project Currawong was an early intervention and diversionary program aimed at addressing risk while building and enhancing protective factors for young people deemed to be 'at risk' and/or for young offenders. Project Currawong was an extension of two previous pilot projects that resulted in significant downward trends in levels of offending, positive attitudinal changes and a reduction in aggressive behaviour toward authority figures among the participants. Building on the original Project Hahn model, a three-tiered program was developed concentrating on client groups with specific needs and risk factors. After completion of the course the aim was to successfully reintegrate participants into their community or to assist them to work towards their goals.

The focus of the project was on:

• Breaking the cycle of offending;
• Reducing recidivism;
• Facilitating employment and educational opportunities;
• Improving coordination of services when managing/mentoring young people;
• Assisting personal change and building self-resilience rather than dependence;
• Reconnecting young people 'at risk' with their community; and
• Building the community's capacity to resolve youth issues.

The research was evidence-based and aimed to identify best-practice in wilderness-based youth diversionary programs.

Comparative Analysis of Streetsafe in Hobart and Launceston
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Roberta Julian, C Hughes and Inspector Matthew Richman
Final Report pdf

Work Place Diversity Survey
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Mr Ron Mason
Funding: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
TILES has expertise in survey design and implementation, and was collaborating with the DHHS to develop and analyse a proposed General Staff Survey on Workplace Diversity to be implemented in 2005. A new State Service Act came into effect on 1 May 2001 giving Agencies more flexibility in organising work practices as well as encouraging modern management practices in the workplace. State Service Principles and a Code of Conduct were incorporated into the State Service Act replacing set and often inflexible rules and regulations. Workplace Diversity is described in the State Service Principles as:The State Service provides a workplace that is free from discrimination and recognises and utilises the diversity of the community it serves.The DHHS has developed a Workplace Diversity Management Plan to implement the principles and values of ‘Workplace Diversity’. The Workplace Diversity Survey is one performance indicator that has been identified as useful for measuring the success of the workplace diversity plan.

2002 - 2005

A Guide to Developing Stronger Community Partnership: Based on the Model Developed in Huon Valley
Contact: Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Heath, A (2005), Department of Police and Public Safety and TILES.
Report pdf

Young Recidivist Car Theft Offender (U-turn) Local Evaluation Tasmania
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Roberta Julian , Dr Megan Alessandrini & Professor Aynsley Kellow (2005) TILES
Final Report pdf

National Institute of Forensic Science - Partnership Projects 2002-2005 (confidential reports)
Forensic Science and Policing in Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS)
In September 2002, a pilot project was conducted in Tasmania for a national study of forensic science and policing in Australia. The study was undertaken by NIFS with advice and expertise being provided by researchers at the University of Tasmania through TILES. The primary aim of the study was to determine the level of awareness of forensic science and what it offered different groups. That is, it focused on police officers' perceptions of needs and 'gaps' in their awareness of forensic science, and on their perceptions of areas where forensic science has the potential to add value to their roles and functions. This study was followed up in South Australia in 2003 and then in Victoria in 2004.

Safe at Home - Family Violence Risk Assessment Screening Tool (RAST) (2005 - confidential report)
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Winter R
Academic Panel: Professor Aynsley Kellow, Associate Professor Lorraine Mazerolle, Dr Jane Shakespeare-Finch, Dr Barbara Baird; Ms Clair Andersen, Mr Rick Snell
Funding: Department of Police and Emergency Management (DPEM)
Safe at Home involved a range of initiatives and new services that represented a significant change to the way Tasmania responds to family violence: family violence is to be treated as a crime rather than a private matter. The Safe at Home Project was an innovative, whole of Government approach developed to lesson the occurrence and impact of family violence in Tasmania. It involved legislative change and new approaches to assessing risk and enhancing the safety of the victims of family violence, including children. This project involved a review of the diagnostic instrument utilised by Tasmania to assess the risk of family violence. It undertook an evaluation of past and present risk assessment tools. An academic panel was established to review the results. Recommendations were made on the current tool to inform future use and training needs.

Evaluation of the U-Turn Supported Accommodation
Chief Investigators:Associate Professor Roberta Julian, Dr Megan Alessandrini
Funding: The Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF)
The U-Turn Program acquired a house in Warrane a suburb of Hobart and appointed a supported housing care worker. This added an important and influential component to U-Turn. The structure of U-Turn allowed for significant comparative analysis between those in a residential program and those who were not. It is known that whether one remains in, or is removed from, one’s usual environment can have a major impact on the success of programs aimed at behavioural change. This addition to the U-Turn Project provided an exciting opportunity to investigate these wider environmental and social factors. The housing initiative constituted a distinct project in its own right and allowed for the evaluation of the impact of a range of social factors that would not otherwise be possible without the residential component. These included the:

• impact of peer relationships;
• impact of removal from the usual social environment; and
• impact of this relocation on sustained behaviour change when the young person returned to their original environment.

Mass Survey of Blood Donors and Non-Donors for Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Contact: Associate Professor Roberta Julian
Funding: Australian Research Council (ARC)
TILES conducted a mass survey of blood donors and non-donors for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. The survey was conducted as part of an ARC Linkage Grant awarded to Dr Megan Alessandrini (School of Government, University of Tasmania) and Professor Ian Buchanan (Charles Darwin University). The survey, which had been distributed to a national sample of approximately 30,000 people, aimed to establish how blood donation was linked to lifestyles and communities, and to find out who donated blood and why. The ARCBS anticipated that the findings from this research would enable them to increase the numbers of blood donors in Australia. This project demonstrated that TILES has the capacity to undertake large scale survey research on a national level.