Our research units
Justice Health NSW Research Unit
The Justice Health NSW Research Unit works to continuously improve patient health services by conducting and facilitating high-quality research, which is nationally and internationally recognised.
The Unit undertakes research aligned to our strategic priorities to provide the evidence-base to inform service delivery and planning.
The Unit's work includes:
- undertaking research that is aligned to Justice Health NSW’s strategic priorities to inform service delivery and planning.
- conducting research in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external agencies in accordance with standard ethics and governance approval processes.
- providing consultation to staff undertaking research.
- disseminating research.
- supporting the transition of research findings into policy and practice.
Contact the Justice Health NSW Research Unit by emailing: JHFMHN-ResearchUnit@health.nsw.gov.au
Current active projects
Patients’ Experiences and Perceptions Study – Qualitative Study  Aim: To develop an accurate understanding of patients’ evaluation of their healthcare while incarcerated using a qualitative approach. |
Patients Experiences and Perceptions Study (Phase II) and 2021 Health Literacy Study led by Prabin Chemjong  Aim: To determine the prevalence of factors that influence access to health care in custody as perceived by adult incarcerated patients. This study also aims to measure the health literacy of adult inmates and forensic patients in custody and in the Forensic Hospital. |
People in NSW Public Prisons: Health Status and Service Utilisation led by Dr Reem Zeki  Aim: The overarching aim of the project is to create evidence-based knowledge to inform service planning and delivery of care for people within publicly operated prisons in NSW. It is the first large-scale epidemiological study to use real-world, routinely collected Justice Health NSW data to describe health status and service utilisation of people NSW public prisons. |
Young People in NSW Detention Centres: Health Status and Service Utilisation led by Dr Sharlene Goodhew  Aim: To describe the physical and mental health status, and health service utilisation, of young people held in Youth Justice Centres in NSW. Utilising routinely collected patient-reported and administrative data, this study will inform service planning and delivery of care for Justice Health NSW’s adolescent patient population. |
Health Literacy in Prisons Project led by Scott Gill and Dr Julia Bowman in partnership with Professor Richard Osborne, Dr Christina Cheng and Caron Shaw  Aim: To undertake translational research through applying a health literacy development approach in the NSW prison system. The HLPP is a world-first study for the prison environment and is building upon the 2021 Health Literacy Study to build upon health literacy strengths and address challenges of people in NSW prisons. |
Banga-ma-la-nha: A collaborative through care program to support social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island females transitioning from prison to community  Aim: The aim of the Banga-ma-la-nha project is to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of incarcerated Aboriginal women aged 18 to 24 years transitioning from NSW prisons to community. This will be achieved through the co-design and leveraging of existing formal throughcare to be ‘fit for purpose’ in terms of culture, gender and age. |
Forensic Mental Health Research Team
The Forensic Mental Health Research Team, led by Professor Kimberlie Dean (Chair in Forensic Mental Health, UNSW) has developed a robust and integrated program of priority-driven research, which aims to improve outcomes for those experiencing mental illness within the criminal justice system in NSW.
The team is committed to producing high-quality scientific research that will inform future policy and service development initiatives locally and nationally, as well as contributing to the international evidence base. The team’s work includes:
- directly undertaking and or leading research projects
- working collaboratively with Justice Health NSW’s Research Unit
- supporting clinicians and other researchers across Justice Health NSW in developing and carrying out clinical research projects in forensic mental health
- providing research training to clinical staff
- supporting clinicians in higher degree research activities.
Find out more about the Forensic Mental Health program or contact Professor Kimberlie Dean by emailing: Kimberlie.Dean@health.nsw.gov.au
Current projects
- Care pathways of individuals diverted from local court into the mental health system in New South Wales.
- Mental health screening in reception centres.
Our research publications
2024
2023
File
People in NSW Prisons: Snapshot of service use by Aboriginal people - 2020 (PDF 993.99KB)File
People in Prisons: Snapshot of health status reported at reception by Aboriginal people - 2020 (PDF 1.43MB)File
People in NSW Public Prisons: Snapshot of CALD Peoples Health Fact Sheet (PDF 245.78KB)File
Harm Reduction in Prisons - Report 2 (PDF 1007.27KB)
2022
- Feasibility of an Intervention Targeting Health through Exergaming as an Alternative to Routine Treatment (PDF 2.99MB)
- 2021 Health Literacy Study (PDF 5.47MB)
- People in NSW Public Prisons: 2020 Health Status and Service Utilisation Report (PDF 9.78MB)
- People in NSW Public Prisons: Snapshot of women's health reported at reception – 2020 (PDF 89.84KB)
- People in NSW Public Prisons: Snapshot of substance use reported at reception – 2020 (PDF 93.53KB)
- People in NSW Public Prisons Snapshot of older people's health reported at reception - 2020 (PDF 102.51KB)
2021
Our key stakeholders
The following groups work in close collaboration to progress research priorities.
| Research Advisory Committee | A subcommittee of the Justice Health NSW Board responsible for leading Justice Health NSW’s strategic research agenda. |
| Research Strategy and Operations Committee | Engages and supports integration of Justice Health NSW's Research Strategy across the organisation. |
Our partners
| Research leads |
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| Research partners |
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| Our staff | Research is conducted by Justice Health NSW staff in a wide variety of settings and employing a range of methodological approaches including health prevalence surveys, follow up of cohorts, evaluation of interventions and service models, and trials of novel interventions. |
View all our publications.
Ignite - The Pitch
Justice Health NSW encourages a culture of innovation and supports the positive contribution of our team. To ensure that outstanding work and innovative practices are widely recognised and rewarded, we developed the Ignite Pitch (the Pitch) initiative to empower staff to 'pitch' their innovative ideas.
The aim of the Pitch is to:
- promote a culture of innovation
- recognise and reward staff contribution to Justice Health NSW.
- enable change to improve patient care
- empower and encourage staff to actively engage and contribute to improvement
- allow staff to identify where to invest adequate resources.
Funding is provided to support projects and ideas. To find out more about the Pitch, contact JHFMHN-PracticeDevelopmentUnit@health.nsw.gov.au.
Our past The Pitch award winners
2023
The following projects were funded:
- Deni Ring and Danielle King – The envelope and the patients journeys with external providers
- Nina Johnson – Mobilise to Immobilise
- Michelle Kightley and Jacqueline Sullivan – 'Waluwin', meaning: good, well, healthy
2022
People's Choice:
Your new home: providing practical assistance and instilling hope for the future
Shanyn Carpenter, Michelle Reid and Gerald Beltran
Chief Executive Choice:
A cultural shift from the use of seclusion
Alexander Hunt and Marina Mansour
Mindfulness through music
Olivia Leonard and Cortney Hitzeman
2021
People's Choice:
Virtual Simulation
Sarah Pellegrino
Chief Executive’s Choice:
Stay in Circulation
Josh Xu Feng
Contact Justice Health NSW Research
More options to contact us.
Research Governance and Ethics Officer:
JHFMHN-Ethics@health.nsw.gov.au
General research enquiries:
JHFMHN-ResearchUnit@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 9700 3000