Research
Quin's PhD is focused on developing The Engagement Blueprint, an Indigenous-grounded, youth-defined and evidence-based standard for engaging disengaged and at-risk young people across a range of service settings.
The research asks what meaningful engagement looks like when young people are treated as knowledge holders, not problems to be fixed. It explores belonging, trust, cultural safety, youth voice, relational practice, pathway development, and systems reform, while drawing strongly on understandings of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB). Recognising that wellbeing extends beyond the individual, the research examines how connection to family, community, culture, Country, identity, spirituality, and relationships influence engagement outcomes for young people. By integrating SEWB principles with youth-defined measures of engagement, the research aims to create a practical framework that supports stronger relationships, improved service delivery, and better outcomes across education, health, justice, community, and social service systems.
Aaron's PhD is focused on mentoring, through-care, and Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) as protective factors for at-risk young people, with attention to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth experiences.
Grounded in Indigenous understandings of wellbeing, the research explores how sustained relational support, identity, belonging, culture, connection, and continuity of care influence young people's social and emotional wellbeing, resilience, education engagement, justice transitions, and positive life pathways. Recognising that wellbeing is shaped by connections to family, community, culture, Country, spirituality, and identity, the research examines how mentoring and through-care approaches can strengthen protective factors and create lasting outcomes for young people navigating complex life circumstances. The findings aim to contribute to more effective mentoring models, improved through-care practices, and culturally responsive approaches that support young people to thrive across education, community, health, and justice settings.
Shared research principles
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Indigenous self-determination.
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Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
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Community ownership and cultural governance.
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Youth voice and co-design.
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Relational accountability, reciprocity and respect.
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Strengths-based practice.
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Research that translates into better programs, policy and systems.
Why Research Matters
Too often, programs are designed without young peoples input, and systems are built around assumptions rather than lived experience.
Our research seeks to change that.
Through Indigenous-led, community-informed and youth-centred research, we are working to better understand what helps young people engage, thrive and achieve positive outcomes. The findings will contribute to practical tools, evidence-based frameworks, and system reforms that can improve the way schools, justice services, health providers, community organisations and governments work with young people.
Most importantly, this research is designed to create real-world impact.
Research Into Practice
Unlike traditional academic research, our work is embedded in practice.
The insights gained through our research directly inform the programs we deliver every day, including Dreamers, Deadly Minds, mentoring initiatives, cultural engagement programs and through-care support.
This creates a continuous cycle of learning, where community experience informs research, and research strengthens community outcomes.
Our goal is to develop evidence that improves:
• Youth engagement
• School attendance and participation
• Social and emotional wellbeing
• Justice diversion and through-care
• Mentoring practice
• Cultural safety
• Service delivery and systems reform
Current Research
• The Engagement Blueprint
• From Disengagement to Belonging: Relational Mentoring, Through-care and Social and Emotional Wellbeing among At-Rick Youth in Indigenous and Non-Indigenous contexts.
Research partner
University of New England (NSW)
Get Involved
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with schools, government agencies, community organisations, researchers, philanthropic partners and young people themselves. Whether you are interested in participating in research, partnering on a project, supporting community-led evidence generation, or learning more about our work, we would love to hear from you. Partner with us to create evidence that improves outcomes for young people. Email us.
Together, we can create research that leads to stronger programs, better systems and brighter futures for young people.
