Queensland Intermediary Scheme evaluation

Investigators

Professor Daryl Higgins, Alex Cahill (Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University); Professor Suzanne Hodgkin (Head of Social Work, Australian Catholic University); Professor Ilan Katz (Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales); Dr James Herbert (Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia); Paul Paulson (Nahri Institute); Meredith Doud (Ipsos)

Funding

Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General

Aims

Evaluate processes and outcomes of the Queensland Intermediary Scheme (QIS) pilot program in Brisbane and Cairns, and to assess the effectiveness of intermediaries to assist the administration of justice in two sites

Project details

One of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013-2017) was to introduce support for witnesses in court procedures in child sexual offence cases. This support is being piloted in Queensland as part of the Queensland Intermediary Scheme (QIS).

The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General engaged us to evaluate the pilot scheme. The project aimed to determine whether the QIS pilot was successful in reducing trauma for vulnerable witnesses and in providing them with the opportunity to give their best evidence. Based on our evaluation of the pilot we also provided recommendations to the Queensland Government on the following issues:

• feasibility of rolling out the scheme across the state after the 2-year pilot
• evaluation of how an intermediary can best work with witnesses to assist them to provide their best evidence.

The evaluation was based on data that addresses key issues about the effectiveness of QIS:

• process evaluation: set up and implementation of the QIS
• effect on practice: for the intermediaries, Queensland Police Service staff, prosecution and defence counsel and judiciary.
• communication strategies: effect on quality of the evidence provided by witnesses who are under 16 years of age, have cognitive impairment, or have difficulty communicating.

Projected community impact

The Queensland Government planned to use the evaluation to help determine whether a state-wide roll out of the QIS will occur after the initial 2-year pilot. It is envisaged that the QIS may lead to the following outcomes for vulnerable witnesses:

• trauma support
• development of effective communication strategies.

We hope that the work will facilitate cultural change in the justice system so that it provides better support for vulnerable witnesses so they can provide their best evidence.

Publications

Hodgkin, S., Higgins, D., Cahill, A., Wheeler, A., Herbert, J., Katz, I., Kong, L. & Paulson, P. (2023). Providing best evidence in child sexual assault proceedings: Final report on an evaluation of the Queensland Intermediary Scheme (Pilot). Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Project timeline

2021-2023

Contact

For more information contact: icps@acu.edu.au