Queensland Mental Health Commission

QMHCITO25983

Tuesday 14 April 2026 (E. Australia Standard Time)

Friday 08 May 2026 05:00 PM (E. Australia Standard Time)

Friday 01 May 2026 05:00 PM (E. Australia Standard Time)

Friday 22 May 2026 (E. Australia Standard Time)

Queensland Mental Health Commission

400 George St
Brisbane City, Queensland 4000
Australia

https://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/

We spearhead continuous improvement toward a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to mental health, alcohol, and other drug systems in Queensland. Collaborating with government organisations and the private sector, our focus extends beyond healthcare, recognising the social determinants influencing mental health. We aim to address the diverse needs and challenges of individuals affected by mental health concerns, substance abuse, and suicidal distress.

The buyer has elected to have their personal and contact details hidden. These details will be revealed at the buyers discretion.

The Customer invites Queensland-based research providers, including both university and non-university organisations, to deliver a 12-month research project, completed by 30 June 2027.

The project has an indicative budget of up to $150,000 (excluding GST), covering all project costs including personnel, travel, lived-living experience participation, and administrative expenses.

The research will examine the systemic factors influencing the use of remand for women who use AOD and identify opportunities for reform across justice, health, housing, and social service systems.

Suppliers are invited to propose a fit for purpose research design that can deliver robust and policy-relevant insights. Core activities include:

• Mixed-methods research across three (3) correctional centres: Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre, Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, and Townsville Correctional Centre.

• Quantitative data analysis of administrative datasets (e.g. remand rates, AOD indicators, offence types).

• Qualitative interviews with women on remand, correctional staff and other relevant stakeholders.

• Stakeholder engagement, including government agencies, peak organisations, and community-based health and housing providers.

• Embedding of lived-living experiences (LLE) in all phases of research design, delivery, and analysis.

In addition to undertaking the core research activities outlined above, Suppliers are expected to actively collaborate with the Customer to:

• Refine and finalise the research scope, including key questions, priorities, and focus areas.

• Co-design research approaches and methodologies to ensure relevance, feasibility, and impact.

• Generate strategies to progress the project and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

In February 2025, the Queensland Mental Health Commission convened a meeting attended by 14 stakeholders, including Queensland Health Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch (MHAODB), the Justice Reform Office (JRO), the First Nations Justice Office, the Office for Prisoner Health and Wellbeing, and Queensland Corrective Services. The discussion focused on:

• Mapping current system reform activity across justice, health, and social sectors for people exiting custody, with emphasis on remand.

• Stakeholder interest in gendered research on women’s experiences with bail, remand, and court system navigation.

• A shared recognition of the lack of research exploring drivers of women’s remand, particularly for women with intersecting issues such as AOD use, domestic and family violence (DFV), mental health, and trauma.

Suppliers must demonstrate ability to secure all required ethics and research approvals prior to research commencement, including, but not limited to:

• Approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC); and

• Approval from the Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) Research and Evaluation Committee.


i. Obtaining approval to conduct research at Queensland correctional centres is a mandatory prerequisite prior to the commencement of any fieldwork activities.

ii. Suppliers are advised that failure to obtain QCS approval within an agreed timeframe may result in the suspension or termination of the Contract, with associated funding reallocated at the discretion of the Customer.

iii. As ethics and research approvals are often subject to extended lead times, Suppliers must ensure that project timelines realistically accommodate the relevant approval processes.

iv. These requirements are not assessed as part of the evaluation criteria. However, they are contractual and operational conditions of engagement. Suppliers unable to meet these requirements will be ineligible to undertake fieldwork or receive payments linked to related milestones.

Short-listed Suppliers may be invited to take part in an interview of up to 45 minutes to provide additional information and respond to queries by the evaluation panel, if requested by the Customer.

Desirable criteria

(a) Evidence of the delivery of high quality and timely written work that is accessible to a range of audiences.

(b) Evidence of experience, capacity, and capability to engage with stakeholders through meetings, presentations, governance groups and workshops.

3

• Queensland
  1: Brisbane
  2: Central West
  3: Darling Downs
  4: Far North
  5: Fitzroy
  6: Gold Coast
  7: Mackay
  8: North West
  9: Northern
  10: Offshore (QLD)
  11: South West
  12: Sunshine Coast
  13: West Moreton
  14: Wide Bay-Burnett

All Regions of Service locations are within Australia.

Please note: The following attachments have been recently added.

1. Added: Part A Invitation to Offer.docx

2. Added: Part B Contract Details.docx

3. Added: Part C ITO Response Schedule.docx

Please consider these attachments when responding.