Data source and linkage

The datasets used in this study were sourced from a repository of linked administrative datasets established through the Child and Youth Development Research Partnership (CYDRP)—a collaboration between Menzies School of Health Research and NT Government agencies. The detailed data linkage process has been described and published elsewhere.²⁰ The first stage data linkage process was carried out by the South Australia (SA)-Northern Territory DataLink using a probabilistic linkage method with a clerical review of uncertain matches.²¹ The second stage of linking the separate de-identified data files and preparing a dataset for analysis was done by a research team.