Author guidelines

The author guidelines can also be downloaded as a PDF document.

Youth Studies Australia welcomes papers on all aspects of youth. See the journal's subject index for a list of general subject areas and a list of specific topics that are currently high priority. The journal aims to present youth issues and research in a way that is accessible and reader-friendly, but which retains scholarly integrity. All papers are reviewed internally, then peer-reviewed if they pass internal review.

• qualitative research
• quantitative research
• literature reviews
• descriptions and/or evaluations of programs and practices
  

• consider the wide readership and keep the writing style straightforward and accessible
• do not include statistical formulas in the text. An endnote can direct readers to the authors for more technical information
• avoid the use of long quotations and specialist academic jargon
• limit word length to 4,000 words (including references, tables and headings)
• supply the manuscript in Word™ with no more than three levels of headings
• consult the Style manual: For authors, editors and printers (5th or 6th edition) on issues of style
• limit references for any group citation to no more than four or five
• format paper, including references and citations, as outlined in the YSA style guide. Papers that do not conform to the guide will be returned to the authors for reformatting prior to review.
  
• use a minimum number of tables and figures, and include raw data so they can be recreated by the Youth Studies Australia compositor
• include a short abstract, and, for each author, a short biographical statement, name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address
• read the information regarding the peer review process.
  To minimise the possibility of rejection at the internal review stage, authors should be familiar with these factors and also with the Youth Studies Australia style before submitting their work.

Submission conditions

• Submission of a manuscript implies commitment to publish in the journal.
• YSA will not consider manuscripts that have been simultaneously submitted to another journal.
• Manuscripts should not have been published elsewhere in substantially similar form or with substantially similar content. Authors in doubt about what constitutes prior publication should contact the editor.
• Copyright of manuscript text, as submitted to Youth Studies Australia, remains with the author. Youth Studies Australia holds the copyright for the typeset and graphically designed version as it appears in the journal and for any electronic or hard copy reproduction by the Publisher, Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies, based on that version.
• ACYS reserves the right to collect copying fees. Anyone requesting permission from ACYS to reprint papers will be required to seek the author's permission as well as the permission of ACYS.
• A minimum turnaround time of four months is required for the review process. Papers may be submitted at any time of the year as a continuous review process is used.