Leadership Capability in Healthcare (Journal)

The Journal welcomes scholarship that can strengthen how leadership and organisational capability are understood and practised across healthcare and human services.

We are particularly interested in work that combines intellectual rigour with relevance to contemporary organisational, workforce, policy or service challenges.

Prospective authors should review the Journal's aims and scope and author guidelines before preparing a submission.

The Journal is designed to support exchange between those who study healthcare and human services organisations and those who lead and work within them.

We particularly encourage contributions that make their practical significance clear.

For researchers, this means creating opportunities for scholarship to reach managers, practitioners, policymakers and organisational leaders.

For practitioners and practitioner-researchers, it means providing a credible scholarly forum for research and analysis grounded in the realities of contemporary services and organisations.

The Journal welcomes contributions from academics, independent researchers, practitioners, clinicians, managers, executives, policymakers, educators, postgraduate researchers and others whose work falls within its scope.

The Journal publishes scholarship concerned with leadership capability and the management, governance and performance of healthcare and human services organisations.

Its scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Leadership capability, development and practice

• Health and human services management

• Organisational capability and performance

• Leadership judgement and decision-making

• Governance, accountability and organisational oversight

• Workforce leadership, management and development

• Organisational culture and psychological safety

• Quality, risk, safety and continuous improvement

• Regulation, compliance and organisational responsibility

• Strategy, innovation and organisational change

• Implementation and translation of evidence into practice

• Service design, operations and organisational effectiveness

• Consumer, participant and community engagement

• Equity, inclusion, accessibility and culturally responsive leadership

• Ethical leadership and professional responsibility

• Digital transformation, data and artificial intelligence

• Leadership in disability, aged care, mental health, allied health, community services and related fields

• Education and professional learning for healthcare and human services leaders

• Leadership across complex, multidisciplinary and regulated environments

• Policy and system-level issues affecting organisational leadership and capability

The Journal welcomes work from Australia and internationally.

The Journal welcomes a range of scholarly and practice-informed contributions, including:

Original research
Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies addressing questions relevant to leadership, management, organisational capability and health or human services practice.

Systematic, scoping and other rigorous reviews
Evidence syntheses that clarify what is known, identify important gaps or inform leadership, organisational or policy practice.

Conceptual and theoretical papers
Work that develops, challenges or extends concepts, theories and frameworks relevant to leadership capability and organisational practice.

Practice and implementation papers
Rigorous examinations of implementation, organisational change, service improvement and the application of evidence in real-world settings.

Case studies
Analytical accounts of organisations, initiatives, decisions or interventions that generate insights capable of informing wider practice.

Policy and regulatory analysis
Critical analysis of policy, regulation and system design and their implications for leadership, organisations and service delivery.

Perspectives and scholarly commentary
Evidence-informed contributions that advance debate about significant or emerging issues relevant to the Journal's scope.

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should review:

• Aims and Scope

• Article Types

• Author Guidelines

• Peer-Review Process

• Publication Ethics and Policies

Manuscripts should be original, relevant to the Journal's scope and prepared in accordance with the submission requirements.

Article Types

The Journal of Leadership Capability in Healthcare publishes original scholarship, evidence synthesis, conceptual work and practice-informed analysis that contributes to understanding and improving leadership, management and organisational capability across healthcare and human services.

Submissions should make a clear contribution to knowledge, practice, policy or scholarly debate and fall within the Journal’s aims and scope.

The Journal accepts the following article types.

Original Research

Original Research articles report the findings of empirical research relevant to leadership, management, organisational capability or the operation of healthcare and human services.

The Journal welcomes qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research using methodologies appropriate to the research question.

Submissions should clearly describe the research problem or question, relevant literature, methodology, findings, limitations and implications of the research.

Where research involves human participants, authors must provide appropriate information regarding research ethics approval, exemption or other applicable ethical arrangements.

Indicative length: 4,000–8,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.

Review Articles

Review Articles critically synthesise existing evidence to advance understanding of an important question or area within the Journal’s scope.

The Journal welcomes systematic reviews, scoping reviews, integrative reviews and other rigorous forms of evidence synthesis.

Authors should clearly identify the purpose and methodology of the review, including the approach used to identify, select, evaluate and synthesise relevant literature.

Reviews should move beyond description of existing literature to identify significant findings, limitations, evidence gaps and implications for research, policy or practice.

Indicative length: 4,000–8,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.

Conceptual and Theoretical Articles

Conceptual and Theoretical Articles develop, extend, integrate or critically examine concepts, theories, models or frameworks relevant to leadership capability and healthcare or human services organisations.

These articles do not require original empirical data. They must, however, demonstrate rigorous engagement with relevant scholarship and make a clear intellectual contribution.

Submissions may propose a new concept or framework, extend an existing theory into a new context, integrate previously separate bodies of knowledge, or critically reconsider established assumptions.

Authors should clearly articulate the contribution of the paper and its implications for research, policy and/or practice.

Indicative length: 4,000–8,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.

Practice and Implementation Articles

Practice and Implementation Articles examine the application of evidence, policy, organisational interventions or improvement initiatives within real healthcare and human services settings.

These articles provide a scholarly opportunity to examine what happens when ideas, policies or interventions encounter the complexity of organisational practice.

Submissions may address implementation, organisational change, quality improvement, workforce initiatives, leadership interventions, service redesign or other significant developments within the Journal’s scope.

Articles should provide sufficient context and analysis to generate insights relevant beyond the immediate organisation or initiative being described. They should not simply report that a project or intervention occurred.

Authors should critically consider outcomes, implementation challenges, limitations, contextual factors and lessons for wider practice.

Indicative length: 3,000–6,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.

Case Studies

Case Studies provide rigorous analysis of a particular organisation, service, initiative, event, decision or organisational challenge from which broader insights can be developed.

Cases may examine successful initiatives, unsuccessful initiatives or situations producing mixed or unexpected outcomes.

The Journal particularly welcomes cases that illuminate leadership decisions, organisational capability, governance, workforce practice, implementation, service improvement or organisational change.

Submissions should explain the context, issue or intervention, analytical approach, outcomes and lessons arising from the case.

Case Studies must move beyond organisational description. Authors should connect the case to relevant evidence or concepts and explain its wider significance.

Indicative length: 3,000–5,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.

Policy and Regulatory Analysis

Policy and Regulatory Analysis articles critically examine policies, legislation, regulation, regulatory systems or significant policy developments affecting leadership, management and organisational practice across healthcare and human services.

Articles may consider the design, implementation, consequences or organisational implications of policy and regulatory arrangements.

Submissions should provide analysis rather than simply summarising legislation, regulation or policy. Authors should identify the significance of the issue and consider its implications for organisations, leaders, practitioners, service systems and/or the people who use services.

Comparative and interdisciplinary analyses are welcome where relevant to the Journal’s scope.

Indicative length: 3,000–6,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.

Perspectives

Perspectives are concise, evidence-informed scholarly contributions that advance discussion about an important, emerging or contested issue within the Journal’s scope.

A Perspective may introduce a new argument, challenge an established assumption, identify an emerging problem, interpret an important development or propose a direction for research, policy or practice.

Perspectives may be more argumentative than conventional research articles but should remain grounded in appropriate evidence and scholarship.

The Journal welcomes thoughtful disagreement and critical examination of established ideas. Arguments should be reasoned, constructive and appropriately supported.

Indicative length: 2,000–4,000 words, excluding references.

Scholarly Commentary

Scholarly Commentaries provide focused analysis of a contemporary issue, recently published research, significant policy or regulatory development, or matter of particular relevance to healthcare and human services leadership.

Commentaries are shorter than Perspectives and generally address a more specific issue.

They should contribute analysis or interpretation rather than merely expressing an opinion.

Where a Commentary responds to another published work, authors should engage fairly and accurately with the arguments or evidence being considered.

Indicative length: 1,500–3,000 words, excluding references.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor provide a concise forum for scholarly discussion of material published in the Journal or significant matters relevant to its scope.

Letters may question, extend or respond to arguments or findings previously published, identify an important issue requiring further consideration, or contribute briefly to an active scholarly discussion.

Letters should be focused, constructive and appropriately supported where factual or scholarly claims are made.

Where a Letter substantially comments on a previously published Journal article, the original author may be invited to respond.

Indicative length: up to 1,500 words.

Invited Editorials

Editorials address significant issues relevant to the Journal’s readership, introduce special collections or issues, or provide editorial perspectives on developments affecting leadership and organisational capability across healthcare and human services.

Editorials are ordinarily commissioned by the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Team.

Unsolicited editorial submissions are not normally accepted.

Choosing an Article Type

Authors should select the article type that most closely reflects the purpose, methodology and contribution of their manuscript.

Word lengths are indicative rather than absolute. Authors may contact the Editorial Team before submission where the nature of a manuscript reasonably requires a different length or where there is uncertainty about the most appropriate article type.

All submissions must comply with the Journal’s Author Guidelines, Aims and Scope, and applicable Publication Ethics and Policies.

Acceptance of a manuscript for consideration does not guarantee publication. Submissions are subject to editorial assessment and, where applicable, peer review.

Author Guidelines

Thank you for considering the Journal of Leadership Capability in Healthcare for your work.

The Journal publishes original scholarship, evidence synthesis, conceptual work and practice-informed analysis that advances understanding of leadership, management and organisational capability across healthcare and human services.

Authors should review these guidelines, the Journal's Aims and Scope, Article Types, and Publication Ethics and Policies before submitting a manuscript.

Before You Submit

Before submission, authors should ensure that their manuscript:

• Falls within the Journal's aims and scope

• Represents an appropriate article type

• Makes a clear contribution to knowledge, practice, policy and/or scholarly debate

• Is original and has not been published previously, except where permitted under Journal policy

• Is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal

• Appropriately acknowledges the work and contributions of others

• Meets applicable research ethics requirements

• Discloses relevant conflicts of interest and funding

• Has been reviewed and approved for submission by all listed authors

• Has been prepared in accordance with these guidelines

Submission does not guarantee acceptance or publication.

Manuscript Types and Length

The Journal accepts:

• Original Research

• Review Articles

• Conceptual and Theoretical Articles

• Practice and Implementation Articles

• Case Studies

• Policy and Regulatory Analysis

• Perspectives

• Scholarly Commentary

• Letters to the Editor

• Invited Editorials

Indicative word limits and requirements for each category are provided on the Article Types page.

Word limits generally exclude the abstract, references, tables, figures and supplementary material unless otherwise specified.

Authors should write as concisely as the subject permits. Longer manuscripts may be considered where additional length is justified by the nature or complexity of the work.

Language

Manuscripts must be submitted in English.

The Journal uses Australian English as its house style.

Authors should write clearly and precisely and avoid unnecessary jargon or complexity. Specialist terminology should be used where it improves accuracy, but manuscripts should remain accessible to the Journal's multidisciplinary readership.

The Journal encourages scholarly writing that can be understood beyond a single academic discipline.

Preparing Your Manuscript

Manuscripts should ordinarily include, where applicable:

1. Title

2. Abstract

3. Keywords

4. Main manuscript

5. Acknowledgements

6. Funding statement

7. Conflict of interest declaration

8. Research ethics statement

9. Data availability statement, where applicable

10. References

11. Tables and figures

12. Supplementary material, where applicable

The precise structure of the main manuscript will depend on the article type and methodology.

The Journal does not require all manuscripts to conform to a standard Introduction–Methods–Results–Discussion structure where another structure is more appropriate to the work.

Title

The title should accurately and concisely communicate the subject of the manuscript.

Avoid unnecessarily long titles, unexplained abbreviations, promotional language and claims that extend beyond the evidence presented.

Abstract

Research, review, conceptual, practice, case study and policy analysis articles should include an abstract of approximately 150–250 words.

The abstract should allow readers to understand:

• The issue, problem or purpose of the article

• The approach or methodology, where applicable

• The principal findings or argument

• The significance or implications of the work

The abstract should accurately represent the manuscript and should not introduce claims or findings that are not supported in the article.

Shorter contribution types may not require an abstract.

Keywords

Authors should provide four to eight keywords or short key phrases that accurately describe the manuscript.

Keywords should assist readers and indexing services in identifying the subject of the work.

Avoid simply repeating every significant word contained in the article title.

Practical Implications

For relevant article types, authors are encouraged to include a brief Implications for Practice section.

This should explain what the findings, analysis or argument may mean for leaders, managers, practitioners, organisations, policymakers or service systems.

This section should not overstate the implications of the research.

The Journal particularly values scholarship that makes its relevance to practice clear while maintaining appropriate distinction between evidence, interpretation and recommendation.

Referencing

The Journal uses the American Psychological Association Publication Manual, 7th edition (APA 7) as its standard referencing style.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that citations and references are accurate, complete and consistent.

Where available, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) should be included in references in their standard URL format.

Authors should cite original and authoritative sources wherever reasonably possible rather than relying unnecessarily on secondary accounts.

References should be relevant to the work. Excessive citation, inappropriate self-citation and citation practices intended primarily to manipulate citation metrics are not acceptable.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should contribute meaningfully to the manuscript and should not unnecessarily duplicate information already presented in the text.

Each table and figure should:

• Be numbered consecutively

• Have a clear and informative title or caption

• Be referred to within the manuscript

• Identify the source where material has been reproduced or adapted

• Include explanatory notes where necessary

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material where permission is required.

Figures should be supplied at sufficient quality for digital publication.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abbreviations should be used only where they improve readability.

The full term should ordinarily be provided on first use, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.

Avoid excessive use of abbreviations, particularly where they may make the manuscript difficult for readers outside the author's immediate discipline or jurisdiction to understand.

Inclusive and Respectful Language

Authors should use language that is accurate, respectful and appropriate to the people and communities discussed in their work.

Where terminology is contested, evolving or context-dependent, authors should consider the preferences of the relevant population and explain terminology where doing so assists readers.

Language should not unnecessarily stigmatise, stereotype, marginalise or diminish individuals or communities.

Reporting Standards

Authors should use recognised reporting guidelines where appropriate to the methodology or study design.

Depending on the research, relevant standards may include established guidelines for systematic reviews, observational studies, qualitative research, clinical research and other study designs.

Where a recognised reporting guideline has been used, authors should identify it in the manuscript and provide any required checklist where requested by the Journal.

Use of a reporting guideline does not replace the author's responsibility to explain and justify the methodology of the research.

Research Ethics

Research involving human participants, identifiable personal information, or other activities requiring formal ethical oversight must comply with applicable ethical requirements.

Authors should identify the approving research ethics committee or institutional review body and, where applicable, provide the approval reference number.

Where formal ethics approval was not required, authors may be asked to explain the basis on which that determination was made.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that their research complies with the ethical and legal requirements applicable to the jurisdiction and context in which the research was undertaken.

Informed Consent and Privacy

Authors must protect the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of research participants and other identifiable individuals.

Personally identifying information should not be published unless its inclusion is necessary, ethically appropriate and supported by appropriate consent.

Authors are responsible for obtaining any consent required for publication of identifiable information, images or case material.

Authorship

Authorship should reflect genuine and substantial contribution to the work.

All listed authors should:

• Have made a substantial contribution to the work

• Approve the submitted manuscript

• Accept accountability for their contribution

• Agree to the manuscript being submitted to the Journal

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the requirements for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

Guest, honorary and ghost authorship are not acceptable.

One author should be identified as the corresponding author and will ordinarily act as the principal point of contact with the Journal.

Acknowledgements

Individuals or organisations that contributed materially to the work but do not qualify for authorship may be acknowledged.

Authors are responsible for obtaining appropriate permission from individuals who are named in acknowledgements where necessary.

Funding

Authors must disclose sources of financial support relevant to the research or preparation of the manuscript.

Where no specific funding was received, this should be stated.

Funding disclosure does not necessarily indicate a conflict of interest.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose financial, professional, organisational, personal or other interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the work.

The existence of a conflict does not necessarily prevent publication. Transparency allows editors, reviewers and readers to assess its potential relevance.

Where authors have no conflicts of interest to declare, this should be stated.

Data Availability

For empirical research, authors should include a data availability statement where appropriate.

The statement should explain whether and under what conditions data supporting the findings are available.

The Journal recognises that ethical, legal, privacy, cultural, commercial or other legitimate considerations may prevent research data from being made publicly available.

Authors should not disclose data where doing so would breach participant consent, confidentiality, privacy, legal obligations or applicable ethical requirements.

Originality and Previous Publication

Submissions should contain original work that has not previously been published in substantially the same form.

Manuscripts must not ordinarily be under simultaneous consideration by another journal.

Authors must disclose relevant previous dissemination of the work, including preprints, conference papers, reports or other publications where these may overlap materially with the submitted manuscript.

The Journal will assess whether prior dissemination affects eligibility for publication.

Plagiarism and Attribution

Authors must appropriately acknowledge ideas, words, data, images and other material derived from other sources.

Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification and other forms of research or publication misconduct are not acceptable.

The Journal may use appropriate methods or software to assess manuscript originality.

Concerns identified before or after publication may be investigated in accordance with the Journal's Publication Ethics and Policies.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and appropriate attribution of all material submitted under their names, regardless of whether artificial intelligence tools were used during its preparation.

Authors must not use generative AI to fabricate or misrepresent data, evidence, citations, sources, findings or authorship.

Where generative AI has made a substantive contribution to the preparation or analysis of a manuscript, authors should transparently disclose its use, including the tool used and the nature of that use.

Routine spelling, grammar and language-editing assistance does not ordinarily require disclosure unless it materially changes the intellectual content of the manuscript.

Authors must also consider confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property and research ethics obligations before entering research data, unpublished manuscripts or other sensitive material into third-party AI systems.

Use of Copyrighted Material

Authors are responsible for ensuring that they have the right to publish all material contained within their manuscript.

Where copyrighted material is reproduced or adapted and permission is required, authors must obtain that permission before publication and provide evidence to the Journal if requested.

Appropriate attribution must be provided regardless of whether formal permission is required.

Anonymising Manuscripts for Peer Review

Where a manuscript will undergo double-blind peer review, authors should prepare the main manuscript so that their identities are not apparent to reviewers.

Authors should:

• Remove author names and affiliations from the manuscript

• Remove identifying information from headers, footers and document properties where practicable

• Avoid acknowledgements that reveal author identity

• Refer to their own previous work in the same manner as the work of other researchers

• Avoid unnecessarily identifying their organisation where doing so would reveal authorship

Author details and other identifying information should be provided separately as required by the submission process.

Complete anonymity cannot always be guaranteed, particularly within specialised fields, but authors should make reasonable efforts to preserve blind review.

Submission

Authors should submit:

• The anonymised manuscript

• Author names, affiliations and contact details

• Corresponding author details

• Required declarations

• Tables, figures and supplementary material where applicable

• Any additional documentation requested by the Journal

Authors should ensure that the manuscript has been carefully checked before submission.

[Submit a Manuscript]

What Happens After Submission

Submissions are initially assessed by the Editorial Team for relevance to the Journal's scope, basic scholarly quality and compliance with submission requirements.

A manuscript may be declined at this stage where it is outside the Journal's scope, does not meet an appropriate scholarly standard or is otherwise unsuitable for consideration.

Manuscripts proceeding beyond editorial assessment will, where applicable, undergo peer review.

Following review, an editorial decision may include:

• Accept

• Accept subject to revisions

• Revise and resubmit

• Decline

Authors receiving requests for revision should respond systematically to the matters raised by editors and reviewers and identify the changes made to the manuscript.

Editorial decisions remain at the discretion of the Journal.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors who believe that a significant procedural or substantive error has affected an editorial decision may use the Journal's appeals process.

Complaints concerning editorial conduct, peer review, publication ethics or other aspects of the Journal's operation will be considered in accordance with the Journal's Publication Ethics and Policies.

Disagreement with a reviewer or editorial decision does not, by itself, establish grounds for an appeal.

Corrections After Publication

Authors should notify the Journal promptly if they identify a material error in published work.

Where appropriate, the Journal may publish a correction, retraction, expression of concern or other notice in accordance with its publication policies and the seriousness of the issue.

Final Author Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that:

• The manuscript falls within the Journal's Aims and Scope

• The correct Article Type has been selected

• The manuscript complies with the applicable indicative word length

• The title accurately represents the work

• An abstract and keywords have been included where required

• APA 7 referencing has been used consistently

• All references and citations have been checked for accuracy

• Research ethics information has been provided where applicable

• Funding has been disclosed

• Conflicts of interest have been disclosed

• All authors have approved the submission

• Tables and figures are correctly identified and attributed

• Necessary permissions have been obtained

• AI use has been disclosed where required

• The manuscript has been appropriately anonymised for peer review

• The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere

• The manuscript has been carefully proofread

Questions Before Submission?

Authors should review the Journal's Aims and Scope, Article Types, Peer-Review Process, and Publication Ethics and Policies before contacting the Editorial Team.

Where a prospective submission presents an unusual issue not addressed by these guidelines, authors may contact the Journal before submission.

Knowledge capable of improving leadership, organisations and services should be accessible to the people who can use it.

The Journal of Leadership Capability in Healthcare operates on an open access basis. Published articles are made freely available online, allowing readers to access and share research without a subscription or institutional paywall.

Full information about copyright, licensing and any applicable publication arrangements is provided in our author and publication policies.

Research articles submitted to the Journal are subject to scholarly peer review.

The Journal uses a double-blind peer-review process, under which the identities of authors and reviewers are withheld from one another during review.

Peer review is intended to assess the quality, rigour, relevance and contribution of submitted work and to assist authors in strengthening manuscripts where appropriate.

Acceptance for publication is not guaranteed and remains subject to editorial assessment and peer review.

The Journal is committed to rigorous, fair and transparent scholarly publishing.

Authors are expected to observe appropriate standards of research integrity, authorship, disclosure, ethical conduct and scholarly attribution.

Journal policies address matters including:

• Authorship and contributorship

• Research ethics

• Conflicts of interest

• Peer review

• Plagiarism and academic integrity

• Use of artificial intelligence in scholarly work

• Corrections, retractions and expressions of concern

• Complaints and appeals

• Copyright and licensing

• Data and research transparency where applicable

The Journal is supported by an editorial structure bringing together expertise in research, leadership, healthcare, human services and organisational practice.

Editorial independence and scholarly integrity are central to the Journal's operation.

Editor-in-Chief
Dr Daniel Jes

Editors
Angus CF Harrop
Elise Pickersgill