A new study will explore what life is really like for Queensland's young Muslim people, in a climate where Muslims have sometimes been labelled as terrorists.

Previous studies have shown that Muslim people have been subjected to escalating violence, discrimination, vilification and prejudice in the wake of the World Trade Centre attacks, the Iraq war and the riots at North Cronulla.

"Very little is known about how young Muslim people might interpret their experience," says researcher Dr Sansnee Jirojwong from Central Queensland University.

Dr Jirojwong and others from across CQU (Dawn Hay - Nursing, Dr Daniel Teghe - Social Work, Tabassum 'Neeta' Ferdous- Masters student, Dr Bobby Harreveld - Education) are working with members of Griffith University's Islamic Research Unit (GIRU) in a collaborative study of 'Identity and Self-Perception among Young Muslim people in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Mackay'.

This systematic research will be centred on young Muslim people's needs and concerns. The qualitative youth-centred data will reveal issues and concerns grounded in youth's lives, meanings and realities.

As well as exploring identity and self-perception, the project aims to study the social, cultural, political and structural environments, which influence the identity and self-perception of the young people.

"The study will help better understanding of some of the experiences and realities of young people in their environment. Insight will be gained on the issues and concerns that the youth themselves identify as important," Dr Jirojwong said.

"Key stakeholders will be interviewed to provide the context in which to explain data gathered in this youth-centred study, and to provide a means for triangulation of data.

"The second aim of the study is to review the relevant literature of Australian-wide and Queensland-based academic and policy documents. The implications on policies, of national, Queensland and local governments, will be drawn out on the basis of the study’s results".

Dr Mohamad Abdalla, the Director of GIRU, emphasised that "this project was a direct outcome of an extensive collaborative strategy program between the Queensland State Government and the local Islamic community, in which GIRU has played an instrumental role”.

Professor Sampford, Director of the Institute for Ethics Governance, the joint United Nations University and Griffith University research institute which houses GIRU congratulated all members of the research team for a study that will be of relevance to Muslim communities in other countries as well.