The Kids in Communities Study: national investigation of community level effects on children's developmental outcomes. This project (a cross-disciplinary collaboration) will investigate community level factors influencing early childhood developmental outcomes using a mixed methods approach in up to 10 communities across Australia. This will result in a potential set of measures or indicators that reflect communities that are good for children.
Childhood obesity, physical activity and wellbeing: Discovering the influence of children's understandings and experiences of places, spaces and communities. The study aims to discover 3-13 yr old children's understandings, perceptions & experiences of physical activity & associated places & spaces. Childhood obesity is a modern 'epidemic' & governments agree that low physical activity levels contribute significantly. Epidemiological & clinical research has been undertaken, but we lack Australia ....Childhood obesity, physical activity and wellbeing: Discovering the influence of children's understandings and experiences of places, spaces and communities. The study aims to discover 3-13 yr old children's understandings, perceptions & experiences of physical activity & associated places & spaces. Childhood obesity is a modern 'epidemic' & governments agree that low physical activity levels contribute significantly. Epidemiological & clinical research has been undertaken, but we lack Australian studies that systematically listen to & understand the pivotal voices of children themselves. Failure to develop such theoretically sound, practice-based understandings may mean ineffective interventions that misunderstand children's worlds. This collaborative study unites highly experienced researchers, practitioners & policy makers who will actively involve children in creating & using new knowledge.Read moreRead less
Strengthening Relationships for Young People in Residential Care. Young people in residential care face major challenges in forming positive relationships, many having experienced adults as a source of threat rather than safety. This project aims to investigate practices within therapeutic residential care that enable or limit young people’s identity formation, positive social connections, safety and wellbeing. This research will generate nuanced knowledge informing interpersonal and institution ....Strengthening Relationships for Young People in Residential Care. Young people in residential care face major challenges in forming positive relationships, many having experienced adults as a source of threat rather than safety. This project aims to investigate practices within therapeutic residential care that enable or limit young people’s identity formation, positive social connections, safety and wellbeing. This research will generate nuanced knowledge informing interpersonal and institutional change. Expected outcomes include improved approaches to therapeutic care and to methods for enabling the participation of young people in care in matters that may change their life trajectory on exiting care. Expected benefits include more responsive policies and frameworks for practice.Read moreRead less
Strengthening community partnerships to promote adolescent school engagement and prevent problems such as alcohol misuse and violence. The project will reduce community rates of adolescent school non-attendance, adolescent alcohol misuse and antisocial behaviour. Adolescent school exclusion, alcohol use and antisocial behaviour are highly prevalent in Australia, and can be reduced using a variety of strategies that are coordinated at the school and community level. The project will decrease adol ....Strengthening community partnerships to promote adolescent school engagement and prevent problems such as alcohol misuse and violence. The project will reduce community rates of adolescent school non-attendance, adolescent alcohol misuse and antisocial behaviour. Adolescent school exclusion, alcohol use and antisocial behaviour are highly prevalent in Australia, and can be reduced using a variety of strategies that are coordinated at the school and community level. The project will decrease adolescent problems through community improvements in child and adolescent protective influences and reductions in risk influences. Furthermore, the project will equip communities with the capacity to learn how to identify and implement strategies to address the major influences that have the potential to reduce adolescent behaviour problems.Read moreRead less
A national comparative analysis of child, family and service factors contributing to successful and unsuccessful reunification outcomes in out-of-home care. This project will inform policies relating to the sustainability of current numbers in care as well as decision-making relating to the safe return of children to their families. Insights will be obtained into the multiple factors that contribute to successful reunification and post-reunification outcomes. The study will help to identify chil ....A national comparative analysis of child, family and service factors contributing to successful and unsuccessful reunification outcomes in out-of-home care. This project will inform policies relating to the sustainability of current numbers in care as well as decision-making relating to the safe return of children to their families. Insights will be obtained into the multiple factors that contribute to successful reunification and post-reunification outcomes. The study will help to identify children most at risk of remaining in care (e.g., indigenous children), review structural decision-making tools or specialist services to assist children to return home, and provide a nationally tested methodology for studying, recording, and measuring reunification processes and outcomes.Read moreRead less
Refugee children and adolescents in Australia: Issues of mental health and well-being and equal access to mental health services. The mental health status of refugee children and adolescents has received scant scholarly attention despite the fact that they are at high risk of developing mental health problems. The present study will be the first of its kind undertaken in Australia. It will provide data on the prevalence of mental health problems affecting refugee children and adolescents in Sou ....Refugee children and adolescents in Australia: Issues of mental health and well-being and equal access to mental health services. The mental health status of refugee children and adolescents has received scant scholarly attention despite the fact that they are at high risk of developing mental health problems. The present study will be the first of its kind undertaken in Australia. It will provide data on the prevalence of mental health problems affecting refugee children and adolescents in South Australia, the level of disability associated with these problems and the extent to which children and adolescents are receiving appropriate help. The absence of this information greatly hinders the development of intervention strategies to help refugee children and adolescents. Results will be used to inform mental health policy and program development and service delivery.Read moreRead less
A randomised controlled trial assessing the effects of a school-based sleep intervention in Year 6 and 7 students. Inadequate sleep is associated with a wide range of health problems in children, including obesity and poor performance at school. Children are sleeping less than ever before, and there is an increasing pattern of “yo yo sleeping” (sleep deprivation on school days followed by catch up sleeps on weekends). This study will trial a school-based program designed to improve the sleeping ....A randomised controlled trial assessing the effects of a school-based sleep intervention in Year 6 and 7 students. Inadequate sleep is associated with a wide range of health problems in children, including obesity and poor performance at school. Children are sleeping less than ever before, and there is an increasing pattern of “yo yo sleeping” (sleep deprivation on school days followed by catch up sleeps on weekends). This study will trial a school-based program designed to improve the sleeping habits of children. Better sleep is expected to result in improved alertness, better life satisfaction, and improved weight status.Read moreRead less
Food advertising to children: evaluation of diverse regulatory models. Food advertising to children on television typically portrays energy-dense, low-nutrient products as sources of fun or social acceptance. The effect of this advertising on the increasing problem of childhood obesity is a matter of concern and debate.
The current regulatory regime in Australia for such advertising does not effectively incorporate the views of all stakeholders, and so overemphasises the views of the TV indus ....Food advertising to children: evaluation of diverse regulatory models. Food advertising to children on television typically portrays energy-dense, low-nutrient products as sources of fun or social acceptance. The effect of this advertising on the increasing problem of childhood obesity is a matter of concern and debate.
The current regulatory regime in Australia for such advertising does not effectively incorporate the views of all stakeholders, and so overemphasises the views of the TV industry and the advertisers.
This study will advance the development of an effective regime for regulating food advertising to children in Australia, by analysing and evaluating models in other jurisdictions.
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The NSW child development study. Research shows that a child's development predicts health and social outcomes later in life. This Australian project will be the first to identify risk and protective factors associated with these outcomes in 87,000 children from birth to 10 years. The results will help inform governments to improve our children's health and educational achievements.
Disruptive children in alternative care: new approaches to the prevention of placement breakdown. Recent evidence suggests that many of the widely publicised problems in Australian foster care are due to the inability of foster families to care for children with challenging behaviours. Our own research suggests that such children typically experience 10 - 20 placement changes annually and display very poor developmental outcomes. The aim of this project, then, is to undertake a comprehensive int ....Disruptive children in alternative care: new approaches to the prevention of placement breakdown. Recent evidence suggests that many of the widely publicised problems in Australian foster care are due to the inability of foster families to care for children with challenging behaviours. Our own research suggests that such children typically experience 10 - 20 placement changes annually and display very poor developmental outcomes. The aim of this project, then, is to undertake a comprehensive international review and national trial of programmes for the reduction of placement breakdown. The project will provide insights into the social histories of the target population, assist in the design of interventions, and inform foster care policy.
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