Turning passion for sport into an opportunity to improve child health in remote communities. Working with a rugby league football team, this social marketing project will address the poor health outcomes and high rates of infectious disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The benefits of the project include reduced diarrhoeal, skin and respiratory infections; and engaged and empowered communities.
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0989770
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$80,000.00
Summary
Solid Kids Solid Schools: conceptualising bullying in an Aboriginal context as reported by the Yamaji community. This project holds significant national benefit as the correlations between health and education outcomes are well evidenced as is the unacceptable inequity in education outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. It seeks to improve school attendance, retention and academic achievements, as well as quality of school experience for Aboriginal children
Protecting The Mental Health Of Children And Child Care Workers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Creating healthy social environments is essential to preventing mental illness. Child care is a work and care environment that is likely to influence providers’ and children’s mental health. This project uses national surveys and interviews with providers and child care services to understand how child care work environments impact on the mental health of children and providers. This knowledge will inform organisational and government changes to support good mental health in child care.
A study of contemporary family, social and cultural influences on first-time mothers' decisions about infant feeding and early parenting practices. Children who are never breastfed are more likely to experience respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, diabetes and as adults, high blood pressure, obesity and type-2 diabetes. This study of infant feeding decision-making in first-time mothers will inform strategies, grounded in the daily lives of women and families to assist mothers to breastfeed f ....A study of contemporary family, social and cultural influences on first-time mothers' decisions about infant feeding and early parenting practices. Children who are never breastfed are more likely to experience respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, diabetes and as adults, high blood pressure, obesity and type-2 diabetes. This study of infant feeding decision-making in first-time mothers will inform strategies, grounded in the daily lives of women and families to assist mothers to breastfeed for longer particularly in communities where breastfeeding is not the norm. Increased support for breastfeeding women from family, community and health professionals is likely to reduce the distress reported by many new mothers. Strategic application of findings will lead to health gains from increased breastfeeding and translate into significant cost savings for the Australian health system. Read moreRead less
Peer Counseling To Improve Feeding Practices And Reduce Malnutrition In Children 0-2 Years In Bangladesh
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$951,929.00
Summary
Bangladesh faces high levels of inappropriate infant feeding leading to young child malnutrition. Effective programs are urgently needed to help reduce this burden of malnutrition. The study in poor urban communities in Dhaka City, Bangladesh will examine the impact of local women educating mothers about appropriate infant feeding. We will assess the impact of these programs on feeding practices and the growth of the infants.
Exploring The Potential For Built Environment Intervention To Improve Adult And Child Physical Activity And Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,428.00
Summary
Health-promoting behaviours - such as physical activity - that are maintained from childhood to adulthood have a positive effect on health status. My research will examine aspects of the built environment associated with child behaviour, health and development and use these findings to formulate recommendations to key stakeholders for the design of user-friendly, active-living environments for children and interventions targeting adults.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of An Online Intervention To Improve Healthy Food Purchases From Primary School Canteens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,373.00
Summary
Children use school canteens to purchase food more frequently than any other food outlet. Online canteens, where school lunches are ordered via the web, are increasingly prevalent in Australian schools. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of integrating consumer behaviour strategies (such as menu labelling, promoting and product positioning) into an online canteen ordering system in reducing the total energy, saturated fat, sugar and sodium content of student lunch orders.
Increasing Physical Activity Among Young Children From Disadvantaged Communities: A Group Randomised Controlled Effectiveness Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,107,309.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the impact of a multi-level, multi-setting program to promote physical activity and movement skills among pre-school-aged children in disadvantaged communities. It will target the professional development of childcare educators and of parents. Childcare centres will be linked to the Early Start Facility at the University of Wollongong using state-of-the-art technology providing a unique opportunity to work with educators and parents in regional and remote areas.
Enhanced Methods Of Communicating Correct Use Of Child Car Restraints: A Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,599.00
Summary
Working with our associate investigators from the Australian and European child restraint industry, we will conduct a controlled trial of enhanced methods of communicating correct use of child car restraints with product information supplied at the point of sale.