A study investigating the feasibility of implementing a national approach to child and family health services. Understanding and strengthening the way in which universal health services are provided to pregnant women, children and families has the potential to impact over a million Australian families annually. The findings of this study will have national application as federal, state and territory governments work towards implementing a national approach to child and family health services. Th ....A study investigating the feasibility of implementing a national approach to child and family health services. Understanding and strengthening the way in which universal health services are provided to pregnant women, children and families has the potential to impact over a million Australian families annually. The findings of this study will have national application as federal, state and territory governments work towards implementing a national approach to child and family health services. The findings will inform effective multidisciplinary collaboration and service integration, address service gaps and duplication and lead to increased access to services. This study will generate new knowledge about characteristics of organisations, service delivery and professions that facilitate or hinder innovation.Read moreRead less
Health Status And Development Among Aboriginal Infants In An Urban Community.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,650.00
Summary
This research is a descriptive study of the health outcomes of Aboriginal infants, born at Campbelltown Hospital. The research will build on Centre for Health Equity's (CHETRE) work, since 1997, with the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Area Health Services (AHS) in the region to develop and advocate for services to address the needs of Aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities. CHETRE has supported the Aboriginal workers to develop additional services for Aborigin ....This research is a descriptive study of the health outcomes of Aboriginal infants, born at Campbelltown Hospital. The research will build on Centre for Health Equity's (CHETRE) work, since 1997, with the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Area Health Services (AHS) in the region to develop and advocate for services to address the needs of Aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities. CHETRE has supported the Aboriginal workers to develop additional services for Aboriginal women, such as the Aboriginal Home Visiting Team (AHV) and assisted with evaluation of these services. The AHV management comprises representatives from AMS, AHS, the Aboriginal community and CHETRE, and will provide advice and oversight for this project. The AHV developed from community concern about health status of Aboriginal infants and provides ante and postnatal care to infants and mothers. As a part of this service Aboriginal infants are systematically identified by the AHS. Further development of services is limited by lack of information on health status, use of health services, or achievement of developmental milestones by Aboriginal infants in an urban community and the assumption that outcomes are a factor of disadvantage. The researchers intend to describe in meticulous detail obstetric outcomes for 150 Aboriginal infants and their mothers born in 2004-5 and the health and development outcomes of the infants at 12 months. Baseline information on birth weight, Apgar score and obstetric history will be collected from maternal report at 2-3 week post-delivery and from routine data collections. Infants and their mothers will be followed up prospectively with further data collection points at 6 months and 12 months. Information on health status, health service use, and achievement of developmental milestones will be obtained by measurement and maternal report. An assessment by a paediatrician will be undertaken at 12 months.Read moreRead less
Healthy Futures For Vulnerable Families: Addressing Inequalities In Maternal And Child Health Care For Refugee And Aboriginal Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
This proposal will help to determine organisational and service level factors leading to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and refugee women and their families during and after pregnancy; and develop and test interventions to reform maternity and early childhood health systems to reduce maternal and child health inequalities for vulnerable populations.
Novel Point-of-care Screening And Treatment Interventions To Improve Pregnancy Outcomes And To Prevent Cervical Cancer In High-burden, Low-income Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
I lead newly-funded research grants worth nearly $10 million to conduct novel intervention trials in sexual and reproductive health. These projects build on the extensive collaborations and the robust nationwide network of clinical field sites that I have established in Papua New Guinea during the past five years. My research will lead to improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes, and prevent premature deaths due to cervical cancer, in high-burden, low-income settings worldwide.
Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Parents And Primary Care Providers In The Prevention And Management Of Respiratory Tract Infections In Young Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$84,782.00
Summary
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) account for over 6 million GP visits each year in Australia and children <5 years of age are especially vulnerable. Although preventive and management activities, such as flu vaccinations and hand-washing, have been shown to be efficacious, programs which target RTIs in young children are limited. This proposal aims to understand the current knowledge, attitudes and practice of parents and providers in the prevention and management of RTIs in young children ....Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) account for over 6 million GP visits each year in Australia and children <5 years of age are especially vulnerable. Although preventive and management activities, such as flu vaccinations and hand-washing, have been shown to be efficacious, programs which target RTIs in young children are limited. This proposal aims to understand the current knowledge, attitudes and practice of parents and providers in the prevention and management of RTIs in young children.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
The Development Of A Composite Index Of Need For Regional Maternity Services: The Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,975.00
Summary
the Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI) is to be developed in response to the National Maternity Services Plan recommendation for an index to guide the provision of maternity services in rural and remote Australia. This index uses the size, remoteness, and vulnerability of the community, plus lessons learnt from the Canadian rural birth index. An Expert Panel of experienced clinicians, health planners and policy makers and managers of services will guide and test the feasibility of impleme ....the Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI) is to be developed in response to the National Maternity Services Plan recommendation for an index to guide the provision of maternity services in rural and remote Australia. This index uses the size, remoteness, and vulnerability of the community, plus lessons learnt from the Canadian rural birth index. An Expert Panel of experienced clinicians, health planners and policy makers and managers of services will guide and test the feasibility of implementing this index.Read moreRead less
National Research Partnership To Improve Primary Health Care Performance And Outcomes For Indigenous Peoples
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,625,617.00
Summary
This Partnership will 1) investigate the variation in the quality of care in Aboriginal primary health care services in participating jurisdictions; 2) explore the factors which underlie variation in quality of care; 3) examine strategies that have been useful in improving the quality of care; and 4) use the findings from 2 and 3 above to support efforts to strengthen the quality of primary care at a local, regional and national level with a view to improving the health of Indigenous Australians