Translating Obesity Prevention Research Into Practice: Targeting Infants At Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$107,204.00
Summary
Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern, with one in four children aged 5 -14 years affected. Those from single parent and lower income families are at particular risk. Infancy and the preschool years are an ideal time for obesity prevention, before children have formed their lifelong eating habits. This project aims to design a program (informed by prior research) that is targeted toward those families most at risk, and that is community-based, practical and cost-effective.
Understanding The Shared Determinants And Causal Pathways Of Early Life Infection, Inflammation And Atherosclerosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,803.00
Summary
Infection is the commonest reason for childhood hospitalisation, but it is unknown why infection is much more severe in some children. The long-term effects of infection on the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, is also unknown. This research investigates these important questions with the aim of developing better prediction and prevention of severe infection and reducing its impact on adult cardiovascular disease.
Public Health Nutrition Policy: Potential To Influence Parental Food And Drink Choices For 0-2 Year Old Children Equitably
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,044.00
Summary
This study investigates whether Australian public health nutrition policies effectively promote healthy eating among 0-2 year olds. It evaluates whether policies: address key influences on food and drink choices identified by parents; address current consumption patterns; can be applied equitably to reduce socio-economic differences. Evidenced-based recommendations will be made for policy to promote healthy eating effectively and equitably and to ultimately promote healthy weight and oral health ....This study investigates whether Australian public health nutrition policies effectively promote healthy eating among 0-2 year olds. It evaluates whether policies: address key influences on food and drink choices identified by parents; address current consumption patterns; can be applied equitably to reduce socio-economic differences. Evidenced-based recommendations will be made for policy to promote healthy eating effectively and equitably and to ultimately promote healthy weight and oral health.Read moreRead less
Inequalities In Maternal And Child Health: Understanding Pathways And Setting Directions For Policy And Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,076.00
Summary
Optimising health in the early years has been recognised as critical for lifelong health and wellbeing. My research program will focus on reducing inequalities in maternal and child health among disadvantaged families. I will examine important questions concerning the quality of maternity care Indigenous women receive, and how factors beyond the health system, such as housing, work patterns and neighbourhood resources, contribute to poor maternal and child health amongst disadvantaged families.
Investigating Preschool Children's Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviours To Identify Opportunities For Supporting Healthy Behaviours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Helping young children be physically active and limit screen time is vital. This fellowship will investigate physical activity and screen time during the preschool years (ages 2-5) with a particular focus on the influence those behaviours have on children's social and emotional wellbeing. The fellowship will culminate with the development of a novel, online intervention to support healthy behaviours.
Improving Health Outcomes With Population-based Biological, Social And Environmental Information And Research Methods.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,050,000.00
Summary
This proposal brings together two partner institutions and research teams in an integrated program through pooling of experience, sharing of databases and other resources and joint mentoring of new researchers to achieve improved health status through a whole of life and intergenerational view of health and health determinants. The proposal incorporates real consumer participation throughout the grant. The grant will help position Australia in the newly emerging research skills and methodology i ....This proposal brings together two partner institutions and research teams in an integrated program through pooling of experience, sharing of databases and other resources and joint mentoring of new researchers to achieve improved health status through a whole of life and intergenerational view of health and health determinants. The proposal incorporates real consumer participation throughout the grant. The grant will help position Australia in the newly emerging research skills and methodology involved with data linkages. Building on the successful multi-disciplinary research environments at both institutions, the grant will provide additional funds for these two groups to work cooperatively together. The groups currently operate with established links to researchers on a national basis and will be exploring aspects from the biomedical, clinical and health service delivery perspective to link environmental and social determinants of health from early childhood to adulthood. The grant will provide research training in a whole of life approach. In particular, researchers will gain experience in linking research findings into health policy with active consumer involvement to improve health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Intergenerational Transmission Of Health Inequalities: Effects Of Work Conditions On Parent Resources And Child Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,385.00
Summary
The connection between socioeconomic inequalities and health is well documented in nations such as Australia. Research also shows that health inequalities persist from generation to generation. This project extends understanding of health inequalities by investigating whether work conditions contribute to health transmission from parents to children. Work conditions vary by class and occupation and have changed markedly over the last decade. They exert a direct effect on parents' health, and inf ....The connection between socioeconomic inequalities and health is well documented in nations such as Australia. Research also shows that health inequalities persist from generation to generation. This project extends understanding of health inequalities by investigating whether work conditions contribute to health transmission from parents to children. Work conditions vary by class and occupation and have changed markedly over the last decade. They exert a direct effect on parents' health, and influence resources like income, time, energy and attention that parents can invest in their children, thereby influencing children's health and well-being. In this study, we expand models of parent work and child health to include 1) working conditions (rather than employment versus unemployment); 2) collection of data on father's as well as mother's employment; and 3) investigation of the link between working conditions and parental resources as a route by which health inequalities can be transmitted across generations. Findings will contribute to the basis for interventions to improve children's health and development.Read moreRead less
Attracting, preparing, and sustaining quality teachers in early education. This project aims to address the chronic shortage of early childhood teachers in Australia, which is compromising quality and return on investment in early education. The project expects to generate new understandings about this specialist teacher workforce through an innovative, ecological, longitudinal design that will track early childhood teachers’ career trajectories and develop a world-first tool to assess early chi ....Attracting, preparing, and sustaining quality teachers in early education. This project aims to address the chronic shortage of early childhood teachers in Australia, which is compromising quality and return on investment in early education. The project expects to generate new understandings about this specialist teacher workforce through an innovative, ecological, longitudinal design that will track early childhood teachers’ career trajectories and develop a world-first tool to assess early childhood teacher quality. Findings are expected to inform policy— including the Australian Government-endorsed 10-year national Workforce Strategy and the Australian Government's Early Years Strategy— to support the future sustained supply of a quality early childhood teacher workforce and improve outcomes for young children.Read moreRead less
The Effectiveness Of Mindfulness Practices In Reducing Distress In Children Diagnosed With Cancer And Their Parents.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$22,019.00
Summary
This research project aims to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness based cognitive therapy, an intervention using specific meditation and thought techniques, to reduce psychological distress in children who have been diagnosed with cancer and their parents. Specifically, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress related to the experience of the illness will be targeted.