How eating patterns interact with activity, sleep and mood. This project aims to understand temporal eating patterns (the timing and distribution of food intake and eating occasions across the day) among adults and how these eating patterns interact with activity and sleep patterns. Eating, activity and sleep patterns form a lifestyle triad which may be important for well-being and productivity. The project will study eating, activity and sleep patterns in daily life, to examine their social dri ....How eating patterns interact with activity, sleep and mood. This project aims to understand temporal eating patterns (the timing and distribution of food intake and eating occasions across the day) among adults and how these eating patterns interact with activity and sleep patterns. Eating, activity and sleep patterns form a lifestyle triad which may be important for well-being and productivity. The project will study eating, activity and sleep patterns in daily life, to examine their social drivers, interactions and effect on mood. This project could enable these behaviours to be targeted, with the potential to promote healthy lifestyles and improve health, quality of life and productivity.Read moreRead less
Impact Of An Infant Sleep Intervention On Infant Sleep And Maternal Wellbeing: A Cluster Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression are common in the Australian community. Over a third of Australians report a problem with their infant's sleep in the second six months of life whilst 10-15% of Australian women will experience an episode of depression in the first year after their child is born. Both infant sleep problems and postnatal depression have been associated with serious outcomes including child abuse, child behaviour problems, maternal physical and emotional problems, fam ....Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression are common in the Australian community. Over a third of Australians report a problem with their infant's sleep in the second six months of life whilst 10-15% of Australian women will experience an episode of depression in the first year after their child is born. Both infant sleep problems and postnatal depression have been associated with serious outcomes including child abuse, child behaviour problems, maternal physical and emotional problems, family stress and family breakdown. This study builds on previous work conducted by researchers at the Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. In this work, a brief behavioural intervention significantly decreased infant sleep problems and symptoms of maternal depression, particularly for depressed mothers. The intervention consisted of controlled crying and removal of sleep associations such as a dummy which the infant had become dependent upon to fall asleep. Mothers who received the intervention reported 20% fewer sleep problems and a 45% reduction in depression symptoms compared with mothers who did not receive the intervention. The interention also improved maternal sleep quality and quantity and reduced the need for professional sleep services. It was acceptable to mothers, of low cost and was minimally disruptive to families - in contrast to many current strategies directed primarily at postnatal depression. This trial aims to determine whther a similar intervention delivered by Victorian Maternal and Child health nurses within their usual practice settings can replicate these important benefits.Read moreRead less
Nutritional properties of mango fruits: linking plant genomics to cellular bioactivities. Mango fruits are prized for their sensorial properties, but little information is available on potential nutritional benefits. By using a broad-based bioactivity screen, followed up with specific bio-activity assays, molecular components within mango fruits that have the potential to deliver nutritional health benefits will be identified. This information will be used both to provide information on the prop ....Nutritional properties of mango fruits: linking plant genomics to cellular bioactivities. Mango fruits are prized for their sensorial properties, but little information is available on potential nutritional benefits. By using a broad-based bioactivity screen, followed up with specific bio-activity assays, molecular components within mango fruits that have the potential to deliver nutritional health benefits will be identified. This information will be used both to provide information on the properties of current mango varieties and to develop breeding tools for enhancing nutritional properties in future varieties.Read moreRead less
Identification of nutritional bioactives in tropical fruit. Information on the nutritional properties of tropical fruits is currently limited to chemical analysis of vitamins, minerals and fibre. This project aims to identify additional nutritional components within tropical fruits by assessing activities against a range of cell-based assays. Selected assays will represent cellular processes relating to e.g. lipid metabolism, cancer prevention, and antioxidant effects. Assay-based fractionation ....Identification of nutritional bioactives in tropical fruit. Information on the nutritional properties of tropical fruits is currently limited to chemical analysis of vitamins, minerals and fibre. This project aims to identify additional nutritional components within tropical fruits by assessing activities against a range of cell-based assays. Selected assays will represent cellular processes relating to e.g. lipid metabolism, cancer prevention, and antioxidant effects. Assay-based fractionation approaches will be used to identify molecular bioactives acting either alone or synergistically with other components. Results will be used in public health and/or marketing communication, and will provide targets for breeding and varietal selection programmes.Read moreRead less
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100850
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,089,296.00
Summary
Research evidence in the not-for-profit sector and consumer-driven change. This project has three aims: first, to further build research literacy within the not-for-profit human service sector; second, to contribute new knowledge about how human service sector clients can shape the nature of the services they rely upon; and third, develop a framework for human service clients, human service practitioners, and government stakeholders to more actively and collaboratively engage in social policy de ....Research evidence in the not-for-profit sector and consumer-driven change. This project has three aims: first, to further build research literacy within the not-for-profit human service sector; second, to contribute new knowledge about how human service sector clients can shape the nature of the services they rely upon; and third, develop a framework for human service clients, human service practitioners, and government stakeholders to more actively and collaboratively engage in social policy development. The project expects to generate new knowledge to underpin consumer led and transformations in the human service sector. Expected outcomes of the project include a greater understanding of how not-for-profit organisations can bring together their clients and governments to collaboratively solve social problems. Read moreRead less
Cultural responsiveness: measuring and evaluating social work practice. This project aims to develop tools for use by social workers that measure and evaluate culturally responsive practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools have potential application across numerous sectors in social work practices with clients and families. The project will benefit social workers who can measure, evaluate and improve their culturally responsive practice, and in turn, the health and ....Cultural responsiveness: measuring and evaluating social work practice. This project aims to develop tools for use by social workers that measure and evaluate culturally responsive practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools have potential application across numerous sectors in social work practices with clients and families. The project will benefit social workers who can measure, evaluate and improve their culturally responsive practice, and in turn, the health and well-being outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.Read moreRead less
Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability. Unique challenges face the disability, aged care and health sectors because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability (ID) and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting ....Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability. Unique challenges face the disability, aged care and health sectors because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability (ID) and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting disability and aged care services to their needs. This research will inform the development of policy and programs in the disability, aged care, and health sectors. The research aims to improve the capacity of disability group homes to respond to the health and ageing issues of older people with ID,to improve their quality of life.Read moreRead less
Aboriginal Families Study: 5-6 Year Follow-up Of An Intergenerational Birth Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,676,056.00
Summary
This study will extend follow-up mothers and children in an existing cohort of 344 women who gave birth to an Aboriginal baby in South Australia between July 2011 and June 2013. The study will investigate the health of mothers and children, as the children in the study start school. The study will provide important information about the contribution of early life experiences to health and developmental trajectories of children, and the complex interplay of maternal and child health.
WOmen's Action For Mums And Bubs (WOMB): A Pragmatic Trial Of Participatory Women's Groups To Improve Indigenous Maternal And Child Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,766,216.00
Summary
There is strong evidence elsewhere that involving community women in decision-making about strategies to improve the health of mothers and babies is a cheap and effective way of improving health. The WOMB study tests whether community women's groups improve the quality of maternal and child health care and outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the cost-effectiveness and how it works.