Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network Annual Report
2009
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network Annual Report 2009
New knowledge for better outcomes for children and young people
For more information visit: www.aracy.org.au/researchnetwork Annual Report (2009) of the ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation
Contact us The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) owns copyright of all material in this report, except where noted otherwise. You may reproduce this material in unaltered form only (acknowledging the source) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Commercial use of material in this report is prohibited. Except as permitted above, you must not copy, adapt, publish, distribute or commercialise any material contained in this publication without ARACY’s permission. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:
The Communications Manager Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth PO Box 25 Woden ACT 2606 or [email protected] Glossary / abbreviations
ISBNs ARACY Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth Print version: 978-1-921352-62-1 Online version: 978-1-921352-63-8 ARC Australian Research Council Contact us FaHCSIA Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs If you have any queries about this report, please contact: The ARACY Research Network LSAC Longitudinal Study of Australian Children University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics Royal Children’s Hospital NAC ARACY Research Network’s Network Advisory Committee Flemington Road Parkville VIC 3052 NGED Network on Genes and Environment in Development Phone: (03) 9345 5145 Email: [email protected] NIN New Investigators Network Website: www.aracy.org.au/researchnetwork NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth Contents
1 Introduction...... 1
2 Highlights ...... 5 Major achievements ...... 6. Challenges ...... 6. Strategic directions ...... 7. Future directions ...... 7.
3 National Convenor’s report ...... 9
4 Issues...... 13 Supporting collaborative and innovative research...... 1. 4 Overcoming the tyranny of distance...... 1. 4 Breaking down silos ...... 1. 4
5 About the ARACY Research Network...... 17 Our vision and objectives...... 1. 8 History ...... 1. 8 Governance ...... 2. 0 Network Advisory Committee members (2009) ...... 2. 0 Participants and contributors...... 2. 1 Our supporters...... 2. 1
6 Our work...... 23 Seed funding...... 2. 4 New Investigators Network...... 3. 0 Sub-networks...... 3. 4 Knowledge brokering...... 3. 5 Access Grid seminars...... 3. 6 Networking and other events ...... 3. 6 Communications ...... 3. 7 National collaborations and contributions ...... 3. 7 International links and collaborations ...... 3. 9 National benefits...... 3. 9
7 Management and accountability...... 41 Staffing and organisational structure of the ARACY Research Network . . . . . 4. 2 Financial reports...... 4. 4
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation i Appendices
Appendix 1 — ARC reporting requirements...... 48
Appendix 2 — ARACY Research Network participants ...... 49
Appendix 3 — Contributing organisations...... 56
Appendix 4 — Collaborations funded by the ARACY Research Network Seed Funding Program in 2009 (Round 5)...... 59 Appendix 4 1. — Collaborations funded by the ARACY Research Network Seed Funding Program 2006–2008...... 6. 3 Appendix 4 2. — Summary of topic areas identified as targets for seed funding rounds 1–5 (2005–2009)...... 6. 6 Appendix 4 3. — Seed funding selection committees 2006–2009 ...... 6. 7
Appendix 5 — Publications developed as outputs of ARACY Research Network funding or activities (published in 2009)...... 68
Appendix 6 — New Investigators Network 2009...... 70
Appendix 7 — Longitudinal Studies Network member studies 2009. . . . .72 Appendix 7 1. — Prevention Science Network members 2009...... 7. 3
Appendix 8 — Access Grid seminars in 2009...... 76 Appendix 8 1. — Access Grid seminars 2005–2009 ...... 7. 8
Appendix 9 — Member networking events 2006–2008 ...... 81
Appendix 10 — Successful grant applications in 2009 that were facilitated by ARACY Research ARACY Research Network membership...... 83
Appendix 11 — Successful grant applications 2005–2009 that were outcomes of seed funded grants...... 84
Glossary / abbreviations...... IBC
TABLES
Table 5 1. — Significant milestones in the history of the ARACY Research Network ...... 19
Table 6 1. — Seed funded collaborations 2009...... 25
Table 6 2. — Projects awarded ARC, NHMRC or other external funding, 2009...... 27
Table 6 3. — Key activities of the New Investigators Network...... 31
ii ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 1 Introduction
The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) is a national non-profit organisation working to address the major problems affecting children and young people. In 2004 ARACY led a successful bid for funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to form the ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation (hereafter referred to as “the ARACY Research Network“ or “the Network”).
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 1 The ARACY Research Network was formed to improve our In Section 5 we explain the history and governance of national capacity to research the big questions confronting the Network, describe the important role of the Network Australia’s children and young people. This report outlines Advisory Committee, and acknowledge our members and how the Network has done this, by developing the capacity, supporters. skills and knowledge of researchers, policy makers and In Section 6 we provide detailed information about our practitioners, and by enabling these groups to work programs, activities, events and approach — describing how together more effectively, generate new approaches and the ARACY Research Network has worked, the benefits of transfer knowledge from research into policy and practice. our programs and our achievements in 2009 and over the This report documents the activities and achievements of past five years. the ARACY Research Network in 2009. Given that 2009 In Section 7 we report on the Network’s organisational and was the final year of formal ARC/NHMRC funding support financial management. for the Network1, this report also presents a summary of our achievements and contributions over the past five years. The ARACY Research Network was one of 24 research networks funded by the ARC, and one of five co-funded In Section 2 we list the Network’s key achievements, by NHMRC. These networks were intended to encourage acknowledge the challenges we have faced and note collaborative approaches to research in interdisciplinary future directions. settings. This report meets the annual reporting In Section 3 Network Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley AC requirements of the ARC. Appendix 1 explains the reporting reviews our activities and outcomes. requirements and where the information required by the ARC can be found in this report. In Section 4 we outline how the ARACY Research Network has addressed key issues confronting researchers, policy makers and practitioners working to improve the wellbeing of children and young people.
1 Carry-over funding together with external support will allow the Network to continue some programs in 2010.
2 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 3
2 Highlights
In 2009, the Network built on the formative work and successful programs of its first four years, increasing the breadth and impact of our efforts to improve outcomes for children and young people. As this was the final year of ARC/NHMRC funding for the Network, we also focused on consolidating and sharing our learnings and outcomes to benefit our members and other organisations in the future.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 5 The many successes of the ARACY Research Network over • mentored new investigators its five year lifespan are outlined in this report, with a Our innovative New Investigators Network continued in particular focus on our activities and achievements in 2009. 2009. The two year program (February 2008–December More detailed accounts of achievements in 2005–2008 are 2009) enabled 20 high-calibre early career researchers provided in previous annual reports, all available on the to work with, and receive mentoring support from, ARACY website2. leading researchers. In 2009 this was primarily via three workshops, a symposium and ongoing The Network’s major achievements in the year under review communications. Read more on p 30 and over the past five years are summarised below. • confirmed that the NIN was valuable Evaluations of the New Investigators Network found that the participants considered it a great opportunity Major achievements and have benefited considerably from the networking, professional and personal development, and peer and The ARACY Research Network has: mentor support. Read more on p 32 • enabled collaborations to develop new research • promoted knowledge sharing Over its five year lifetime (2005–2009) the Network The ARACY Research Network has convened two awarded $1.08 million seed funding to support new workshops to promote and encourage knowledge research on priority issues facing children and young brokering and a third is planned for early 2010. people in Australia. Seed funding has been provided to A book about the linkages between policy, practice 51 collaborations, which brought together 542 people and research, developed from papers from the 2007 across disciplines and sectors to develop new research. workshop, has been submitted for publication. Read In the final funding round in 2009, we awarded more on p 35 $165,000 in seed funding to support nine new collaborations to develop research addressing issues • used Access Grid technology to share knowledge including the impact of crises (natural and economic) Our series of Access Grid seminars continued in 2009, on children and youth, and indicators of child and with six topical presentations by leading national youth wellbeing. Read more on p 25 and international researchers. The use of Access Grid technology enables members across Australia to view • helped new collaborations gain research funding presentations, participate in discussion and network In 2009, seven collaborative projects supported in with other members, while based in their own city. previous rounds of our Seed Funding Program were Over its lifetime, the Network presented a total of awarded funding by the ARC, NHMRC or other 30 seminars, with almost 2000 participants. Read bodies, totaling $1.76m. In total, 18 projects that were more on p 36 supported by seed funding from the ARACY Research Network since 2006 have been awarded 33 research grants, totaling almost $6 million.Read more on p 27
• showed that seed funding is effective Challenges An evaluation of our Seed Funding Program confirmed The main challenges for the ARACY Research Network over that this program helps to overcome some of the its lifetime have related to: biggest obstacles to collaborative research and has assisted researchers in developing, and gaining funding • the breadth and complexity of the risk and protective for, important research. Read more on p 28 factors affecting child and youth development, and how these interact throughout life to influence outcomes
• the size, diversity and geographic spread of our membership
• the absence of continuing funding.
2 http://www.aracy.org.au
6 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Our primary challenge was the sheer complexity of the Our focus over the past five years has been on building problems confronting Australia’s children and young people. national networks and programs within Australia. The To address this, the Network concentrated on supporting ARACY Research Network has already benefited from work on ‘big picture’ issues, and identified priorities to international knowledge exchange, participation of our ensure that research supported by our Seed Funding members in initiatives in other countries (eg in developing Program aligned with our key goals. All our activities programs such as the New Investigators Network — see are multidisciplinary; aim to address significant issues in page 30), and having international experts present seminars innovative ways; and involve researchers, policy makers, and workshops (see page 35). In 2009, while maintaining practitioners and/or service providers. our national actions, we further strengthened our international links, including supporting the visit of Professor Positive factors include the growing number, geographic Mark Greenberg from Penn State University, in June–July, spread and diverse interests of our members. However, and attendance of keynote presenters for the ARACY these factors also presented challenges to the Network, National Conference in September. creating a need for a range of programs, events and communications that were useful and relevant to all. Our efforts to meet this need are detailed in Section 6 (Our work). Future directions Support from the ARC/NHMRC Research Network funding The ARACY Research Network has secured some external scheme ceased at the end of 20093. The absence of support which, with carry-over funds from 2009, will continuing funding created uncertainty, particularly in the enable us to maintain some core programs in 2010. These past two years. include the Access Grid seminar program, New Investigators Network and the Prevention Science and Knowledge Brokering networks.
Strategic directions The Network also is exploring alternative sources of support for the continuation and extension of its programs. Possible In 2009 we continued to focus on achieving the ARACY further funding sources include the Cooperative Research Research Network’s objectives and goals by maintaining Centres (CRC) Program and NHMRC Partnerships Programs. and building on the programs that have proved to be successful in: Over the life of the Network, many organisations have been important to ensure the continuation of its work. These are • forging effective, cross-disciplinary collaborations listed at Appendix 3. • developing research skills and capacity
• building links between research, policy and practice to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Given the uncertainty of future funding, the ARACY Research Network strived to nurture networks and collaborations that would be sustainable beyond the Network’s lifetime, either by their own efforts or with the support of funding from other organisations.
3 Carry-over funding together with external support will allow the Network to continue some programs in 2010.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 7
3 National Convenor’s report
In its fifth year the ARACY Research Network continued its efforts to generate new knowledge and approaches for the benefit of future generations.
Network Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley highlights our key activities and outcomes in 2009.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 9 It is with pleasure, tinged with some sadness, that I report Seed funding has also facilitated work to identify knowledge on the successes of the ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research gaps and develop a research agenda in some critical areas. Network — Future Generation in its fifth, and final, full year Our Australian Fatherhood Research Network evolved from of operation. a seed funded project, while the project ‘How are welfare to work and workplace reforms affecting young people In 2009, we focused on the activities that were most and children at risk?’ is one example of a seed funded effectively and efficiently meeting our objectives — building collaboration that has developed a research agenda. Other capacity and forging collaborations across disciplines to outputs of the collaborations have benefited the wider generate new approaches and knowledge that will benefit ARACY membership, including publications and Access Grid future generations. We knew from our evaluations that seminars to share new knowledge and learnings. these programs were working, and used feedback from our members to enhance them where required. Each year, we Our New Investigators Network is an innovative program built on the foundation of the preceding year, extending the that has proved to be beneficial to, and valued by, all breadth and scope of our efforts to improve the health and participants. In the second year of the program, participants wellbeing of children and young people. and mentors came together in three two-day workshops and at a special symposium during ARACY’s National Knowing this was the final year of ARC/NHMRC funding, Conference, and maintained ongoing communications in 2009 we also focused on consolidating the learnings of via email and other ARACY channels. Participants have previous years and working with our members to ensure reported many benefits of the mentoring, professional and that our initiatives were sustainable. personal development, networking and support provided by The major achievements of the ARACY Research Network this program. in 2009 and over the past five years are summarised in Knowledge brokering has been a continuing focus for the section 2, and detailed later in this report. Here I want to ARACY Research Network over the past three years. After highlight just some of our flagship programs and most a successful workshop in 2007, we convened a second significant outcomes. workshop in 2008 for people at mid-career stage. A third The Network was established to facilitate novel workshop for knowledge brokers is planned for March collaborations across the often disparate groups of research, 2010. Papers from the first workshop have been used to policy and practice. Our Seed Funding Program has enabled develop a book that will be essential reading for those researchers to develop and sustain new collaborations and interested in sharing knowledge across sectors to enhance to do the work required to successfully apply for ongoing the nexus between research, policy and practice. grants. And the return on investment in monetary terms The considerable outputs and achievements of the Network is impressive: to the end of 2009, 18 projects have won over its lifetime are largely due to the leadership of our almost $6 million in leveraged and grant funding, from a Network Coordinator, Professor Ann Sanson. Ann has been total of just over $1.08 million in seed funding. Many seed wonderfully assisted by Network Administrators Sharyn Bant funded projects are still in progress, and we expect more and Rachael Wilken, and Project Officers Anna Drylie, Kelly successful grants to emerge from these. Rae and Jemma Wood. A comprehensive evaluation of the first two rounds of The Network Advisory Committee comprises senior seed funding indicated that the Seed Funding Program researchers from several disciplines, representatives of met an important need, and has helped to overcome some service-provider organisations, policy makers, Indigenous of the biggest obstacles to truly collaborative innovative researchers, and early career researchers. As this is research. Our members have confirmed that significant the final annual report of the Network, we thank the research now underway may not have been developed and members of the 2009 committee and all their predecessors. funded without the ‘kickstart’ provided by seed funding. Their commitment, guidance and wise direction have The program also supported development of networks underpinned the Network’s successes. of researchers, policy makers and practitioners that are ongoing well beyond the project end.
10 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation The ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network has created a truly national network of cross-disciplinary researchers effectively interacting with policy makers and service providers to tackle major issues confronting the wellbeing of children and young people. We hope that the links we have formed between researchers, policy makers and practitioners over the past five years will be sustained, so that knowledge will continue to be effectively applied in policies and services to improve outcomes for young Australians.
Professor Fiona Stanley AC ARACY Research Network Convenor
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 11
4 Issues
While most Australians enjoy good health and prosperity, over the past few decades, many aspects of the health and wellbeing of children and young people have either declined or failed to improve in the way we expected. The issues affecting child and youth health and wellbeing are big, and the research needed to address them is complex.
The ARACY Research Network has developed programs and approaches to overcome some of the most significant barriers to collaborative, crossdisciplinary and innovative research to tackle these issues.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 13 ARACY was formed to increase our understanding of developed skills in the use of longitudinal data, working the major problems affecting children and young people across disciplines and transferring knowledge into policy and improve our efforts to prevent and address them. and practice. Participants have been analysing data from One of the ways ARACY does this is by establishing new the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a large-scale collaborations across disciplines and sectors to produce and national study exploring the impact of Australia’s unique apply useful knowledge. social and cultural environment on the next generation. To derive maximum knowledge from these data requires The ARACY Research Network was born out of ARACY’s expertise in sophisticated analytic techniques. It also requires mission. It has brought together researchers from integration of different disciplinary perspectives, and an many disciplines — in partnership with policy makers, awareness of how scientific data feed into the policy- practitioners, data experts and young people — to explore making process. Few Australian researchers have this set of priority research questions of national and international skills. The New Investigators Network has helped address significance. these gaps by building the skills and networks of early In this section we detail key issues and summarise ways career researchers. Such skills enable researchers to make in which the ARACY Research Network has responded to better use of the data from long-term studies to guide them, effecting changes in thinking and practice. policy and practice developments to improve outcomes for children and young people.
With support from ARACY, we will continue the NIN Supporting collaborative and through 2010, with a new intake of early career researchers. innovative research One of the most significant impediments to new research Overcoming the tyranny of aimed at tackling the complexity of the issues facing children and young people is the lack of time and resources distance to develop the research plan or proposal. There is a need to Australia is a large country and the researchers, policy draw together people who can help work out the best way makers and service providers with an interest in child and to address an issue and ensure that the research outcomes youth health, development and wellbeing are spread across will be useful to policy makers and service providers. it. Linking those with specific interests is challenging, but is The ARACY Research Network’s Seed Funding Program essential to improving outcomes. helps to overcome this obstacle by providing the resources Given the geographical dispersion of the ARACY Research needed to form new multidisciplinary and multisectoral Network participants, and our limited resources, Access Grid collaborative groups. These groups can then do the technology has proven to be an excellent means of bringing preparatory work of developing research proposals to the national and international expertise to participants, and stage of writing research grant applications. enabling national discussion. Over the past five years, the Network has funded 51 new The Network convened 33 Access Grid seminars over the collaborations through five rounds of seed funding. Many past five years, on a wide range of topics (See Appendix of these projects have reached completion; some funded 8.1). See page 36 for more information about seminars in rounds 4 and 5 are still underway. Further information in 2009. about the Seed Funding Program and the 2009 grant recipients is in Section 6.
The ARACY Research Network’s New Investigators Network program has also supported and built capacity Breaking down silos for innovative research in the areas of child and youth The way in which research has traditionally been organised health, development and wellbeing. It is the current cohort has resulted in a yawning gap between the world of the of younger researchers who will lead most of the research researcher and the worlds of policy makers and the people breakthroughs over the next few years, especially if they are delivering and using services. The result is that research supported to analyse problems in new ways. is not always designed to address the issues of greatest The early career researchers who were selected as concern to those ‘users’, and research findings are not participants in the New Investigators Network have presented in a way that can be translated into policy and practice.
14 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation The ARACY Research Network has addressed this issue by building links between the silos of research, policy and practice. When supporting research collaborations, we encourage them to include policy makers, practitioners and consumers as full participants, able to influence both the research agenda and the way new knowledge is developed and shared.
The Network also has focused on dismantling the traditional divisions between the large and diverse range of disciplines with an interest in child and youth health, development and wellbeing. ARACY and its Research Network are the first concerted attempts at forging interdisciplinary links and collaborations to benefit children and young people in Australia.
All of the ARACY Research Network’s activities have focused on bridging the divides between sectors (research, policy and practice) and between disciplines. Over the past five years we have demonstrated how bringing together people from all disciplines — in research collaborations, through our New Investigators Network, our sub-networks, and our workshops, seminars and meetings — generates innovative thinking and more effective ways to address common concerns.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 15
5 About the ARACY Research Network
The ARACY Research Network’s vision was to create new ways of thinking and acting, to address the most important issues confronting child and youth health, development and wellbeing in Australia.
We brought together a large number of researchers, policy makers and practitioners from a broad range of disciplines to generate new approaches and knowledge to benefit future generations of Australians.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 17 Objectives History
The objectives of the ARACY Research Network were: ARACY was established in 2001 to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Australia, by 1 to develop the skills and knowledge needed to support bridging the gap between research and policy and practice. large-scale collaborations across disciplines and sectors One of ARACY’s objectives is to encourage and facilitate 2 to develop the capacity to: multidisciplinary research that will address the big issues confronting child and youth health and wellbeing. • work with end users to identify research questions that will have the greatest impact on outcomes, In 2004, the ARC called for applications for funding for and to expand the knowledge base projects that would encourage groups of researchers and end users to cooperate in new ways, to work on problems • produce evidence that will be useful and put into of national significance. The ARACY Research Network action was awarded $1.75 million over five years. It was one of only 24 networks funded by the ARC, from a pool of about • make better use of existing data resources 300 applicants, and one of only five networks co-funded by • contribute further to the effectiveness of the ARC and the NHMRC. international collaborations. As an initiative of ARACY, the Network’s aims and objectives were developed from ARACY’s objectives, and the Network has benefited from the organisation’s structure, governance and approach.
The first ARACY Research Network meeting was held in Canberra in December 2004. By the end of its first year, the Network had 235 participants and 50 contributing organisations, and had initiated its Access Grid seminar program. At the end of 2009, when funding formally ceased, the Network had 264 participants and 58 contributing organisations and had delivered a range of innovative programs to achieve its aims. ARACY CEO Dr Lance Emerson and Network Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson at a strategic planning session Significant milestones in our history are listed in Table 5.1.
18 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Table 5 .1 Significant milestones in the history of the ARACY Research Network
Date Milestone
8 December 2004 First meeting of the ARACY Research Network, Canberra
January 2005 Membership of the ARACY Research Network was boosted through a merger with the proposed ‘Network for innovation in research and public policy to promote the health and wellbeing of Australia’s children and young people‘, given the similarities in objectives.
March 2005 Access Grid seminar program began
October 2005 First meeting of Network Advisory Committee
March–December 2005 Four Access Grid seminars presented
June 2006 First Scholarships Program for Early Career Researchers
June 2006 ARACY Research Network member networking events began
July 2006 Call for applications for first round of Seed Funding Program
August 2006 First workshop of the Longitudinal Studies Network
November 2006 Call for applications for second round of Seed Funding Program
March–October 2006 Seven Access Grid seminars presented
July 2007 Call for applications for third round of Seed Funding Program
October 2007 Applications invited for New Investigators Network
September 2007 First Knowledge Brokering workshop
December 2007 First Prevention Science sub-network workshop
March–December 2007 Ten Access Grid seminars presented
February 2008 First New Investigators Network workshop
May 2008 Call for applications for fourth round of Seed Funding Program
February–November 2008 Eight Access Grid seminars presented
April 2009 Call for applications for fifth round of Seed Funding Program
May–December 2009 Six Access Grid seminars presented
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 19 Governance Associate Professor Vicki Clifton NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Faculty Health Sciences, A Network Advisory Committee provides advice and School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, guidance to the Network Convenor and the Network University of Adelaide Coordinator on the strategic directions for the Network and its priority activities. The committee also advises on planning Dr Philippa Collin and implementation of activities, and identifies new Director of Programs and Research, Inspire Foundation collaborative opportunities and initiatives for the Network. It assists in the review of grant applications and approves Professor Anne Graham major new initiatives. Director, Centre for Children and Young People, In keeping with our goal of fostering dialogue between Southern Cross University sectors and disciplines, the Network Advisory Committee Ms Anne Hampshire has always included senior and early career researchers, policy makers and representatives of service providers. National Manager, Research and Social Policy, Membership of the 2009 committee is listed below. Mission Australia
The Network Advisory Committee met six times in Ms Jocelyn Jones 2009: three times in Melbourne, and three times by PhD candidate, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research teleconference. Professor Ilan Katz Director, Social Policy Research Centre, Network Advisory Committee University of New South Wales members (2009) Ms Annette Michaux Director, Executive Strategy Unit, Benevolent Society Professor Ann Sanson (Chair) Network Coordinator, ARACY Research Network; Ms Karen Rowe Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne Section Manager, Children and Parenting Support Branch, Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Professor Fiona Stanley AC (Deputy Chair) Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Canberra Network Convenor, ARACY Research Network; Executive Director and Board Chair, ARACY; Professor Gary Robinson Director, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research Co-Director, School for Social and Policy Research, Charles Darwin University Dr Lance Emerson (ex officio) Chief Executive Officer, ARACY Professor Cindy Shannon Director, Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Health Professor Gabriele Bammer Sciences, University of Queensland Research Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University Mr Michael White Acting Deputy Secretary, Office for Children and Early Childhood Development, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victorian Government
20 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Participants and contributors Our primary financial support came from the ARC and NHMRC Research Network funding scheme, which ended At the end of 2009, the ARACY Research Network had in 2009. 264 individual participants and 58 contributing organisation ARACY continues to provide significant support to the members. Network, given our congruent aims and overlapping Individual participants include established researchers, early membership. As well as communication and networking career researchers and students and professionals working tools — such as the website, monthly newsletter and in a policy and practice context. register of interests — ARACY has provided substantial in-kind support through the contribution of its employees Contributing organisations support the participation of working on projects and support services that have close their employees in the Network with a cash or in-kind synergies with the Network’s needs and directions. In 2010, contribution (or both). ARACY will continue to support the Access Grid and New Appendix 2 lists the ARACY Research Network participants Investigators Network programs. and their primary institutional affiliations. The list highlights The University of Melbourne provides office space and the wide sectoral and geographical distribution of Network infrastructure support for the Network in the Department of members. Responses to our annual survey of Network Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Further, Network participants indicate that most were involved in research Coordinator Ann Sanson is a Professor in the Department (69%), but a significant number were also involved in of Paediatrics. Dr Sophie Havighurst, from the University’s practice (19%) and policy (12%). Most participating Department of Psychiatry, has provided valuable assistance organisations were also research focused (60%); about to progress development of the Prevention Science Network. one-fifth (20.5%) were service providers and a similar proportion (19%) were involved in policy. Other notable contributions to the Network were made by Professor Stephen Zubrick and Professor Brian Head, who have been instrumental to the success of the New Investigators Network. Professor Zubrick also has supported Our supporters development of the new Prevention Science Network. Professor Gabriele Bammer, Annette Michaux and Professor The ARACY Research Network has benefited from the Cathy Humphreys have contributed considerable time and support of many individuals and organisations. In particular, expertise to the development of the Network’s knowledge we value and acknowledge the time, dedication and brokering activities. expert input of those participants who have volunteered as members of the Network Advisory Committee, served on selection committees for seed funding grants, acted as mentors to early career researchers and served on the advisory group for the New Investigators Network, and shared their expertise at workshops and seminars.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 21
6 Our work
The ARACY Research Network’s work plan for 2009 sustained and built on the successful activities of the preceding four years of operations.
We continued our Seed Funding and New Investigators Network programs, supported and built new sub-networks, and contributed to many national collaborations and agendas.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 23 The ARACY Research Network’s key activities and The ARACY Research Network has offered five rounds deliverables in 2009, detailed in this section, were: of seed funding over the past four years. For each round, target topic areas were identified and priority was given to • Supporting new collaborations projects that were crossdisciplinary, innovative and large- – Implementation of a fifth round of seed funding scale, have capacity to inform policy and practice, and include plans for knowledge translation. – Support for sub-networks for members with shared interests To the end of 2009, the Seed Funding Program has enabled formation of 51 new collaborations. These collaborations have • Capacity building identified, explored and developed proposals for research to address priority issues including (but not limited to): – Continuation of the New Investigators Network: another three workshops, ongoing mentoring and • child protection support for participants, and a final evaluation • kinship care and out-of-home care – Completion of a capacity-building resource based on papers from the first knowledge brokering • children’s experience of poverty workshop held in 2007 • school readiness – Organisation of Access Grid seminars, to share • bullying in schools information with members across the country • impacts of advertising and marketing on young children • Supporting and linking members • homelessness – Communication with stakeholders about Network events and activities largely through the ARACY • fatherhood newsletters and website. • children’s wellbeing following separation and divorce In this section we also report on our national collaborations • the contribution of information and communication and contributions, and our international links and technologies to youth mental health. collaborations. Further information about the priority topic areas and successful applicants for previous rounds of seed funding can be found on the ARACY website4 and in previous Seed funding annual reports.
As described in Section 4, the size and scope of the research Seed funding could not be used directly for research; it was needed to address the big issues confronting children and to support new groups as they developed project plans and young people in Australia requires collaboration between did the preparatory work needed to develop a research diverse groups of people who have not previously worked funding application. In this process, the collaborations also together. It also requires significant funding, which entails convened workshops and produced resources, such as the development of coherent and persuasive research literature reviews and reports, which are useful to others. proposals. The outputs and developmental work of many projects funded in the first four collaboration seed funding rounds The ARACY Research Network has developed two programs are available on the ARACY website. to overcome these impediments to innovative research. Our Seed Funding Program began in 2006 and we also offered Many collaborations have been successful in gaining joint funding with the Network on Genes Environment in research grants as a result of the work enabled by seed Development (see page 27) in 2007. funding, as discussed below.
The Seed Funding Program provided funding of up to $40 000 per collaboration to support the formation of multidisciplinary, multisector collaborations that can develop proposals for funding from other sources.
4 http://www.aracy.org.au
24 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation New collaborations supported The issues for each round of the Seed Funding Program were chosen to reflect the research priorities and goals in 2009 of ARACY and the ARACY Research Network. Priority was given to projects that crossed disciplinary boundaries; In 2009, nine new research collaborations were awarded involved researchers, policy makers and practitioners or grants in the fifth round of the ARACY Research Network’s service providers; and addressed an issue in an innovative Seed Funding Program. A tenth proposal was offered and large-scale way. funding through the Australian Fatherhood Research Network (see page 34). Applications were assessed by an independent selection committee. In 2009, the committee comprised three These new collaborations are developing research projects members of the Network Advisory Committee and an that address one of the priority issues specified for the ARACY representative (see Appendix 4.3). The selection fifth round: committee was impressed with the quality and anticipated • issues relating to program evaluation research value of the 27 applications received in 2009.
• the impact of crises (natural and economic) on children A list of the projects that received seed funding in 2009 is and youth shown in Table 6.1; further details about the projects are at Appendix 4. • youth issues
• indicators of child and youth wellbeing.
Table 6 .1 Seed funded collaborations 2009
Grant Title Convenor/s (ex GST)
Building practice-based evidence through program evaluation Professor Patricia Rogers $30 000
Bushfire recovery — Hearing children’s voices Dr Lisa Gibbs $15 000
Infant sleep and settling strategies: addressing controversies Associate Professor Jane Fisher $20 000 and evaluating evidence to inform a universal prevention trial
Early childhood development data linkage Professor John Lynch $15 000 demonstration project
Program evaluation of the national Early Years Learning Dr Jennifer Sumsion and $25 000 Framework Dr Linda Harrison
Health and wellbeing indicators for children and youth with Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn and $20 000 disabilities Associate Professor Helen Leonard
A national plan for rare diseases in Australia: Building a Professor Elizabeth Elliott $15 000 network of expertise to help families affected by rare diseases
Connecting research, policy and practice in evidence-based Dr Rae Thomas $10 000 treatments for child abuse
Future voices: Developing youth-focused policy and practice Professor Andrew Beer $15 000 at the intersections of voicelessness and homelessness
A list of reports and articles that were written as an output or consequence of seed funding and published in 2009 is included at Appendix 5.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 25 Children and young people with experience of Out-of-home care
Building a relevant research agenda
The number of children in out-of-home care (OHC) projects that have gained funding from the ARC, the has been rapidly rising, with a 70% increase from 1996 Ian Potter Foundation and other sources; others are to 2005. This project, which received $39 000 in the developing applications now. first round (2006) of the ARACY Research Network’s ‘In terms of the Alfred Felton Research Program, the Seed Funding Program, formed a national network of work supported by seed funding has developed one stakeholders to develop a research agenda focused on of our research strands that will be ongoing for a creating and supporting more child and youth friendly long time. We have produced papers and conference environments for young people in and after leaving OHC. presentations that have been enormously helpful in The network formed working groups on research drawing attention to the issue of family contact with topics including family contact for infants in OHC, children in out-of-home care and influencing the leaving care, and the cost of support. The seed funding political and practice agendas. enabled these groups to meet to develop research ‘Personally, coming to Australia after 12 years in the directions and proposals. Projects subsequently UK, with no networks in this area, the seed funding developed have gained more than $800 000 in ARC was pivotal to introducing me to people across and other funding. academia, government and non-government. It has Project convenor Professor Cathy Humphreys* reflected facilitated several ongoing multidisciplinary and cross- on the impact of the Seed Funding Program: sectoral networks.’
‘[It] was invaluable in enabling us to bring together Professor Cathy Humphreys is the a network of interested people across government, Alfred Felton Chair of Child and academia and the community sector and form working Family Welfare, a position in which parties to develop research projects and knowledge she has a base at both the Social transfer. Work Department at University of Melbourne and The Centre for ‘Each of the groups has continued and done some Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. interesting work. Some have developed research
26 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Joint funding with Network Collaborations awarded external on Genes and Environment in funding
Development To the end of 2009, 18 projects supported by the Network’s seed funding program have obtained 33 grants from the The ARACY Research Network and the ARC/NHMRC ARC, NHMRC or other agencies totalling almost $6 million. Research Network on Genes and Environment in Development (NGED) share a common goal: to identify and While the main and financially largest sources of better understand the biological, genetic, environmental grant funding are the ARC and NHMRC, seed-funded and social factors that influence healthy development. collaborations have also gained funding for research In late 2007, the two networks developed a joint funding from other supporters, including VicHealth, the Telstra program to promote collaborations. Applications were Foundation, Sidney Myer Fund, University of Melbourne, invited from participants in the ARACY Research Network British Academy, FaHCSIA, Office of Aboriginal and Torres and NGED for up to $10 000 seed funding to support Strait Islander Health and the Ian Potter Foundation. the formation of new cross-network, multidisciplinary collaborations. The goal was to produce useful resources In 2009, three collaborative projects that had been and successful grant applications. supported by our Seed Funding Program were awarded ARC Linkage grants to advance their projects, and another Two rounds of funding were offered, in 2007 and 2008, six were awarded funding from other sources (see Table 6.2). with the specified topic for both rounds ‘The interaction between biological, genetic, environmental and social Several other seed funded collaborations are preparing determinants of healthy development’. grant applications or have applications currently under review.
Table 6 .2 Projects awarded ARC, NHMRC or other external funding, 2009
Project title Collaboration leader Grant source Amount
A study of the feasibility of implementing a universal University of ARC Linkage $240 000 child and family health services in Australia Western Sydney Grant
Priority setting in child protection: Developing an Southern Cross ARC Linkage $562 748 evidence-based strategy to reduce child abuse and University Grant neglect and associated harms
The perinatal journey: The process and impact of University of ARC Linkage $245 000 psychosocial assessment Western Sydney Grant
Kids in communities study Centre for Community VicHealth $99 000 Child Health
Family violence and family law research project Monash University Commonwealth $320 000 Attorney-General’s Department
Establishing a place for parents Telethon Institute for Lotterywest $40 000 Child Health Research
Request for a parents’ place Telethon Institute for FaHCSIA $200 000 Child Health Research
Housing and children’s development and wellbeing: Curtin University Australian $49 976 a scoping study Housing and Urban Research Institute
Think child, think family: child and family-sensitive Mission Australia Sidney Myer Fund $30 000 practice within homelessness services
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 27 Evaluation of the Seed Feedback from recipients of seed Funding Program funding
In 2009, the ARACY Research Network developed a Comments from recipients of seed funding in rounds 3 and methodology for a comprehensive evaluation of the Seed 4 included: Funding Program. It will use interviews with convenors ‘ARACY seed funding has provided a wonderful and randomly selected project team members, thus giving opportunity to progress thinking in this topical and more than one perspective on the projects. The evaluation complex area. Of course, one of the great benefits has will gather information about outputs, outcomes and the been the sort of informal learning and networking that factors contributing to successful collaborations. This will takes place, often with quite concrete results.’ build on the evaluation of the first two rounds completed in 2008, and is planned for 2010, when most seed-funded ‘The collaboration process has been rewarding. projects will be complete. The first phase of evaluation Through this [seed funded] grant we have brought found that the first two rounds of the program were together a variety of researchers from very different but highly successful in achieving the aims of the Seed Funding complementary backgrounds who had not previously Program. worked together… It is likely that these relationships will further build and will contribute to fruitful research into the future.’
‘The seed funding scheme has enabled us to develop a competitive grant proposal and to gather an outstanding advisory team for the proposed project.’
‘The collaborators on this project brought experience and expertise from a broad range of practice, policy and academic perspectives. The collaboration assisted in forming networks, facilitating partnerships and sharing knowledge in a way that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.’
‘[Our seed funded collaboration has] brought people together to think about the big issues facing Australia’s children. The informal networking and collaboration opportunities are an important aspect of this as collaborators have increased knowledge, and shared tools and information.’
28 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Children's stake in parents' jobs
Cross-national comparisons of job quality, parents' health and children's wellbeing
Parent mental health and wellbeing is a key children’s wellbeing and to do a feasibility study, to determinant of children’s outcomes. As quality of work out how to do the sort of research necessary to work influences parent mental health, it is expected influence policy and practice. that family-friendly work policies and practices ‘In doing so we gathered information that we’re now could be directly linked with child wellbeing. Dr using to write a paper, comparing a whole range of Lyndall Strazdins* and colleagues were awarded an ways jobs are resourced in different nations and the encouragement grant by the ARACY Research Network impact on children’s wellbeing. As well as sharing the in 2007 to highlight and develop a research agenda to knowledge we gained, such a publication would be explore the links between jobs, parents’ and children’s evidence of the efficacy of our collaboration, helping wellbeing, and policy decisions and positions. The us obtain funds for a study. collaboration formed is developing an application for funding for a major cross-national study of family ‘The Network’s seed funding was designed to build friendly job quality, and parent and child wellbeing. the collaborative team and support its networking, but it is also critical to producing something tangible. Dr Strazdins provided the following comments: When you’re seeking funding as a team, the funding ‘In my experience in talking to policy makers about bodies want to see a track record, to see a publication child-friendly jobs there was the sense that what or something the team has produced that the research happens in your own country is how it should be. will build on. The encouragement grant has allowed We wanted to identify some international exemplars; us to demonstrate our ability to work together and to to show that other countries, similar to Australia, contribute.’ do things differently and support jobs that enable * Dr Lyndall Strazdins is a Fellow at the National parents and children to flourish; that it is possible. Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the ‘The encouragement grant, while small, was an Australian National University. Her research focuses on essential kickstart. It allowed us to start broadening the impacts and implications for Australian children of thinking about parents’ work and the impact on family unfriendly jobs, and on climate change.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 29 New Investigators Network Mentors were invited into the program on the basis of their: • established skills in mentoring and supervisory roles As part of its capacity-building agenda, the ARACY Research Network developed an innovative program to support • knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm around child promising early career researchers. The New Investigators and youth health, development and wellbeing, or Network program was established to help develop the skills longitudinal research (including the Longitudinal Study of high-calibre early career researchers, working across of Australian Children), or knowledge transfer disciplines, in the use of longitudinal data and transferring knowledge on child and youth health, development and • personal attributes (eg being wise, supportive, wellbeing into policy and practice. well-networked, collaborative and flexible)
Due to the high number of quality applications received, • commitment and enthusiasm about the vision of 14 researchers were chosen as participants (instead of the ARACY and the New Investigators Network originally planned 10), and an additional 6 applicants were • genuine desire to assist and empower early career offered ‘extended member’ positions (initially with more researchers. limited access to New Investigators Network activities and resources). Over time, the distinction between ‘full’ A further group of six researchers and policy makers acted and ‘extended’ members was dissolved and the extended as an advisory group. Mentors and advisory group members members fully engaged in the work of the Network. are listed at Appendix 6.
The New Investigators Network participants (listed at This initiative was modelled on a similar network created by Appendix 6) included researchers with a diverse range of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIAR), which backgrounds, research interests and disciplines including successfully supported a group of future leaders in child and psychology, social work, economics, criminology, public youth research. Development of the program was informed health and social policy. Most have completed or are by communication with the CIAR and the experiences of completing a PhD, and some have other experience in the Dr Garth Kendall, who had been a member of the Canadian child and youth field. New Investigators Network (and a member of our New Investigators Network Advisory Committee), and Dr Kevin During their New Investigators Network term, which ran Runions, a participant selected for the Australian New from February 2008 to December 2009, participants: Investigators Network who had also participated in the • worked with and received mentoring support from a Canadian New Investigators Network. group of top-level researchers New Investigators Network activities • were trained in cutting-edge analysis and knowledge- transfer techniques in 2009
• had opportunities to participate in career development Three two-day workshops were held in 2009 supplemented workshops, meetings and presentations. by regular communications through email and ARACY’s discussion forum. In September, participants presented some The New Investigators Network mentors were senior of the results of their collaborative research in a special researchers who are leaders in their field, who committed to New Investigators Network Symposium at the ARACY work with and support the network participants to achieve 2009 National Conference, Transforming Australia for our their individual and program goals. children’s future: Making prevention work.
Most of the participants plan to continue research collaborations that were developed during the program. Twelve of the 19 participants in the first NIN program have also indicated they are keen to take on a mentoring role themselves, with the support of the senior mentors, for a new intake of NIN participants in 2010.
Key activities during 2009, and in previous years, are listed in Table 6.3.
30 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Table 6 .3 Key activities of the New Investigators Network
Date Activity
December 2007 Launch of NIN online e-discussion forum; mentor and participant introductions posted online
12–13 February 2008 Workshop 1: Introductions, the Canadian New Investigators Network, and overview of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
February to April 2008 Online e-discussion: research topics and interests
18–19 April 2008 Workshop 2: Collaboration, knowledge translation and research project development
14 July 2008 Access Grid seminar: Using Longitudinal Study of Australian Children data to demonstrate new techniques for assessing the measurement properties of scale scores. Presentation by Professor Stephen Zubrick, Curtin University Centre for Developmental Health and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
7–8 August 2008 Workshop 3: Conducting research that makes a difference, strategies for knowledge translation and project group work
27–28 October 2008 Professional development training session: Multilevel and growth curve modelling training. Presented by Dr Siek Toon Khoo, Australian Council for Education Research
19–20 February 2009 Workshop 4: Project group work and feedback on the policy relevance of projects by Helen Rogers, Research and Analysis Branch, FAHCSIA
26–28 May 2009 Workshop 5: Developing publication and conference plans. Presentation by Professor Robert Coplan, Editor, Social Development, Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa. This workshop included sessions on career pathways and project group work.
2–4 September 2009 New Investigators Network Symposium — ARACY 2009 National Conference ‘New Investigators Network: Building our research capacity for prevention.’
1–2 December 2009 Workshop 6: Future planning, evaluation and project group work
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 31 New Investigators Network The evaluation was designed to allow NIN participants to consolidate their learning. It also enabled the ARACY evaluation Research Network to learn about the outcomes of the NIN and consolidate organisational learning about Evaluations of the New Investigators Network (NIN) have crossdisciplinary collaborations, and findings will inform confirmed the value and benefits to participants and the future development of the program. wider research community. A second strand of evaluation was an online survey where Respondents to a survey of participants conducted in 2008, further feedback regarding the NIN program was sought the mid-point of the two year program, found participation from participants. This data will be fully analysed in 2010 in the NIN to be a great opportunity, reporting positive but early analysis indicates that there are generally high experiences as a result of the networking, professional levels of satisfaction with the program, with participants and personal development, support, mentoring and noting valuable contributions in the areas of professional collaboration. Suggestions for improving the program, development and networking opportunities, peer support, such as more time for small-group work on projects, and access to mentoring, advice and encouragement as well enlisting the support of additional mentors or advisers as opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary and around specific projects, were incorporated as the program intersectoral research. continued in 2009.
A “Most Significant Change” evaluation process was conducted at the final workshop of the 2008–09 program in December 2009. The evaluation process documented participants’ stories about the most significant change they experienced during their two years of participation in the NIN.
Members of the New Investigators Network at a workshop in Melbourne, February 2009
32 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation New Investigators Network participant
Generosity of ideas and knowledge
Dr Rony Duncan is an early career researcher at the during the NIN workshops are ongoing and have led Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, working to concrete outcomes such as working on research in ethics and adolescent health at the Centre for projects together, co-authoring papers, and writing Adolescent Health, The Children’s Bioethics Centre and grants together. the Bruce Lefroy Centre. In 2006 Rony was awarded a ‘For me, one of the most encouraging aspects of the Young Tall Poppy Award for outstanding achievements collaborations formed through the NIN has been the in the area of science. culture of generosity of ideas and knowledge that’s Dr Duncan was selected as a member of the New developed. Working in research fulltime has the Investigators Network in 2007, which she described as potential to foster competitiveness with peers, so being ‘a huge compliment’. able to work with a network of peers and mentors who all share the common goal of improving the health ‘It was encouraging to know that my research in the and wellbeing of young people has been wonderful. field of ethics, which often sits somewhat outside the I think this approach really came about as a result of square, is seen as valuable and necessary for the health modelling the way in which the mentors interacted. and wellbeing of young people, and that senior people in the field were interested enough to want to assist ‘It’s not always easy to forge links with people from and mentor me through this often difficult stage of a different fields, or to even know what fields to research career,’ she said. seek out. The NIN made this process easy and so has facilitated significant crossdisciplinary collaboration ‘The workshops were hugely beneficial, providing an at a stage in our career where we are still quite open opportunity to meet and learn from a wide range of to new fields of enquiry and alternative research senior experts in the field and also from a new network methods. I figure this can only be a good thing for the of peer researchers. This sparked new research ideas, future of youth health.’ collaborations and support. The collaborations initiated
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 33 Sub-networks Research supported by the Longitudinal Studies Network The ARACY Research Network has facilitated and supported several sub-networks of members with shared interests. In 2009 the ARACY Research Network, through the The sub-networks bring together people with specific Longitudinal Studies Network, supported the Cannabis research interests and expertise, with the goals of increasing Cohort Research Consortium with $40 000 funding. This capacity, facilitating collaborations and improving outcomes consortium, convened by Professor Richard Mattick, has for children and young people. identified a range of priority research areas related to the use of cannabis, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by The ARACY Research Network has established three Australian children and young adults and the risks to their sub-networks: future health and wellbeing. Intended outcomes include • Longitudinal Studies Network examination of early-life social, school and family factors leading to cannabis and other drug use; intergenerational • Australian Fatherhood Research Network effects of cannabis and other drug use; and the extent that cannabis and other drug use impairs life course • Prevention Science Network. opportunities. The Longitudinal Studies Network will assist A Knowledge Brokering sub-network is in development. in disseminating findings to inform policy and pratice.
The Australian Health Management Project is a new research Longitudinal Studies Network initiative using Australia’s longitudinal study resources to explore the origins and consequences of mental disorders in A number of longitudinal studies focused on or involving Australian children and youth. The project developed from children and young people are underway in Australia. activities of the Longitudinal Studies Network and many These studies — particularly those whose participants were network participants, including chief investigator Professor recruited in infancy through early adolescence and who George Patton, are involved. have reached or are reaching adulthood — have collected extremely valuable data on similar or overlapping themes, The project received $501 490 funding from Australian but contact between them has been limited. Health Management for 2008–09.
The ARACY Research Network formed the Longitudinal Studies Network in 2006 to improve coordination and Australian Fatherhood collaboration between Australasian child and adolescent Research Network longitudinal studies, and to improve the use of existing data. After a long period of neglect, research on fathers and The Longitudinal Studies Network aims to: father figures (ie adult males in caring roles) is increasing • facilitate collaboration between studies in volume and sophistication in Australia. However, it remained difficult to keep up with the emerging projects or • make better use of existing data to find like-minded researchers.
• help existing studies to plan future waves of data In 2007 the ARACY Research Network awarded seed collection funding to enable formation of the Australian Fatherhood Research Network to promote fatherhood research projects • help new studies to become established and support researcher-to-researcher contact. It has since • advocate for longitudinal research maintained a web page on the ARACY site for ongoing information exchange about research projects underway • disseminate findings from longitudinal studies to a or recently completed. Research includes quantitative, wide audience. qualitative and theoretical research on fathers, and Membership of the network is open to any longitudinal research that samples parents but reports results for fathers studies of children and youth, as well as to individuals with separately. a particular interest in longitudinal research. Appendix 7 lists In 2009 the ARACY Research Network provided seed the network member studies. funding ($15 000) through the Australian Fatherhood Research Network to support a new collaboration developing research on including and supporting fathers in their parenting role.
34 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation While there is clear evidence of the importance of with experience and expertise in prevention in relation to the positive involvement of a father in a child’s long child and youth health, development and wellbeing helped term development and wellbeing, currently there is no define the parameters for a prevention science network in clear evidence or systematic evaluation framework to Australia. A committee of 11 people was formed to develop demonstrate father inclusiveness and the competence of the structure, membership, funding and activities of the parenting professionals to engage and support fathers in network. their parenting role. The ‘Fathers and families’ project will The workshop was also the platform for the launch of a bring together key agencies interested in the father’s role discussion paper, Making the case for prevention science, in parenting children from birth to four years, to review the written by ARACY Research Network Coordinator Professor literature and establish research priorities. Ann Sanson and Dr Sophie Havighurst. Other fatherhood research projects underway or recently completed are listed on the ARACY website. Knowledge Brokering sub-network Prevention Science Network Knowledge brokering refers to the process by which knowledge is acquired by, shared between, and used by The ARACY Research Network formed the Prevention researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Science Network to provide a forum for people interested in The ARACY Research Network has undertaken a number the science (and art) of prevention across multiple domains. of activities to build expertise in knowledge brokering (see The network enables members to share their experience and below). To sustain and progress this work, the Network is knowledge, identify needs for further development of the establishing a Knowledge Brokering sub-network. field and plan collaborative activities. In 2009 we created a register of interest to connect people The Prevention Science Network promotes and supports involved or interested in knowledge brokering, and have evidence-based prevention and early intervention to planned a workshop for early 2010 (see below). enhance the health, development and wellbeing of Australian children and young people. Its interests include both systemic and programmatic approaches to prevention. Member of the network are listed at Appendix 7.1. Knowledge brokering The Prevention Science Network was formally launched Knowledge brokering is the process of linking researchers by Professor Stephen Zubrick, Head of Population Science with policy makers and practitioners, to enable better at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, in transfer and implementation of research findings. According September 2009. The launch, during ARACY’s National to the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, Conference, introduced delegates to the concept of knowledge brokering ‘links researchers and decision makers prevention science and the evidence supporting its pursuit. ... so that they are able to better understand each other‘s Professor Zubrick outlined steps already taken to establish goals and professional culture, influence each other’s work, the network, and confirmed the aims of the group, which forge new partnerships, and use research-based evidence’. are to: In 2009 we finished compiling a capacity building resource • build the science of prevention from the papers that were developed at the first Knowledge Brokering Workshop convened by the ARACY Research • build capacity in prevention science across the research, Network in November 2007. Bridging the ‘know-do’ gap: policy and practice communities Knowledge brokering to improve child wellbeing, edited • advocate for prevention science as a responsible and by Professor Gabriele Bammer, Ms Annette Michaux and cost-effective approach to advancing developmental Professor Ann Sanson, has been submitted for publication. wellbeing. It focuses on the linkages between policy, practice and research, with a specific emphasis on the research to Development of the Prevention Science Network started policy nexus. with a workshop of interested stakeholders in December 2007. In 2009 the ARACY Research Network convened a Also in 2009 the Network hosted a networking dinner for two day workshop in Melbourne (30 June and 1 July) to individuals with specific expertise or interest in knowledge progress its formation. Keynote speaker Professor Mark brokering. The event was held concurrently with the Greenberg, Director of the Prevention Research Center ARACY National Conference in September. Dr Robyn for the Promotion of Human Development, Penn State Mildon, the Director of Knowledge Transfer at the Parenting University, outlined current developments in the prevention Research Centre, facilitated the evening’s discussion around field in the US and globally and the experiences of the knowledge transfer. US Society for Prevention Research. About 30 participants
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 35 In March 2010 the ARACY Research Network will partner Comments from participants included: with The Benevolent Society, The Australian National ‘It is always worthwhile to hear about new work University’s National Centre for Epidemiology and especially when you have others to learn with. That Population Health, and the Alfred Felton Chair of Child way you learn from the speakers and the audience and Family Welfare to host a third knowledge brokering members.’ workshop. This workshop will be aimed at knowledge brokers in community service and research organisations, ‘The content of the presentation was extremely working in the areas of child and youth health, development relevant to some project work currently undertaken and wellbeing. It will also provide a forum for knowledge by [organisation]. I will now be more comfortable to brokers to meet to exchange ideas and information about approach the presenters …’ their role — what it is, how it is conducted, facilitators and barriers and measures of impact. ‘Very interesting and important topic. Great to hear the recently acquired and developed experiences and views ARACY and a number of collaborators are writing a of this outstanding team.’ paper for the Connecting the dots: Making evidence informed practice a practical reality conference, hosted by ‘I thought that the two presenters were concise, Practice and Research Together and the Child and Youth seamless in their movement between each and kept Mental Health Network in Canada, in April 2010. This paper relevance to a premium.’ will explore the factors that facilitate the uptake of evidence Detail of the 2009 seminars (topics and presenters) is in policy-making. provided at Appendix 8. A full list of all 33 seminars hosted by the Network since 2005 is provided at Appendix 8.1.
Access Grid seminars
Over the past five years the ARACY Research Network Networking and other events has presented a series of national capacity-building seminars. We have used Access Grid technology to enable Member networking events Network participants and others across Australia to view presentations by national and international experts and The ARACY Research Network hosted 10 member participate in seminars online. Several of the seminars were networking events over the past five years. These events, products of projects funded by the Network’s Seed Funding held in various capital cities and regional centres, provided Program. an opportunity for members to learn more about the Network, explore common interests, and establish and In 2009, the Network hosted six Access Grid seminars in strengthen their own networks. Details of these events are partnership with ARACY. Attendance at seminars ranged listed at Appendix 9. from 18 to 70, with the average number of participants being 46. Participants attended at up to 13 sites ARACY events simultaneously. Seminar materials such as PowerPoint slides and audio recordings of the presentation are posted on the As part of its in-kind contribution to the Network over its ARACY website as resources for Network members and lifetime, ARACY has invited Network participants to attend other interested parties. many of its events. Network participants have welcomed All participants in our Access Grid seminars were asked to the opportunity to attend events such as the ARACY Think complete evaluation questionnaires, which showed that: Tank on involving children and young people in research (November 2008), a special workshop on indicators of child • 83% of respondents found the seminars very or wellbeing (August 2008) and the ARACY Annual Forum, a moderately useful discussion about whether, as a society, we value families and children highly enough (May 2009). • 68% found the discussion following presentations was moderately to very useful ARACY’s major event in 2009 was its national conference. More than 560 delegates, including many ARACY Research • 97% felt the balance between presentations and time Network members, attended the conference in Melbourne for discussion was ‘about right’ from September 2–4 to examine the theme Transforming • 99% support continued use of Access Grid technology. Australia for our children’s future: Making prevention work. Network Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson was the chair of the conference program committee, which developed a mix of keynote addresses, workshops, interactive sessions, symposia, creative presentations, and informal networking
36 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation opportunities to enable delgates from across sectors and National collaborations and disciplines to learn from each other and contribute to the development and application of knowledge to improve the contributions wellbeing of children and young people. The ARACY Research Network — in itself or through the Conference delegates endorsed a call for action from the participation of individual members — contributes to several entire Australian community — the Australian and state, national initiatives that share or support ARACY’s objectives. territory and local governments, as well as community and business leaders — to change Australia to improve Longitudinal Study of the wellbeing of our children and young people. The Conference Declaration includes four key strategies to Australian Children improve wellbeing for young Australians. The Conference Over the past five years the ARACY Research Network Declaration and more information about the conference are has maintained close links with the Longitudinal Study of available on the ARACY website. Australian Children (LSAC), Australia’s first large-scale and long-term national study of children. ARACY Research Network members have produced papers for national and international peer-reviewed journals and major conferences Communications — including the ARACY 2009 National Conference — and 5 Given the geographic spread of the ARACY Research co-authored major thematic reports on the LSAC data . Network membership, communications have been primarily Network Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson is Principal through the ARACY newsletter, distributed monthly by Scientific Advisor to the study and gave a keynote address email, and the ARACY Research Network section of the at the second LSAC conference in 2009. As noted above, ARACY website. participants of the New Investigators Network worked together on the data from this longitudinal study. Ten editions of the ARACY newsletter were produced in 2009, distributed to more than 2900 ARACY members, The funding body for the study (the Australian Government Network participants and other email subscribers. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and newsletter includes information about the ARACY Research Indigenous Affairs), the lead agency implementing the Network’s events and activities, and new reports and study (the Australian Institute of Family Studies) and many resources from seed funded projects. members of its national Consortium Advisory Group are ARACY members. The ARACY website was redeveloped and relaunched in early 2009. As part of this, we revised the ARACY Research Australian Early Development Index Network section to ensure that information for Network members and other interested parties about Network The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) is a activities, funding opportunities and upcoming events was population measure of young children’s development. It is current and easily accessible. The website received more derived from information collected by teachers about five than 65 331 unique visitors in 2009. Resources such as key areas, or domains, of early childhood development: PowerPoint presentations from workshops and Access Grid physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional seminars, reports on workshops, and reports and papers maturity, language and cognitive skills (school-based) and developed by seed funded collaborations, are posted on the communication skills and general knowledge. website to ensure wide dissemination. The AEDI team includes members of the ARACY Research The ARACY website also enables Network participants (and Network from the Centre for Community Child Health in ARACY members) to search for others with similar interests, Melbourne and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research to network, collaborate and share information. This function in Perth. Network Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley is available only to members using a secure login. The register co-chairs the Australian Early Development Index originally developed by the Network was incorporated into Partnership Group and Steering Group with Professor Frank a broader ARACY-wide Register of Interest in 2007. ARACY Oberklaid from the Centre for Community Child Health. plans to redevelop the register early in 2010. Network Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson is a member of the AEDI Technical Advisory Group. Feedback received from Network participants through the annual survey indicates that the ARACY newsletter and In 2009, the AEDI was completed nationwide for the first time. website are valued sources of information. The first results were released in December 20096, providing a comprehensive picture of the early childhood development outcomes for children in communities across Australia.
5 See http://www.aifs.gov.au/growingup/ for details 6 See http://maps.aedi.org.au/
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 37 Murdoch Children’s ‘In facilitating collaborations across sectors and disciplines the Network is contributing to new ways of Research Institute — thinking about issues and important research and social NHMRC Capacity-Building Grant benefits.’ in Population Health Research ‘I have benefited from and welcomed the broad perspectives that ARACY provides to its members In 2006, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute received and that it has maintained at the forefront of its an NHMRC grant of $2.4 million to build the capacity of endeavours.’ early career researchers in solution-based approaches to developing child health research, with a focus on preventive interventions for common childhood disorders. Grants facilitated by ARACY Research Network membership The ARACY Research Network contributes to this grant through Network Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson’s Our survey of ARACY Research Network participants asked involvement as a lead applicant. The early career researchers whether they had any successful grant applications in 2009 supported by the grant can take advantage of the Network’s that were facilitated by their Network membership. capacity-building activities. Respondents advised that 37 successful grants had been Other Network participant facilitated by Network participation (excluding ARACY Research Network seed funding). A selection of these are collaborations listed at Appendix 10. Most projects were interdisciplinary (84%), and more than half (60%) crossed sectors. Together Indirect evidence of the facilitating role of the ARACY with the grants arising from seed funding (see Appendix Research Network in fostering collaborations is shown by 11), more than $12 million in funding has been awarded to the results of our annual survey of Network participants. research projects that had been facilitated or supported by The 150 respondents to the 2009 survey reported the ARACY Research Network over the past five years. 168 current collaborations in which they or their organisation were involved. Most collaborations were Key contributions national; about one-quarter were international. Most collaborations crossed disciplines and sectors: for individuals, Network Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley undertook a 74% of their collaborations were interdisciplinary and large number of outreach activities across the nation in 56% were intersectoral; for organisations contributing to 2009. These included keynote addresses at conferences, the Network, 93% of collaborations were interdisciplinary newspaper editorials, media interviews and consultation and 90% were intersectoral. Many individuals and with policy makers within government agencies, service organisations were involved in multiple collaborations. provider organisations and philanthropic bodies.
Collaborations covered a wide range of topics including Network Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson engaged in youth interactions with police, parental work and child and outreach activities including conference presentations and adolescent health and wellbeing, biological processes in workshop facilitation, and also contributed to the Lifeat5 child conduct disorder, food marketing and obesity, and the documentary – a sequel to the Lifeat1 and Lifeat3 programs relationship between literacy and meta-cognition. — based on data from the Longitudinal Study of Australia Children, to be televised in late 2010. A number of participants reported being involved in collaborations stemming from the New Investigators The ARACY Research Network is involved in a number of Network. other national collaborations through Professor Sanson’s membership of research and advisory committees including: Network participants who responded to the online survey commented on the value of ARACY’s ability to facilitate • Steering Committee for the Longitudinal Study collaborations and relationships between participants from of Indigenous Children (Australian Government different disciplines who would otherwise be unlikely to Department of Families, Housing, Community Services come into contact. Comments included the following: and Indigenous Affairs)
‘The [Network] keeps researchers, policy makers • Board of Directors of the Australian Council for and community/not for profit organisations and Children and the Media government in dialogue and allows for exchange • Australian Early Development Index Technical of information and partnerships.’ Advisory Group.
38 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation International links and The ARACY Research Network’s activities have contributed to the achievement of several of the priority goals for this collaborations research priority, particularly ‘A healthy start to life’, but also ‘preventive healthcare’ and ‘strengthening Australia’s In 2009, the ARACY Research Network’s membership social and economic fabric’ to help families and individuals included eight international participants and five international live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. Many of the contributing organisations (in Canada, US and UK). collaborations supported by the Network’s Seed Funding Having participants and contributing organisations Program relate to early childhood, child protection and from other countries in the Network facilitates valuable achieving work and family balance. international links, collaborations and exchange of Given the long-term goals of the Network, measurable information. benefits to the nation will continue to emerge. However, we Respondents to the Network’s annual survey of participants are pleased that governments, both federal and state, have indicated that, of the 168 current collaborations in which responded to the advocacy of Network members in many respondents or their organisation were involved, about one- areas of our primary interests. Many Network participants quarter were international. have influenced government programs or are participating in their evaluation. For example, ARACY was contracted Network participants who responded to the online survey by the Australian Government to help build the capacity of reported five international visits that were facilitated by the ‘Communities for Children’ projects, and many Network their Network membership. These included one member’s members are involved in both the implementation and the presentation to the American Education Research evaluation of these projects. Association conference in San Diego in April 2009, and another’s participation in the World Gifted Conference in Network Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley, Coordinator Vancouver in August 2009. Professor Ann Sanson and several other Network participants were among the 1000 Australians invited to Survey respondents also advised that visits to Australia by attend the Federal Government’s 2020 Summit in 2008, three international experts were facilitated by the ARACY contributing their ideas to the vision for Australia’s future. Research Network, including a visit by Professor Mark Also in 2008, Network Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley Greenberg, who was keynote presenter at a workshop on was appointed an inaugural member of the Australian prevention science in June–July. Social Inclusion Board, an advisory body to the government The Network is also connected to several major international on ways to achieve better outcomes for the most longitudinal studies. For example, Coordinator Professor disadvantaged in our community and to improve social Ann Sanson is a member of the Evaluation Committee inclusion in society as a whole. for the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland, The projects, seminars and workshops convened by the for Ireland’s National Children’s Office. She also has an ARACY Research Network and by ARACY over the past ongoing association with the Norwegian Institute of Public five years are expected to continue to influence policy Health, consulting on a number of major longitudinal and development, service design and focused research effort intervention studies. related to the health, development and wellbeing of Australia’s children and youth. Further, as noted on page 37, Convenor Professor Fiona Stanley and Coordinator Professor Ann Sanson continue to contribute to the national National benefits benefit through their involvement in a range of national The ARACY Research Network’s efforts since 2005 have collaborations. contributed to one of the four national research priorities set by the Australian Government: ‘Promoting and Maintaining Good Health’. The Australian Government has acknowledged that ‘supporting the development of strategies to promote the healthy development of young Australians, and address the causes and reducing the impact of the genetic, social and environmental factors which diminish their life potential will be critical’7.
7 Australian Research Council. Designated National Research Priorities. http://www.arc.gov.au/about_arc/national_research_priorities.htm
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 39
7 Management and accountability
Our achievements over the past five years are products of the Research Network’s focus on collaboration and the support and contributions of our participants, driven by the leadership and efforts of our Convenor, Coordinator and wonderful team of staff.
Our financial reports acknowledge the financial support of the ARC and NHMRC, our contributing organisations in 2009 and ARACY.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 41 Staffing and organisational Ms Rachael Wilken Administration Officer structure of the ARACY Research In 2009, Rachael supported administration of the Network’s Network funding programs, including seed funding grants and scholarships. She provides administrative support to the Professor Fiona Stanley AC Network Advisory Committee. Rachael has also been Convenor involved in writing applications for grants. Fiona has central input into the Network’s planning and forward strategy and work plan. She also represents the Ms Anna Drylie Network on other national and international committees Project Officer and involvements. Fiona is deputy chair of the Network In 2009 Anna supported, developed and facilitated the Advisory Committee. She is a mentor within the New Network’s interactive programs, including Access Grid Investigators Network program, and a principal investigator seminars and the New Investigators Network. in the Raine Study, which is one of the studies involved in the Longitudinal Studies Network. Ms Jemma Wood Project Officer Professor Ann Sanson In 2009, Jemma was responsible for the support and Coordinator development of the Prevention Science Network, and Ann is responsible for further development of the Network, contributed to the prevention science discussion paper. She particularly improving its capacity for collaborative also provided support to the Longitudinal Studies Network. initiatives. She provides leadership in the development and Jemma was also responsible for developing the youth implementation of Network programs and activities, under participation component of the ARACY 2009 National the guidance of Convenor Fiona Stanley and in conjunction Conference. with the Network Advisory Committee. Ann develops policy and procedures for the Network’s programs, and has full Ms Kelly Rae oversight of annual reports, work plans and budgets. Project Officer Kelly provides ongoing support for, development and Ms Sharyn Bant facilitation of the Network’s interactive programs, including Administration Manager Access Grid seminars, the New Investigators Network and Sharyn helps administer the Network’s funding programs, Knowledge Brokering sub-network. Kelly has also been including seed funding grants and scholarships. In 2009 she involved in writing grant applications. provided administrative support to the Network Advisory Committee and was the Network’s data custodian, working closely with national ARACY colleagues to update web content and membership records.
42 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation
Financial reports As the Network has a financial year ending in December, and the ARC funding periods run on a July–June financial year, the cash income for the Network in 2009 ($279 809) Financial Statements (12 months has fallen significantly compared to 2008 ($680 944)
ending 31 December 2009) This is well under half the level of the prior year’s income due December 2009 marks the end of the formal funding for to two factors: one of the Contributing Organisations that the ARACY Research Network by the ARC and contributing had been making significant cash contributions was a late organisations. Sadly, the ARC has decided not to continue withdrawal from the Network due to staff movements; and funding research networks in the immediate future. Given the 2008 income had been slightly higher than average due to the successes of the ARACY Research Network, ARACY has outstanding contributions that were collected during the year. agreed to continue providing in-kind and some cash support As planned, expenditure was higher in 2009 to progress to continue some of its work through 2010, including some activities that had needed to be delayed. Staffing bringing the highly successful program of seed funding to a levels increased in 2008 to enable hosting of more conclusion and continuing the New Investigators Network. workshops and meetings of Network participants. This support will also allow the Network Coordinator to develop future funding options. This higher level of activity meant the Network ended the year having absorbed most of the accumulated surplus to coincide with the formal end date of the Network. The carryover figure of $27 836 will be directed towards the evaluation of the Seed Funding Program.
44 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Carryover Balance at 31 December 2008 $351 817
Sources of funding: Cash In-kind
ARC Research Network funding $193 309 $270 000 Contributing organisations $86 500
TOTAL $279 809
Expenditure
Personnel salaries and on-costs, for example: $289 135 • the Network Convenor • research associates, professional officers, technicians, laboratory attendants, administrators, organisers • specialist professional staff located within major facilities and other appropriate settings Shared research resources, for example: • social surveys • software tools • databases
Bringing people together, for example: $74 241 • workshops • meetings • seminars • conferences • planning, coordination activities • travel • accommodation Purchase of specific assets or intellectual property
Other expenditure: $240 414 Any other expenditure not falling under the specified expenditure headings above. Includes seed funding grants.
Total expenditure $603 790
Carryover amount 31 December 2009 $27 836
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 45
Appendices
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 47 Appendix 1 ARC reporting requirements
The Australian Research Council (ARC) requires research networks to report on their operation in accordance with the approved proposal, the funding agreement and the funding rules for research networks for funding commencing in 2004.
As required by the ARC, this report and all related materials are available on the ARACY website.8
The table below lists the information required by the ARC and its location within this annual report.
Required information Page in this report
Summary of the overall goals and objectives, programs and research priorities and any 18 changes to these that may have occurred during the past year
Extent to which the objectives of the Research Network and the Approved Proposal have 13–15, 23–39 been met
Achievements of the Research Network, Network Participant contributions to the Research 23–39, 59–68 Network and other outputs achieved resulting from the use of the Funds, including any advances in knowledge, relevant publications, or international collaboration
Any contributions to the Research Network of particular significance during that year 20–21, 56
Register of participants, current up to the date of the Annual Report 49
Contribution to the national benefit 39
The Network’s activities and strategic plans for 2009 (including KPIs and targets) 7, 23–39
URL of the Research Network’s website Cover
Financial Statement which reports on: 44–45 • expenditure of 2009 ARC funding under the Approved Proposal by the Research Network; • expenditure of funding provided by the Contributing Organisations, or any other Institution, towards meeting the objectives of the Research Network; and • details of any in-kind contributions provided to the Network.
Indicate how the Research Network: 6, 9, 13–14, 30,39 has tackled or plans to tackle issues in a manner that may not otherwise have been achievable without the mechanism of a Research Network; has increased or is planning to increase the scale and focus of research activities; and has facilitated the internationalisation of research and international linkages.
8 http://www.aracy.org.au
48 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 2 ARACY Research Network participants
Name Institutional Affiliation Location Professor Thomas Achenbach University of Vermont BURLINGTON, USA A/Professor Robert Ali University of Adelaide PARKSIDE, SA Professor Steve Allsop Curtin University of Technology MOUNT LAWLEY, WA Dr Donald Anson University of Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA Dr Michael Arthur-Kelly University of Newcastle CALLAGHAN, NSW Professor Adrian Ashman University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Dr Susanne Bahn Edith Cowan University JOONDALUP, WA Professor Gabriele Bammer National Centre for Epidemiology and CANBERRA, ACT Population Health Professor Lesley Barclay AO Charles Darwin University CASUARINA, NT Dr Merrelyn Bates Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Professor Janeen Baxter University of Queensland ST LUCIA, QLD Dr Jennifer Baxter Australian Institute of Family Studies MELBOURNE, VIC Professor Max Bennett University of Sydney SYDNEY, NSW Professor Lisa Berkman Harvard University BOSTON, USA Dr Virginia Berry Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Professor Judith Bessant RMIT University MELBOURNE, VIC Ms Rosalyn Black Education Foundation Australia SOUTHBANK, VIC Professor Ron Borland The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Professor Allan Borowski La Trobe University BUNDOORA, VIC Mr Thierry Bouhours Queensland University of Technology BRISBANE, QLD Professor Jennifer Bowes Macquarie University SYDNEY, NSW Dr Sara Branch Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Lauren Breen Edith Cowan University JOONDALUP, WA A/Professor Deborah Brennan Social Policy Research Centre SYDNEY, NSW Dr Jeanne Brooks-Gunn Columbia University NEW YORK, USA Dr Mark Brough Social Work and Human Services, CARSELDINE, QLD Queensland University of Technology Professor Thea Brown Monash University CAUFIELD, VIC A/Professor Penny Bundy Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Ms Marlene Burchill Australian Institute of Family Studies SHEPPARTON, VIC Dr Catherine Burns Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC Professor Bruce Burton Griffith University NATHAN, QLD A/Professor Tony Butler Curtin University of Technology DAGLISH, WA Professor Don Byrne School of Psychology, Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT Ms Gillian Calvert NSW Commission for Children and Young People SURRY HILLS, NSW
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 49 Continued
Name Institutional Affiliation Location Dr Murray Cameron CSIRO NORTH RYDE, NSW Professor Terry Carney University of Sydney SYDNEY, NSW A/Professor Annemaree Carroll University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Professor Judy Cashmore University of Sydney SYDNEY, NSW Professor Bettina Cass AO University of New South Wales SYDNEY, NSW Ms Jo Cavanagh Family Life SANDRINGHAM, VIC A/Professor Chris Chamberlain RMIT University MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Brenda Cherednichenko Victoria University of Technology MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Heather Chipuer Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD A/Professor Vicki Clifton University of Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA Ms Margaret Coady University of Melbourne PARKVILLE, VIC Dr Vanessa Cobham University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Ms Philippa Collin Inspire Foundation ROZELLE, NSW Professor Mark Considine University of Melbourne PARKVILLE, VIC Dr Everarda Cunningham Swinburne University of Technology LILYDALE, VIC Dr Monica Cuskelly University of Queensland ST LUCIA, QLD Professor Mark Dadds University of New South Wales SYDNEY, NSW Professor Kathy Daly Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Yvonne Darlington University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Professor Diego De Leo Australian Institute for Suicide Research BRISBANE, QLD and Prevention Professor David De Vaus LaTrobe University MELBOURNE, VIC Ms Angela Dean University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Ms Rebecca Denning Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Susan Dennison Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Mike Dockery Curtin University of Technology PERTH, WA Dr Caroline Donovan Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Mr Richard Eckersley The Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT Ms Kelly Ede The Government of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Dr Ben Edwards Australian Institute of Family Studies MELBOURNE, VIC Professor Ann Farrell Queensland University of Technology KELVIN GROVE, QLD Professor David Farrington University of Cambridge CAMBRIDGE, UK Dr Elizabeth Fernandez University of New South Wales SYDNEY, NSW Dr Cordelia Fine University of Melbourne PARKVILLE, VIC A/Professor Jonathan Foster School of Paediatrics and Child Health, SUBIACO, WA University of Western Australia Ms Elizabeth Fraser Commission for Children and Young People BRISBANE, QLD and Child Guardian A/Professor Margarita Frederico La Trobe University BUNDOORA, VIC Dr Kate Freiberg Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Dr Susan Gair School of Social Work and Community Welfare, TOWNSVILLE, QLD James Cook University Dr Peter Gibbon Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Service BRISBANE, QLD Dr Diane Gibson Australian Institute of Health and Welfare CANBERRA, ACT A/Professor Robyn Gillies University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Dr Sara Glover Centre for Adolescent Health PARKVILLE, VIC
50 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
Name Institutional Affiliation Location Dr Sharon Goldfeld Centre for Community Child Health PARKVILLE, VIC Professor Jacqueline Goodnow Macquarie University SYDNEY, NSW Ms Mary Gordon Roots of Empathy TORONTO, CANADA Professor Peter Grabosky The Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT A/Professor Anne Graham Centre for Children and Young People LISMORE, NSW Dr Adam Graycar Government of South Australia ADELAIDE, SA Professor Kim Halford Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Ms Katrina Hall Women’s and Children’s Hospital Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA Professor Margaret Hamilton Department of Human Services MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Janet Hammill Queensland University of Technology HERSTON, QLD Anne Hampshire Mission Australia SYDNEY, NSW A/Professor Beth Hands University of Notre Dame FREMANTLE, WA A/Professor Elizabeth Handsley Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA Ms Julie Harcourt Commission for Children & Young People BRISBANE, QLD and Child Guardian Professor Ann Harding National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling CANBERRA, ACT Professor Trish Harris Murdoch University MURDOCH, WA Dr Linda Harrison Charles Sturt University BATHURST, NSW Dr Lyn Harrison Deakin University WAURN PONDS, VIC Dr Sophie Havighurst University of Melbourne HEIDELBERG, VIC Professor David Hay Curtin University of Technology PERTH, WA Professor Ian Hay University of Tasmania LAUNCESTON, TAS Professor Alan Hayes Australian Institute of Family Studies MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Hennessey Hayes Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Mr David Hazelhurst Australian Government Department of Families, CANBERRA, ACT Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Professor Brian Head University of Queensland ST LUCIA, QLD A/Professor Karen Healy University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Ms Johanna Henley Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA Dr Dianne Heriot Attorney General’s Department, ACT BARTON, ACT Dr Clyde Hertzman University of British Columbia VANCOUVER, BC Dr Angela Hill James Cook University TOWNSVILLE, QLD Professor David Hill The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Dr Barbara Hocking Queensland University of Technology BRISBANE, QLD Professor Ross Homel Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Sharon Horne Griffith University ASHMORE, QLD Professor Stephen Houghton University of Western Australia CRAWLEY, WA Dr Jennifer Hudson Macquarie University NORTH RYDE, NSW Professor Wayne Hudson Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Professor Graeme Hugo University of Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA Dr Elfriede Ihsen School of Psychological Science, La Trobe MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Debbie James University of South Australia ADELAIDE, SA Dr Magdalena Janus McMaster University ONTARIO, CANADA A/Professor Heather Jenkins Curtin University of Technology PERTH, WA Dr Anne Jobling University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Ms Margo Johnson Shelter SA CAMPBELLTOWN, SA
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 51 Continued
Name Institutional Affiliation Location Dr Gery Karantzas Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC Professor Ilan B. Katz Social Policy Research Centre SYDNEY, NSW A/Professor Deb Keen Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Dr Peter Kelly Monash University CAULFIELD, VIC Professor Justin Kenardy University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD A/Professor Garth Kendall Curtin University PERTH, WA Dr Lisa Kettler University of Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA Dr Cheryl Kickett-Tucker Koya Indigenous Research Group GUILDFORD, WA Dr Walter Lalich University of Technology Sydney PETERSHAM, NSW Ms Cherie Lamb Mission Australia INALA, NSW Dr Karen Lane Deakin University GEELONG, VIC A/Professor Jeanette Lawrence University of Melbourne MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Marie Leech Sancta Sophia College CAMPERDOWN, NSW Professor Florence Levy University of New South Wales SYDNEY, NSW Dr Jianghong Li Telethon Institute for Child Health Research WEST PERTH, WA Mr Jonathan Liberman The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Ms Susan Linacre Australian Bureau of Statistics BELCONNEN, ACT Dr Katrina Lines Abused Child Trust CAIRNS, QLD Ms Claerwen Little UnitingCare Burnside PARRAMATTA, NSW Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn University of Sydney SYDNEY, NSW Dr Elspeth Macdonald Loss and Grief Network CANBERRA, ACT Dr Kym Macfarlane Griffith University MEADOWBROOK, QLD Dr Gaye MacKenzie Centre for Social Community Research MURDOCH, WA Dr Douglas Magendanz Griffith University NATHAN, QLD A/Professor Laurie Makin University of Newcastle OURIMBAH, NSW Dr Elena Marchetti Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Greg Marston University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Ms Lesley Martin Australian Bureau of Statistics BELCONNEN, ACT Professor Jan Mason University of Western Sydney PENRITH SOUTH, NSW Dr Michael Mason Australian Catholic University KEW, VIC Dr Eugen Mattes Telethon Institute for Child Health Research WEST PERTH, WA A/Professor Lorraine Mazerolle Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Professor Marita McCabe School of Psychology BURWOOD, VIC Ms Tricia McCann La Trobe University BUNDOORA, VIC Dr Cathryn McConaghy University of New England ARMIDALE, NSW Professor Doug McEachern University of Western Australia CRAWLEY, WA Dr Tara McGee Queensland University of Technology KELVIN GROVE, QLD Professor Patrick McGorry ORYGEN Youth Health PARKVILLE, VIC A/Professor Julie McLeod Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC Professor Anthony McMahon School of Social Work and Community Welfare, TOWNSVILLE, QLD James Cook University Dr Justine McNamara National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling CANBERRA, ACT A/Professor David Mellor School of Psychology, Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC Ms Annette Michaux The Benevolent Society PADDINGTON, NSW Professor Dick Mizerski University of Western Australia CRAWLEY, WA Dr Stephen Mondy Centacare BROKEN BAY, NSW
52 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
Name Institutional Affiliation Location Dr Karen Moni University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Dr Rahamathulla Mubarak Ali Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA Ms Yuvisthi Naidoo University of New South Wales KENSINGTON, NSW Professor Jake Najman University of Queensland HERSTON, QLD Ms Alison Neil Centre for Mental Health Research CANBERRA, ACT A/Professor Jan Nicholson Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Mr Tony Nicholson Brotherhood of St Laurence FITZROY, VIC Dr Frances O’Callaghan Griffith University GOLD COAST, QLD Professor Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Dr Richard O’Kearney School of Psychology, Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT Professor Frank Oberklaid OAM Centre for Community Child Health PARKVILLE, VIC Professor Brian Oldenburg Monash University MELBOURNE, VIC Ms Samantha Page Family Relationship Services Australia DEAKIN WEST, ACT Dr David Palmer Murdoch University MURDOCH, WA Professor George Patton Centre for Adolescent Health PARKVILLE, VIC A/Professor Allan Peachment Curtin University of Technology DAGLISH, WA Mr Robert Pitt Private individual OXENFORD, QLD Professor Martine Powell School of Psychology, Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC Professor Margot Prior University of Melbourne MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Janet Ransley Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Professor Ron Rapee Macquarie University SYDNEY, NSW A/Professor Dinah Reddihough Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Research Centre PARKVILLE, VIC Professor Peter Renshaw Griffith University GOLD COAST, QLD A/Professor Lina Ricciardelli School of Psychology, Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC Dr Rob Richards University of Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA Professor Sue Richardson National Institute of Labour Studies ADELAIDE, SA A/Professor Gary Robinson Charles Darwin University DARWIN, NT Dr Julie Robinson Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA Professor Bryan Rodgers The Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT Mr Barry Salmon Commission for Children and Young People BRISBANE, QLD and Child Guardian Professor Charles Sampford Key Centre for Ethics Law Justice and Governance NATHAN, QLD A/Professor Linnett Sanchez Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA Professor Matthew Sanders University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Professor Ann Sanson University of Melbourne PARKVILLE, VIC Professor Peter Saunders University of New South Wales SYDNEY, NSW Professor Michael Sawyer Women and Children’s Hospital ADELAIDE, SA A/Professor Virginia Schmied University of Western Sydney PENRITH, NSW Ms Michelle Scollo The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Professor Dorothy Scott, OAM Australian Centre for Child Protection MAGILL, SA Professor Clifford Shearing The Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT Dr Grania Sheehan Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD A/Professor Ian Shochet Queensland University of Technology CARSELDINE, QLD Dr Mohammad Siahpush The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Professor Sven Silburn Centre for Developmental Health WEST PERTH, WA Dr Rob Simons The Smith Family SYDNEY, NSW
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 53 Continued
Name Institutional Affiliation Location A/Professor Margaret Sims Edith Cowan University JOONDALUP, WA Dr Andrew Singleton Monash University MELBOURNE, VIC A/Professor Stephen Smallbone Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Dr Anne Smith Curtin University of Technology DAGLISH, WA Dr Reesa Sorin James Cook University CAIRNS, QLD Dr Ross Sparks CSIRO Victoria PARKVILLE, VIC Professor Sue Spence Griffith University NATHAN, QLD Dr Catherine Spooner Social Policy Research Centre SYDNEY, NSW Professor Fiona Stanley AC Telethon Institute for Child Health Research WEST PERTH, WA Dr Anna Stewart Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Professor Donald Stewart The QUT Resilience Project CARSELDINE, QLD Professor Rob Stimson University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Professor Tim Stockwell University of Victoria VICTORIA, CANADA Professor Leon Straker Curtin University of Technology PERTH, WA Dr Robin Sullivan Queensland Department of Child Safety BRISBANE, QLD Professor Jennifer Sumsion Charles Sturt University BATHURST, NSW Professor Ezra Susser Columbia University NEW YORK, USA Dr Anna Targowska Edith Cowan University JOONDALUP, WA Dr Kerry Taylor CSIRO CANBERRA, ACT A/Professor Janna Thompson La Trobe University BUNDOORA, VIC Dr Jane Thomson James Cook University TOWNSVILLE, QLD Professor Rosamund Thorpe James Cook University TOWNSVILLE, QLD Professor Richard Tremblay University of Montreal MONTREAL, CANADA Mr Dennis Trewin Australian Bureau of Statistics BELCONNEN, ACT A/Professor Judy Ungerer Macquarie University MACQUARIE, NSW A/Professor Christa van Kraayenoord University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD A/Professor Robert van Krieken University of Sydney SYDNEY, NSW Dr Karen Vered Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA Professor Graham Vimpani OAM National Investment for the Early Years NEW LAMBTON, NSW Ms Catherine Wade Parenting Research Centre CARLTON, VIC Professor Melanie Wakefield The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Dr Sue Walker Queensland University of Technology KELVIN GROVE, QLD A/Professor June Wangmann University of Western Sydney PENRITH, NSW Dr Penny Warner-Smith University of Newcastle CALLAGHAN, NSW Professor Rob Watts RMIT University MELBOURNE, VIC A/Professor Stephen Wearing University of Technology Sydney BROADWAY, NSW A/Professor Ruth Webber Australian Catholic University FITZROY, VIC E/Professor John Western University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Professor Mark Western University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD Dr Vicki White The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC Ms Michelle Whyard WINNIPEG, CANADA Dr Ani Wierenga University of Melbourne MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Rivka Witenberg Australian Catholic University CAULFIELD, VIC Dr Sandie Wong SDN Children’s Services Inc BROADWAY, NSW Ms Jane Woodruff UnitingCare Burnside PARRAMATTA, NSW
54 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
Name Institutional Affiliation Location Dr Sue Woolfenden South Western Sydney Area Health Service LIVERPOOL, NSW Professor Claire Wyatt-Smith Griffith University MT GRAVATT, QLD Professor Johanna Wyn Australian Youth Research Centre MELBOURNE, VIC Dr Marie Bee Hui Yap University of Melbourne PARKVILLE, VIC Mr Peter Young University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD A/Professor Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck Griffith University GOLD COAST, QLD Professor Heddy Zola Women’s & Children’s Health Research Institute ADELAIDE, SA Professor Stephen Zubrick Telethon Institute for Child Health Research WEST PERTH, WA Dr Karen Zwi Sydney Children’s Hospital RANDWICK, NSW
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 55 Appendix 3 Contributing organisations
Organisation LOCATION
Australia 21 WESTON, ACT
Australian Bureau of Statistics BELCONNEN, ACT
Australian Catholic University KEW, VIC
Australian Institute of Criminology CANBERRA, ACT
Australian Institute of Family Studies MELBOURNE, VIC
The Australian National University CANBERRA, ACT
Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth WEST PERTH, WA
The Benevolent Society PADDINGTON, NSW
Brotherhood of St Laurence FITZROY, VIC
The Cancer Council Victoria CARLTON, VIC
CanTeen SYDNEY, NSW
Charles Sturt University DUBBO, NSW
Columbia University NEW YORK, USA
Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Queensland BRISBANE, QLD
CSIRO (Division of Mathematical and Information Sciences) CANBERRA, ACT
Curtin University of Technology DAGLISH, WA
Deakin University BURWOOD, VIC
Australian Government Department of Families, CANBERRA, ACT Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Edith Cowan University CHURCHLANDS, WA
Education Foundation Australia SOUTHBANK, VIC
Family Relationship Services Australia DEAKIN WEST, ACT
56 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
Organisation LOCATION
Flinders University ADELAIDE, SA
Griffith University NATHAN, QLD
James Cook University TOWNSVILLE, QLD
La Trobe University MELBOURNE, VIC
Macquarie University MACQUARIE, NSW
Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Services BRISBANE, QLD
McMaster University ONTARIO, CANADA
Mission Australia SYDNEY, NSW
Monash University CLAYTON, VIC
Murdoch University MURDOCH, WA
Northside Community Services Inc. DICKSON, ACT
NSW Association for Youth Health CAMPERDOWN, NSW
NSW Commission for Children and Young People SURREY HILLS, NSW
NSW Department of Community Services ASHFIELD, NSW
Partnership Matters Pty Ltd MANLY VALE, NSW
Queensland University of Technology (School of Public Health) KELVIN GROVE, QLD
Roots of Empathy TORONTO, CANADA
Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Research Centre PARKVILLE, VIC
The Smith Family SYDNEY, NSW
South Western Sydney Area Health Service LIVERPOOL, NSW
Southern Cross University LISMORE, NSW
Swinburne University of Technology HAWTHORN, VIC
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research WEST PERTH, WA
UnitingCare Burnside KOOLUWGA, SA
University of Adelaide ADELAIDE, SA
University of British Columbia VANCOUVER, CANADA
University of Cambridge CAMBRIDGE, UK
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 57 Continued
Organisation LOCATION
University of Canberra CANBERRA, ACT
University of Melbourne PARKVILLE, VIC
University of New South Wales SYDNEY, NSW
University of Newcastle OURIMBAH, NSW
University of Queensland BRISBANE, QLD
University of Sydney SYDNEY, NSW
University of Tasmania LAUNCESTON, TAS
University of Technology Sydney BROADWAY, NSW
University of Western Australia CRAWLEY, WA
University of Western Sydney PENRITH, NSW
58 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 4 Collaborations funded by the ARACY Research Network Seed Funding Program in 2009 (Round 5) Total Network expenditure on Round 5: $165 000
Infant sleep and settling Health and wellbeing indicators strategies: addressing for children and youth with controversies and evaluating disabilities evidence to inform a universal Convenors: Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn and prevention trial Associate Professor Helen Leonard Children and youth with disabilities in Australia fare poorly Convenor: Associate Professor Jane Fisher compared to their non-disabled peers. This situation directly Unsettled infant behaviour, including prolonged crying, contravenes Australia’s obligations under human rights resistance to soothing and frequent overnight waking conventions. is distressing for parents and associated with repeated This collaboration brings together national and international help-seeking. Infant behaviour management strategies can leaders from diverse fields to initiate a program to develop reduce these difficulties. However, the benefits and risks of the robust set of indicators needed to develop and evaluate these approaches are debated, eg whether they improve policy and to measure progress toward improving the infant crying and sleep and parental mental health or they wellbeing of young Australians with disabilities. undermine breastfeeding, reduce infant trust in adult caretakers and lead to attachment difficulties. Expected outcomes of this collaboration include:
Expected outcomes of this collaboration include: • a comprehensive review and critical analysis of indicators used to measure the wellbeing of children • a systematic review of the evidence about infant and youth with disabilities internationally behaviour management strategies • integration of different views on what constitutes • an issues paper wellbeing for children and youth with disabilities
• production of successful evidence-based parent and • an ongoing collaboration to focus on measuring and infant health promotion strategies monitoring wellbeing for children and youth with disabilities • training in knowledge exchange for early career researchers • at least one competitive grant application.
• a competitive NHMRC grant application for submission in 2010.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 59 Early childhood development Building practice-based evidence data linkage demonstration through program evaluation project Convenor: Professor Patricia Rogers Convenor: Professor John Lynch Programs that show positive average outcomes may be problematic for the most disadvantaged families. Unless This collaboration aims to develop mechanisms to enable evaluations take differential outcomes into account, linked data to be used to better inform government policy programs that work for most participants, but have negative development process, initially through the ‘lens’ of Early outcomes for some, may inadvertently compound inequities. Childhood Development (ECD). The collaboration will This project will bring together stakeholders to identify do preparatory project work for the ECD Data Linkage opportunities for collaborative research on: processes for Demonstration Project and source potential grant funding developing a better understanding of what interventions for research using linked data to identify the impact of early work, in which contexts and why, including evidence life risk factors on child developmental outcomes across from practice; strategies for supporting the appropriate health and learning. Knowledge from this research will have translation of knowledge from program evaluations to other a direct influence on early childhood policy development situations; and ways of involving families as partners in and and will inform key groups such as the Inter-Ministerial users of evaluations. Committee on Child Development.
Expected outcomes of this collaboration include: Expected outcomes of this collaboration include: • a research agenda for improving the evaluation of • workshops and workshop summaries parenting and early intervention programs • a literature review • an issues paper • issues papers • at least one grant application. • an ARC Linkage Grant application.
Program evaluation of the national Early Years Learning Framework
Convenors: Dr Jennifer Sumsion and Dr Linda Harrison The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is a major policy initiative of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), to be implemented from July 2009 across all early childhood care and education services (including schools) for children from birth to five years. This collaboration will focus on translation and implementation of the EYLF for the different jurisdictions responsible for providing early childhood programs across Australia’s diverse communities, and the mechanisms that will enable an effective evaluation of this program.
Expected outcomes of this collaboration include:
• a published report of the mapping of the EYLF against state and territory curriculum/syllabus documents • a detailed plan for a program of research comprising a mix of funded and unfunded projects • ongoing collaborative research relationships • at least two practitioner inquiry projects started • a report of the collaborative model prepared for publication • at least one grant application.
60 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Collaborations awarded Connecting research, policy and practice in evidence-based encouragement grants treatments for child abuse
Convenor: Dr Rae Thomas A National Plan for Rare Diseases Reducing child abuse is a national priority. Effective in Australia: Building a network prevention, intervention and treatment options are critical. of expertise to help families Although community agencies provide services to reduce child abuse they are often of unknown effectiveness. This affected by rare diseases project will establish a consortium of key stakeholders within child protection systems to explore transportability Convenor: Professor Elizabeth Elliott and dissemination of evidence-based treatments to reduce Most of an estimated 8000 rare diseases have their onset child maltreatment and enhance services for vulnerable in childhood. All impact significantly on the health and families and children. wellbeing of the children and their families often feel isolated and stressed. Health professionals feel ill-equipped Expected outcomes of this collaboration include: to manage rare diseases. This project will establish a • a report on issues related to use of evidence-based multidisciplinary, professional Rare Disease Taskforce in treatments in community settings Australia to develop a National Plan to address the impacts and inequity suffered by affected families, and will advocate • improved practice for vulnerable families to government, health, education and disability sectors for adoption of the plan. The plan will provide a roadmap for • building capacity with early career researcher developing educational resources and services for clinicians involvement and affected families, policy development and advocacy. • a grant application. Expected outcomes of this collaboration include:
• a draft National Plan for Rare Diseases Future voices: Developing youth- • a literature review focused policy and practice at • a workshop and summary report the intersections of voicelessness • an ARC Linkage Grant application. and homelessness
Convenor: Professor Andrew Beer There is an identified potential nexus between young people’s lack of voice in family decisions and homelessness. Research shows the youth voice remains muted in Family Court cases. However, the vast majority of family disputes are not formalised as court cases and the youth voice in ‘family breakdown’ remains relatively unexplored. This collaboration aims to build a network of academics, professionals, policy makers and voices of youth across jurisdictions to design and seek funding for research exploring youth ‘voicelessness’ and homelessness, and to amplify the national youth voice in homelessness policy.
Expected outcomes of this collaboration include:
• a literature review
• workshop preparatory paper and report
• a grant application.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 61 Bushfire recovery – Fathers and families — Hearing children’s voices Evaluating frameworks for working with fathers (Funded Convenor: Dr Lisa Gibbs This collaboration seeks to understand the ethical and through the Australian methodological issues involved in considering the Fatherhood Research Network) experience and recovery needs of children and young people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Some Convenor: Ms Rae Walter bushfire related services, for example school access and There is clear evidence of the importance of the positive funding for orphans, have been provided for young people. involvement of a father in a child’s long term development However, there is little consideration of the needs and and wellbeing. However, currently there is no clear evidence experiences of children and young people from their own or systematic evaluation framework to demonstrate father perspectives. The collaboration will first review the evidence inclusiveness and the competence of parenting professionals base and then develop a series of research proposals to to engage and support fathers in their parenting role. allow monitoring of child-related policies and services, and Further, current tools limit data collection to occasions if appropriate, development of a child-centered approach to of participation rather than exploring elements such as understanding children and young people’s experiences and recruitment and retention of fathers in early parenting recovery needs. programs.
Expected outcomes of this collaboration include: This evaluation framework project will bring together key agencies interested in the father’s role in parenting • an issues papers to inform a consensus workshop children in the early years of zero to four. The network will undertake a preliminary literature review and consultation • a consensus statement from the workshop to establish subsets for research. • two research proposals. Expected outcomes of this collaboration include:
• a literature review
• two issues papers
• a grant application.
62 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 4.1 Collaborations funded by the ARACY Research Network Seed Funding Program 2006–2008
All collaborations that received seed funding in rounds 1 to 4 of the Seed Funding Program (2006–2008) have completed their projects. Final reports documenting the activities and achievements of the projects, including workshops, conferences, publications and grant applications, as well as reflections on the collaboration process itself, are available in the publications library on the ARACY website.
2006 (Round 1) 2006–2007 (Round 2) Total Network expenditure on Round 1: $208 794 Total Network expenditure on Round 2: $283 520
The Children’s Court and child and youth poverty Achieving better health outcomes for youth with Convenor: Dr Pat Hansen chronic health conditions: A pandisciplinary approach Convenor: Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn Children’s lived experience of poverty Convenor: Professor Catherine McDonald Early childhood education and care: building an international research collaboration Developing a national evaluation strategy for Convenor: Professor Deborah Brennan interagency and intersectorial initiatives for children who have a parent with mental illness (COPMI) Promoting relationships and connectedness to schools Convenor: Professor David Hay by reducing bullying Convenor: Professor Donna Cross Making a difference: Building on children’s experience of economic adversity in the family context Children’s environmental health in Australia: setting a Convenor: Professor Peter Saunders national research agenda Convenor: Professor Peter Sly Children and young people with experience of out-of- home care: Building a relevant research agenda School readiness in Indigenous children – bringing Convenors: Professor Cathy Humphreys, Dr Phillip Mendes together the health and education research agenda and Dr Judy Cashmore Convenor: Professor Jonathan Carapetis
Understanding community level factors (including the physical, social and service environments) that influence children’s outcomes in disadvantaged areas across Australia and Canada Convenor: Dr Sharon Goldfeld
Come and play outside: designing the whole neighbourhood for children and youth Convenor: Dr Margaret Grose
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 63 Leaving school: Maximising participation and life outcomes in youth with an intellectual disability 2007 (Round 3) transitioning from secondary school to adult life Total Network expenditure on Round 3: $188 400. Convenor: Dr Helen Leonard Impact of the labour market on the wellbeing of Towards seamless services: Improving the response Australian children and youth of universal health services to the needs of Convenor: Dr Jianghong Li disadvantaged and vulnerable Australian children and families Methodological advancement in economic evaluation Convenor: Associate Professor Virginia Schmied for the area of child protection Convenors: Professor Leonie Segal and Kim Dalziel Kinship care in Australia Convenors: Professor Ilan Katz and Professor Jan Mason Collaboration for research into universal health services for mothers and children/‘Best for everyone’: The migrant child project A study of the role and nature of universal health Convenor: Dr Mary Crock services for pregnant women, children and families in Australia Culture, racial identity, self-esteem and socialisation Convenor: Dr Virginia Schmied of Aboriginal children at school: Ready for school or ready for us mob? How are welfare to work and workplace reforms Convenor: Dr Cheryl Kickett-Tucker affecting young people and children at risk? Convenor: Professor Gabrielle Meagher Growing kids up strong: Promoting healthy child rearing in Aboriginal communities From ‘micro to macro’: Identifying strategies to Convenor: Dr Fiona Arney extend the reach of successful practice models in developmental prevention Exploring identity and wellbeing among young Convenor: Dr Kate Freiberg people from migrant and refugee backgrounds: Building social connectedness among marginalised Support for the siblings of children with disabilities: youth Needs, services, and research approaches Convenors: Dr Steve Francis and Associate Professor Fethi Convenor: Dr Susana Gavidia-Payne Mansouri Birth After Caesarean Interventions (BACI) Consortium Supporting Indigenous health professionals: Convenor: Professor Maralyn Foureur Identifying key issues and supports for the adoption of evidence–based behavioural family intervention in Australian Fatherhood Research Network: Identifying Indigenous communities collaborative research groups and developing research Convenor: Dr Karen Turner on fatherhood and fathering in Australia Convenor: Dr Richard Fletcher
Interventions in Aboriginal Child Removal in Melbourne’s West Convenor: Associate Professor Mark Minchinton
Children’s stake in parents’ jobs: Cross-national comparisons of job quality, parent’s health and children’s wellbeing Convenor: Dr Lyndall Strazdins
Moderating negative impacts of advertising and marketing on young children Convenor: Associate Professor Elizabeth Handsley
Children’s agency in communities Convenor: Ms Annette Michaux
64 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 2008 (Round 4) Total Network expenditure on Round 4: $210 667.
Investing in our future: children’s journeys through homelessness and child protection Convenors: Dr Tim Marchant and Professor Dorothy Scott
The wellbeing of children following parental separation and divorce Convenor: Professor Thea Brown
The role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in promoting positive mental health among marginalised young people Convenor: Dr Jane Burns
Facilitating Warburton remote community consultation process Convenor: Dr Roz Walker
Children, young people and social inclusion: mobilising to address disadvantage on the NSW North Coast Convenors: Dr Michele Leiminer and Dr Judith Wilks
Integration of health and welfare services beyond the early years: benefits, barriers and enablers . A review of the literature and consumer perspective . Convenor: Dr Margaret Brechman-Toussaint
Resilience and rural change: kids facing an uncertain future Convenor: Associate Professor Barbara Rugendyke
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 65 Appendix 4.2 Summary of topic areas identified as targets for seed funding rounds 1–5 (2005–2009)
Round 1 (2006) Round 3 (2007)
1. Child and youth poverty. 1. Impact of work conditions and policies on child and youth health, development and wellbeing. 2. Child- and youth-friendly environments, institutions and/or communities. 2. Research with children from a child/youth-centred perspective. 3. Economic evaluation of interventions promoting child and youth development and wellbeing. 3. Children and youth as consumers.
4. Successful dissemination of child and youth 4. Economic evaluation of interventions (including cost- interventions into diverse settings and values. benefit analysis).
5. Successful dissemination of evidence-based interventions. Round 2 (2006/2007)
1. Indigenous child and youth health and education and their intersection. Round 4 (2008)
2. School transitions (into, through and out of school). 1. Experience of social exclusion for children and youth in rural areas. 3. Biology and the environment: Implications for child and youth policy and practice of new understandings of 2. Health and wellbeing implications of the internet. biological/genetic foundations of development. 3. System integration from early childhood to adolescence. 4. Youth identity and wellbeing: Issues of culture, 4. Homelessness in children. connectedness, meaning.
Round 5 (2009)
1. Issues relating to program evaluation.
2. The impact of crises (natural and economic) on children and youth.
3. Youth issues.
4. Indicators of child and youth wellbeing.
66 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 4.3 Seed funding selection committees 2006–2009
Round 1 (17 applications) Round 4 (13 applications)
Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Research Network Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Research Network Coordinator Coordinator
Professor George Patton, Centre for Adolescent Health, Dr John Ainley, Australian Council for Educational Research Royal Children’s Hospital Professor Ilan Katz, Social Policy Research Centre, University Professor Margot Prior, The University of Melbourne of New South Wales
Dr Marie Leech, Mission Australia Ms Anne Hampshire, Mission Australia
Round 2 (39 applications) Round 5 (30 applications)
Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Research Network Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Research Network Coordinator Coordinator
Dr Rob Simons, The Smith Family Professor Anne Graham, Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University Dr Karen Martin, Queensland University of Technology Professor Gary Robinson, Cooperative Research Centre for Professor Margot Prior, The University of Melbourne Aboriginal Health Professor Gabriele Bammer, National Centre for Mr Phil O’Donoghue, ARACY Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
Professor Frank Oberklaid, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children’s Hospital
Round 3 (24 applications)
Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Research Network Coordinator
Dr Rob Simons, The Smith Family
Dr Sophie Havighurst, The University of Melbourne
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 67 Appendix 5 Publications developed as outputs of ARACY Research Network funding or activities (published in 2009)
Approaching adulthood with a chronic health Economic evaluation in child protection: what are condition: Professionals’ and young people’s the special challenges? (2009). In Wendy Ungar (Ed.) perspectives (2009). In D. Bennett, S. Towns, E. Elliott, and Economic Evaluation in Child Health, Oxford University Press. J. Merrick (Eds), Challenges in adolescent health: Prepared by Dr Kim Dalziel, Professor Leonie Segal and An Australian perspective. Victoria, BC: Int Acad Press. Julie Ratcliffe and supported by ARACY Research Network Prepared by Anne Honey, Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Julie round 3 seed funding grant for the project ‘Methodological Schneider and Nikki Wedgwood and supported by ARACY advancement in economic evaluation for the area of child Research Network round 2 seed funding grant for the protection’. project ‘Achieving better health outcomes for youth with From micro to macro: Identifying strategies to chronic health conditions: A pandisciplinary approach’. extend the reach of successful practice models in Birth after caesarean section: changes over a developmental prevention (2009) Prepared by Kate nine-year period in one Australian state (2009). Freiberg and supported by ARACY Research Network round Prepared by Caroline Homer, R Johnston and Maralyn 3 seed funding grant for the project ‘From ‘micro to macro’: Foureur and supported by ARACY Research Network round Identifying strategies to extend the reach of successful 3 seed funding grant for the project ‘Birth After Caesarean practice models in developmental prevention’. Available on Interventions (BACI) Consortium’. Available on ARACY ARACY website. website. The importance of identity in policy: The case for and Children and poverty: Why their experience of their of children in Children & Society (April 2009). Prepared by lives matter for policy in Australian Journal of Social Catherine McDonald and supported by ARACY Research Issues (Autumn 2009). Prepared by Catherine McDonald Network round 1 seed funding grant for the project and supported by ARACY Research Network round 1 seed ‘Children’s lived experience of poverty’. Available on ARACY funding grant for the project ‘Children’s lived experience of website. poverty’.
Children, young people and social inclusion: Mobilising to address disadvantage on the NSW North Coast (August 2009). Literature review prepared by Michelle Leimener and Judith Wilks and supported by ARACY Research Network round 4 seed funding grant for the project ‘Children, young people and social inclusion: Mobilising to address disadvantage on the NSW North Coast’. Available on ARACY website.
68 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Improving outcomes for pregnant women, children Universal health services for pregnant women, and families through professional collaboration: children and families in Australia: A review and A discussion paper (2009, under review). Submitted to synthesis of state and territory maternity and child Australian Journal of Primary Care. Prepared by Virginia health policies . Submitted to Australian Journal of Public Schmied, A Mills, Caroline Homer, Sue Kruske, Peter Walsh, Administration. Prepared by Virginia Schmied, J Donovan, Lynn Kemp, and Catherine Fowler and supported by ARACY Sue Kruske, Caroline Homer, Peter Walsh, Lynn Kemp, Research Network round 3 seed funding grant for the Catherine Fowler and Lindsay Barclay. and supported by project ‘Collaboration for research into universal health ARACY Research Network round 3 seed funding grant for services for mothers and children/‘Best for everyone’: A the project ‘Collaboration for research into universal health study of the role and nature of universal health services for services for mothers and children/‘Best for everyone’: pregnant women, children and families in Australia’. A study of the role and nature of universal health services for pregnant women, children and families in Australia’. Literature review prepared by the ‘Wellbeing of children following parental separation and divorce’ Women, work and welfare in the activation state: an Research Consortium (2009). Supported by ARACY agenda for Australian research in Australian Bulletin of Research Network round 4 seed funding grant for the Labour Vol. 35, No. 4. (2009) Prepared by Natasha Cortis project ‘The wellbeing of children following parental and Gabrielle Meagher and supported by ARACY Research separation and divorce’. Available on ARACY website. Network round 3 seed funding grant for the project ‘How are welfare-to-work and workplace reforms affecting young Parents’ work patterns and adolescent health and people and children at risk?’. wellbeing (2009). In Social Science & Medicine, 68:689– 698. Prepared by Mike Dockery, Jianghong Li and Garth Young people’s perspectives on the role of information Kendall and supported by ARACY Research Network round communication technology (ICT) in meeting the needs 4 seed funding grant for the project ‘Impact of the labour of young carers and young people who live with a market on the wellbeing of Australian children and youth’. physical, intellectual or learning disability or chronic illness: Consultation Summary Report (2009). Supported The role of information communication technology by ARACY Research Network round 4 seed funding grant (ICT) in meeting the needs of young carers and for the project ‘The role of information and communication young people who live with a physical, intellectual or technologies (ICT) in promoting positive mental health learning disability or chronic illness: Discussion Paper among marginalised young people’. (2009). Supported by ARACY Research Network round 4 seed funding grant for the project ‘The role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in promoting positive mental health among marginalised young people’. Available on ARACY website.
Shared parenting viewed through the lens of parental involvement in children’s schooling: Political rhetoric and parental reality (2009). Submitted for publication to Children Australia. Prepared by Thea Brown, Alison Lundgren, Lisa-Maree Stevens and Jennifer Boadle and supported by ARACY Research Network round 4 seed funding grant for the project ‘The wellbeing of children following parental separation and divorce’.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 69 Appendix 6 New Investigators Network 2009
Participant University/Workplace State
Andrew Anderson Benevolent Society NSW
Jennifer Baxter Australian Institute of Family Studies VIC
Tamara Blakemore Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and ACT Indigenous Affairs
Natasha Cortis Social Policy Research Centre NSW
Angela Dean Mater and University of Queensland QLD
Caroline Donovan University of Queensland QLD
Rony Duncan Murdoch Children’s Research Institute VIC
Ben Edwards Australian Institute of Family Studies VIC
Mario Fiorini University of Technology Sydney NSW
Linda Hayes Department of Education and Early Childhood Development VIC
Tara McGee Queensland University of Technology QLD
Naomi Priest McCaughey Centre, University of Melbourne VIC
Gerry Redmond Social Policy Research Centre NSW
Kevin Runions Curtin University WA
Matthew Taylor Department of Employment and Workplace Relations ACT
Catherine Wade Parenting Research Centre VIC
Stacey Waters Edith Cowan University WA
Ani Wierenga Australian Youth Research Centre VIC
Marie Bee Hui Yap ORYGEN Research Institute VIC
70 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation New Investigators Network mentors and Advisory Group members
Name Category Position Organisation
Ms Gillian Calvert Advisory Group Commissioner Commission for Children and Young People
Professor Ann Harding Advisory Group Director National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling
Professor Alan Hayes Advisory Group Director Australian Institute Family Studies
Professor Brian Head Mentor Director Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland
Dr Garth Kendall Advisory Group Senior Lecturer School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University
Professor Rob Moodie Advisory Group Professor of Nossal Institute for Global Health Global Health
Professor Frank Oberklaid Advisory Group Director Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Professor Ann Sanson Mentor Coordinator ARACY Research Network / Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne
Professor Fiona Stanley Mentor ARACY Research ARACY/ Telethon Institute for Child Network Convenor Health Research
Professor Collette Tayler Mentor Chair Early Childhood Education and Care, University of Melbourne
A/Professor Melissa Wake Advisory Group Director Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Professor John Wiseman Advisory Group Director McCaughey Centre, University of Melbourne
Professor Stephen Zubrick Mentor Head Division of Population Science, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 71 Appendix 7 Longitudinal Studies Network member studies 2009
2000 Stories: The Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study
Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health
Australian Temperament Project (ATP)
Christchurch Health and Development Study
Life Chances Study
Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY)
Mater-University of Queensland Pregnancy Study (MUSP)
Methamphetamine Treatment Evaluation Study (MATES)
PATH Through Life Study
Tasmanian Infant Health Study
Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine Study)
72 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 7.1 Prevention Science Network members 2009
PARTICIPANTS INSTITUTION STATE
Professor Ann Sanson ARACY VIC
Ms Annette Michaux Benevolent Society NSW
Dr Gary Robinson Charles Darwin University NT
Professor Graham Vimpani University of Newcastle NSW
Australian Centre for Child Protection, SA Dr Fiona Arney University of South Australia
Professor Ilan Katz Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW NSW
Professor John Toumbourou Deakin University VIC
Dr Sophie Havighurst Mindful, University of Melbourne VIC
Dr Sharon Goldfeld Centre for Community Child Health VIC
Ms Sharon Ryan Pathways Health and Research Centre QLD
Professor Ross Homel Griffith University NSW
Professor Sven Silburn Charles Darwin University NT
Mr Peter Huta FaHCSIA ACT
Ms Judith Planitz FaHCSIA ACT
Ms Tracey Noble FaHCSIA — Childrens Policy Branch ACT
Ms Jayne Meyer-Tucker Good Beginnings NSW
Ms Jacqueline Gellatly Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations ACT
Professor Louise Newman Monash University VIC
Dr Lynn Kemp University of NSW NSW
A/Professor Katrina Williams Children’s Hospital at Westmead NSW
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 73 Continued
PARTICIPANTS INSTITUTION STATE
Dr Tim Moore Centre for Community Child Health VIC
Dr Jordana Bayer Centre for Community Child Health VIC
Professor Mark Dadds University of NSW NSW
Ms Anne Hampshire Mission Australia NSW
Professor Helen Herrman ORYGEN Youth Health VIC
Dr Lance Emerson ARACY ACT
Professor Steve Zubrick Telethon Institute for Child Health Research WA
Professor Mark Greenberg Penn State University USA
Dr Catherine Spooner Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW NSW
Dr Rob Simons Smith Family NSW
Professor Paula Barrett University of Queensland QLD
Professor Frank Oberklaid Centre for Community Child Health VIC
Professor Dorothy Scott Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of SA SA
Ms Annie Dullow Department of Health and Ageing ACT
Professor Ron Rapee Macquarie University NSW
Dr Pam Muth The Allen Consulting Group NSW
Professor Garth Alperstein University of Notre Dame NSW
Professor Pat McGorry ORYGEN Youth Health VIC
Professor Matt Sanders University of Queensland QLD
Ms Bronwen Harvey Department of Health and Ageing ACT
Ms Sarah Cavanagh Australian Psychological Society VIC
Professor Lyn Littlefield Australian Psychological Society VIC
Ms Anita Moyes Child and Adolescent Community Health WA
Ms Alison Calear Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU ACT
Dr Rebecca Coleman Mental Health First Aid; Mindful Awareness Parenting (MAP) SA
Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Ms Bernadette Dagg Office (MHDAO), Department of Health NSW
74 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
PARTICIPANTS INSTITUTION STATE
Developmental Psychology, Professor Karen Thorpe Queensland University of Technology QLD
Darling Downs Public Health Unit, Mr Malcolm Lewis Queensland Health QLD
Research Fellow, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Dr Nicola Newton University of New South Wales NSW
Disability and Health Research, Professor Eric Emerson Lancaster University UK
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 75 Appendix 8 Access Grid seminars in 2009
Access Grid 30 In this seminar, ACCM vice president Professor Elizabeth Linking School and Families: A school breakfast Handsley outlined efforts to establish a research knowledge program (webinar) base, and plans to use that base to design and pilot a 28 May 2009 relevant and effective program/intervention that supports parents and carers in mediating the impact of marketing The School Breakfast program at Warburton Remote and commercialism on their children. Community School demonstrates the power of community- driven initiatives to institute change. This presentation, by This presentation was an outcome of a Network seed Dr Roz Walker, Ernie Stringer and the women from the funding grant. Warburton Remote Community School, explained how the Access Grid 32 program began, and the community initiatives that continue Engaging communities in evidence-based youth to emerge as a result of the activity. eevelopment: The PROSPER Project This presentation was an outcome of an ARACY Research 2 July 2009 Network seed funding grant. PROSPER is a university–community partnership intended Access Grid 31 to support communities and schools to work together to Strategies for parents to moderate the impact of deliver evidence-based preventive interventions in the US. In advertising and marketing on young children’s self this seminar, Dr Mark Greenberg, Director of the Prevention esteem Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development 16 June 2009 at the Penn State University, described the structure and process of the PROSPER network, issues in school and There is widespread community concern about the intrusion community engagement and findings from a randomised of commercialism into childhood and the attendant trial involving over 10 000 youth. pressures on children to consume, and to define themselves on materialistic grounds. One of the key impacts of The ARACY Research Network funded Professor Greenberg’s advertising and commercialism on young children is on their visit to Australia. He was the keynote presenter at the self esteem. Marketing campaigns targeting children place second Prevention Science workshop on 30 June and tremendous pressures on them to have the right brands of 1 July 2009. toys, clothes and food in order to be happy or to have peer acceptance.
With support from the ARACY Research Network’s Seed Funding Program, the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM), in partnership with others, has developed a project to support parents and carers in moderating the impact of marketing on children’s self esteem. This project aims to enable parents and carers of children under 7 years to overcome feelings of powerlessness and incompetence in response to marketing campaigns targeting children.
76 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Access Grid 33 Access Grid 35 From micro to macro: Identifying strategies to Celebrating the ARACY Research Network 2004–2009 extend the reach of successful practice models in 8 December 2009 developmental prevention The final Access Grid seminar for 2009 marked the 5 August 2009 completion of the ARC/NHMRC ARACY Research Network: This presentation addressed issues involved in disseminating Future Generation and celebrated our achievements. Over evidence-based interventions that seek to promote the years, the Network has worked to overcome the comprehensive support for children’s development and ‘tyrannies of distance’ by using remote technologies such as interrupt cycles of disadvantage. Access Grid seminars, so this seemed a fitting modality for our final celebration. Presenters Dr Kate Frieberg, Professor Ross Homel and Dr Sara Branch drew on the experience and insights they Professor Ann Sanson, Coordinator of the ARACY Research gained undertaking the Pathways to Prevention project as Network since 2005, briefly described the Network’s well as examples of international initiatives to discuss factors major initiatives including the Seed Funding Program, New that might facilitate replication of the results of successful Investigators Network, knowledge brokering workshops, demonstration projects. and the formation of several sub-networks. She presented evidence of their effectiveness and return on investment. The presenters reported findings of their interviews with Several Network members described their experience of experts from both policy and practice arenas to gain a some of these programs. greater understanding of issues that influence cross-sectoral collaboration. Their aim was to identify conditions that Participants also heard about plans for continuing and might help child- and family-support sectors move beyond building upon the Network’s successful programs, and were the rhetoric that calls for joined up policies and services invited to provide feedback and suggestions. towards a genuine capacity to achieve large-scale, system-wide or ‘macro level’ practices that improve individual developmental pathways.
This presentation was an outcome of a Network seed funding grant.
Access Grid 34 Children’s journeys through homelessness and child protection — a progress report on a cross-sectoral collaboration 20 August 2009
The numbers of children who are homeless (12 133 children under 12 on 2006 Census night) and in State care (31 166 on June 30 2008) are stark. Yet Australia’s homelessness and child protection service systems work in silos with little intersection, despite often working with the same children. A dramatically different approach is clearly required.
Professor Dorothy Scott and Dr Tim Marchant reported on a seed funded project that brought together a group of prominent researchers, policy makers and practitioners in both fields to examine children’s journeys through the relevant service systems as a first step in establishing an agenda focused on prevention and child wellbeing. The presenters discussed the ongoing collaboration, the fluid policy environment, the findings of their literature scan and a proposed two stage process to begin building a preventative evidence-informed agenda in which the voice of the child is heard.
This presentation was an outcome of a Network seed funding grant.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 77 Appendix 8.1 Access Grid seminars 2005–2009
Date Topic Presenter/s
14 March 2005 The Canadian experience of networks and building Dr Fraser Mustard links with Canadian researchers
8 November 2005 What is meant by evidence? Charting the boundaries Professor Elizabeth Waters
23 November 2005 What is meant by evidence in the social sciences: Dr Peter Grabosky and Contrasting or complementary perspectives? Professor Dorothy Scott
8 December 2005 Engaging children and young people in research Dr David Vicary
2 March 2006 Early childhood investment: What is the evidence? Dr Jack Shonkoff What can we do?
20 March 2006 Engaging children in research: practical and ethical Professor Ann Farrell and considerations. Associate Professor Susan Danby
8 May 2006 Evidence-based practice or practice-based evidence? Professor Judy Atkinson An Indigenous perspective.
22 May 2006 Mental mapping: combining research and practice Professor Gabriele Bammer knowledge for intervention.
7 June 2006 Evaluating early intervention: research, Professor Ilan Katz policy and practice.
25 July 2006 Moving developmental prevention from ‘success Professor Ross Homel in miniature’ to mainstream practice that improves outcomes: some steps along the way.
24 October 2006 Community level factors influencing children’s Dr Paul Kershaw and panel outcomes in disadvantaged areas across Australia including Dr Sharon Goldfeld, and Canada. Professor Ilan Katz, Professor Brendan Gleeson and Professor John Wiseman
25 January 2007 Providing a secure base: an attachment based model Professor Gillian Schofield of foster parenting.
19 June 2007 Translation of science for practice, policy and public Professor Deborah Phillips audiences.
2 July 2007 How do neighbourhoods matter for children and Professor Jeanne Brooks-Gunn youth?
78 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
Date Topic Presenter/s
23 July 2007 The authors speak! ‘Children of the Lucky Country? Professor Fiona Stanley, Professor How Australian society has turned its back on Sue Richardson and Professor children and why children matter’. Margot Prior
1 August 2007 The Pathways Mapping Initiative — A non-traditional Professor Lisbeth Schorr knowledge base: Lessons from seven years of experience.
8 August 2007 Aspects of the social context faced by youth with Professor Eric Emerson chronic health conditions and their families.
16 August 2007 Grandparents in parenting roles. Professor Bettina Cass, Vicki Rundle and Lisa Langley
2 October 2007 The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Professor Sven Silburn and Survey: Communicating the policy implications and Dr Roz Walker encouraging their uptake.
14 November 2007 Growing kids up strong: Promoting healthy child Dr Fiona Arney and Robyn Mildon rearing in Aboriginal communities.
11 December 2007 Children’s environmental health in Australia: Setting Professor Peter Sly and a national research agenda. Dr Elizabeth Hanna
20 February 2008 Community business partnerships for healthy child Dr Fraser Mustard development.
8 April 2008 The ABS Children and Youth Statistical Portal — Mr Mark Lound and what it is and the opportunities it offers. Ms Jeanette Cotterill
22 April 2008 Children’s lived experience of poverty. Professor Catherine McDonald, Ms Trish Malins and Ms Annette Michaux
10 June 2008 Kinship care in Australia. Professor Ilan Katz, Professor Jan Mason and Dr Amy Holtan
12 August 2008 Culture, racial identity, self-esteem and socialisation Dr Cheryl Kickett-Tucker of Aboriginal children at school: ready for school or ready for us mob?
25 September 2008 Economic evaluation and priority setting in child Professor Leonie Segal and protection. Ms Kim Dalziel
27 November 2008 Children’s agency in communities. Dr Sharon Bessell and Mr Jarrah Hoffmann-Ekstein
28 May 2009 Linking school and families: A school breakfast Dr Roz Walker, Mr Ernie Stringer program. (Webinar) and Warburton community members
16 June 2009 Strategies for parents to moderate the impact of Professor Elizabeth Handsley advertising and marketing on young children’s self esteem.
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 79 Continued
Date Topic Presenter/s
2 July 2009 Engaging communities in evidence-based youth Professor Mark Greenberg development: The PROSPER Project.
5 August 2009 From micro to macro: Identifying strategies to Dr Kate Freiberg, Professor Ross extend the reach of successful practice models in Homel, Dr Sara Branch developmental prevention.
20 August 2009 Children’s journeys through homelessness and child Professor Dorothy Scott and protection — a progress report on a cross-sectoral Dr Tim Marchant collaboration.
8 December 2009 Celebrating the ARACY Research Network Professor Ann Sanson and 2004–2009. panel including Professor Cathy Humphreys, Professor Ilan Katz, Ms Stacey Waters, Ms Anne Lowagie
80 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 9 Member networking events 2006–2008*
Date and location Topic Presenter/s
8 June 2006, Update on current ARACY Research Professor Fiona Stanley (Executive Director, ARACY Canberra Network activities and future plans for and Network Convenor) and Associate Professor ARACY and the Network Ann Sanson (Network Coordinator)
30 October 2006, Update on Network activities and Professor Fiona Stanley (Executive Director, ARACY Sydney future plans, and brief presentations and Network Convenor) and Associate Professor by researchers and representatives Ann Sanson (Network Coordinator) on current of local organisations whose work activities and future plans for ARACY and the ARACY has supported Network. Gillian Calvert (NSW Commission for Children and Young People) and Professor Peter Saunders (Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW) on Network-supported research activities
15 November 2006, Update on Network activities and Professor Fiona Stanley (Executive Director, ARACY Melbourne future plans, and brief presentations and Network Convenor) and Associate Professor by researchers and representatives Ann Sanson (Network Coordinator) on current of local organisations whose work activities and future plans for ARACY and the ARACY has supported Network. Two ARACY Research Network members on Network-supported research activities: Professor Cathy Humphreys (Alfred Felton Chair of Child and Family Welfare, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare) and Dr Sharon Goldfeld (Centre for Community Child Health)
21 May 2007, Update on ARACY and Network Professor Fiona Stanley, Executive Director, ARACY, Adelaide activities, and brief presentations by Professor Brian Head, CEO, ARACY and Associate researchers and representatives of Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Research Network local organisations Coordinator on current ARACY initiatives ‘Children of the Lucky Country? — How Australian society has turned its back on children and why children matter’: Professor Sue Richardson, Director, National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University Promoting relationships and connectedness to schools by reducing bullying: Dr Ken Rigby, Adjunct Research Professor, University of South Australia
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 81 Continued
Date and location Topic Presenter/s
29 October 2007, This ARACY Research Network Welcome from ARACY and the Centre for Lismore social gathering was organised in Children and Young People conjunction with the Centre for Brief presentations from ARACY Research Children and Young People to follow Network members and committee members the Centre’s ARACY-sponsored symposium on ‘What Matters in Early Childhood’. Update on Network activities, and brief presentations by researchers and representatives of local organisations whose work ARACY has supported.
21 November 2007, Co-hosted by the University of Welcome from Professor Ann Sanson, ARACY Brisbane Queensland and Griffith University. Research Network Coordinator and Professor Update on Network activities, and Brian Head, Director, Institute for Social Science brief presentations by researchers and Research, UQ representatives of local organisations Brief presentations by: whose work ARACY has supported. Professor Collette Tayler, Early Childhood Education and Care, Centre for Learning Innovation, QUT Dr Karen Martin, Senior Lecturer, Cultural and Language Studies in Education, QUT Dr Kate Freiberg, Senior Research Fellow, Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance, Griffith
20 August 2008, Developing measures of wellbeing Professor Jonathan Bradshaw, Associate Director Sydney of children of the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York
3 November 2008, Update on Network activities, and ARACY Research Network Convenor Professor Perth brief presentations by researchers and Fiona Stanley AC, and Network Coordinator representatives of local organisations Professor Ann Sanson whose work ARACY has supported
* There were no specific networking events in 2009, and the ARACY National Conference was the main opportunity for members to network.
82 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Appendix 10 Successful grant applications in 2009 that were facilitated by ARACY Research ARACY Research Network membership
Funding Cross- Cross- Title Amount Years source discipline sector
Controlled trial of a family intervention $130 000 – ARC 3 3 for children bullied by peers
Nurse home visiting evaluation $200 000 2009– SA Department 3 3 2011 of Health
Longitudinal study of refugee children $400 000 2009– Corporate 3 3 over the first 2 years of settlement 2011
New directions: an equal start in life $2 015 000 2010– Government 3 3 for Indigenous children — Malabar 2014 contract Community Link Service
Research into practice – key issues in $29 956 2009 Children’s 3 3 children’s services Services Central
Children, community and social capital $91 722 2009– ARC 3 3 in Australia 2012
Utilisation of social science research in $680 000 2010– ARC 3 3 policy development 2012
Nurturing pathways of early $500 000 2010– Government 3 development: Help Us Grow Strong 2013 contract (HUGS) Project
An exploratory cluster trial of a $157 014 2010– ARC Linkage 3 3 sustainable capacity building 2012 intervention to promote positive child mental health in Family Day Care
Assessing the effectiveness of early $2 209 843 2009– ARC 3 3 childhood education and care (ECEC) 2014 programs in Australian communities
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 83 Appendix 11 Successful grant applications 2005–2009 that were outcomes of seed funded grants
Title of grant application Collaboration leader Grant source Amount
Making a difference: Building on children’s Social Policy Research Centre, ARC $362 000 perspectives on economic adversity University of New South Wales
Who am I? The archive as central to University of Melbourne ARC $799 325 quality practice for current and past care leavers (Forgotten Australians)
Cumulative harm: Reducing child abuse University of Melbourne ARC $94 881 through improved decision-making
Safety and resiliency at home: Voices of University of Melbourne ARC $96 420 children who live with fear
Improving the life chances of young University of Sydney ARC $185 000 disabled Australians
The transition from secondary school to University of Western Ausrtalia ARC $365 000 adulthood: Experiences and life outcomes for youth with an intellectual disability and their families
Approved social networks, belonging and Deakin University ARC $317 000 active citizenship among migrant youth in Australia
Priority setting in child protection: University of South Australia ARC $562 748 Developing an evidence-based strategy to reduce child abuse and neglect and associated harms
A study of the feasibility of implementing University of Western Sydney ARC $245 000 a universal child and family health services in Australia
The perinatal journey: the process and University of Western Sydney ARC $102 110 impact of psychosocial assessment
84 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Continued
Title of grant application Collaboration leader Grant source Amount
Child health, education and development Menzies School of Health NHMRC $442 275 in mobile preschool Research
Innovative web-based support for University of Melbourne University of $12 000 knowledge transfer in the child and family Melbourne services sector Knowledge Transfer Fund
The cost of support in foster care and University of Melbourne Ian Potter $32 000 other long term placements Foundation
Community level determinants of early Centre for Community Social Sciences $ 65 000 development: a cross-national study Child Health and Humanities Research Council International Opportunity Fund
Children of parents with a mental illness Curtin University Department $157 000 (COPMI) initiative of Health and Ageing
New approaches to improving health, Menzies School of Health Office of $135 881 development and educational outcomes Research Aboriginal and for indigenous children aged 0–8 years Torres Strait Islander Health
Early years collaboration — evaluation Menzies School of Health Department of $176 000 of alternative service delivery models, Research Employment, program quality and assessment practices Education and Training
Early childhood education and care: Social Policy Research Centre, The British $ 12 500 building an international research University of New South Wales Academy collaboration
Political and social economy of care Social Policy Research Centre, Nordic Centre of $80 000 University of New South Wales Excellence
Development of parent education Edith Cowan University Telstra $378 000 resources to reduce cyber bullying Foundation
Increasing families’ capacity to reduce Edith Cowan University West Australian $359 000 harm from cyber bullying among high Health school students. Promotion Foundation (Healthway)
Epigenetic influences on child health and University of Adelaide Women and $ 15 000 development in the Raine Study Infants Research Foundation
Kids in communities study Centre for Community VicHealth $99 000 Child Health
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation 85 Continued
Title of grant application Collaboration leader Grant source Amount
Think child, think family: Child and family- Australian Centre for Child Sidney Myer $30 000 sensitive practice within homelessness Protection, University of South Fund services Australia
Family violence and family law Monash University Commonwealth $320 000 research project Attorney- General’s Department
Establishing a place for parents Telethon Institute for Child Lottery West $40 000 Health Research
Request for a parents place Telethon Institute for Child FaHCSIA $200 000 Health Research
Housing and children’s development and Curtin University Australian $49 976 wellbeing Housing and Urban Research Institute
86 ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network Annual Report
2009
ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network Annual Report 2009
New knowledge for better outcomes for children and young people
For more information visit: www.aracy.org.au/researchnetwork Annual Report (2009) of the ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network — Future Generation
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