responsive research and shared learning: inspiring change to improve outcomes for children professor...

Responsive Research and Shared Learning: Inspiring

change to improve outcomes for children

Professor Fiona Stanley AC Executive Director, Australian Research Alliance for Children

& YouthDirector, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

Professor of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Western Australia

Australian Research Alliance

for Children & Youth

Positive Futures Conference: Achieving Wellbeing for Children & FamiliesAssociation of Children’s Welfare Agencies Conference

Sydney 15 August 2006

Impact of white colonisation on

Aboriginal health today

Source: Matthews 1997

COLONISATIONCultural genocideStolen children

Loss of hunter-gathererLifestyle, loss of culture

Fixed settlementsFringe camps

Urban ghettoes

Poor housing,Poor hygiene,

Overcrowding andInfectious disease

Respiratory disease,Ear disease,

Rheumatic heart dis.Renal disease

Poor nutrition

Low birth weight,Diabetes mellitus

HypertensionCardiovasc. disease

Domestic violence,Accidents, deaths

in custody

Marginalisation fromwhite society, poorcommunication and

discrimination

Unemployment,Poverty,

Poor education

Alcohol andSubstance abuse

What is ARACY?• National organisation established in

2002

• Our network unites more than 700 members and network participants from across Australia.

Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth

Our Purpose:

To enhance the wellbeing and life chances of children and young

people.

Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth

Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth

How?

• Working together in new, collaborative ways

• Establishing effective national data on children & youth

• Using the latest information technology to link dedicated people across the nation

• Advocate for Australia’s future generation.

Intellectually Competent & Emotionally Capable Workforce

Majority of Young People Participating to their Full Potential

Majority of Children Healthy, Reaching their Educational and Social Potential

National Economic Prosperity

Health & Welfare Budgets Not Draining Australia’s Capacity

Next Generation of Parents Socially & Emotionally Competent

Cycles of Economic Prosperity & National Capacity

Majority of Children Commence their Lives in Environments which Enable Full Opportunities for Healthy Child Development

BUILDING BLOCKS

Why is Child Health & Development Crucial for Australia’s Future?

Why was ARACY formed?

Concern about increasing problems of the health and wellbeing of Australia’s children and young people -

Modernity’s Paradox

Source: Keating & Hertzman 1999

Source: ABS Year Book, 2001

Australia’s GDP at current prices

Indicators of Poor Developmental Health which are Increasing in Australian Children and Youth

• Health Outcomes Low birth weight Complex diseases (asthma, diabetes, obesity) Mental Health problems, suicide

• Lifestyle risk factors Child abuse/neglect/domestic violence Behavioural problems, substance abuse

• Others Juvenile crime Learning disorders Disabilities (intellectual, physical)

Proportion of babies born at a low birth weight by SEIFA indices for WA, 1996–98

Source: d’Espaignet and Stanley (unpublished data)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

Bottom 10% 10-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-90% Top 10%

Percent

Overweight and obese 4-year-old children, South Australia,

1995-96 and 2000-01

Most advantagedQ1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Most disadvantagedQ5

Quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage of area

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

211995/96

RR=1.23

2000/01 RR=1.35

%

Source: Glover, PHIDU, Adelaide University (unpublished data)

www.australianedi.org.au

Bad Parenting….

Collaboration

ARACY facilitates multi-disciplinary collaborations across policy, practice and research sectors.

POLICY

PRACTICE RESEARCH

Communicating

• ARACY is an advocate for Australia’s children and young people

• Builds effective networks - eg. ARACY ARC/NHMRC Research Network

• Aims to bridge the ‘know-do’ gap

• Enhances communications

Communication Tools

• Webinars – online conferencing• Access Grid Seminars• Discussion Forums

All of these tools have enabled faster more cost effective transfer of

knowledge.

How will this benefit children & young people?

Clearinghouse – Evidence into Action

ARACY has made a commitment to make knowledge more accessible.

• Ensure the information will be directed to where it can make a difference to children & youth

• Put knowledge into action through the ‘Evidence into Action’ series

• Funding from the Telstra Foundation will help develop the ARACY clearinghouse

National Data Network

ARACY supported the progression of the National Data Network (NDN) in 2005.

• Monitoring• Evaluation• Causal Pathways• LSAC/LSIC• Australian Early Development Index

How can we make our society a better place for

children?• Accept and value diversity

• It takes a village to raise a child

• Put children in the centre of built and natural environments

• Regard parents as champions

• Foster other champions

CHILD

Community School

Family

Cultural

Economic Political

SocialCIVIL SOCIETYUNCIVIL SOCIETY

Focus on:

Equality/diversity

Trust, care

Collective good

Valuing parents

Valuingchildhoods

Prevention more than cures

Protected environments

Safe places for all

Effective use of helpful technologies

Child needs as well as adults

WorkplaceAccepting of:

Inequalities

Fear, violence

Priority for material wealth

Parents not valued

Fast tracking childhoods

Cures more than prevention

Environmental degradation

Safe places for the few

Excessive use of damaging technologies

Adults needs more than children’s

Children within Spheres of Influence

Why should we shift to a focus on prevention?

• Prevention is better than cure

• Too many of our responses are ‘too little too late’

• Pathways to many current problems are similar

Changes needed to shift the focus to prevention

Programs:

• Need to be broadened

• Must acknowledge the links across the life span

• Should aim prevention at the population level

• Should also reflect the diversity of communities

Recommendations for enhancing prevention

• Educate • Increase understanding

• Obtain data

• Place emphasis on preventative services

• Encourage more research

Joined-up solutions are required

• Joined-up Government

• ARACY collaborations across disciplines and sectors

• Joined-up solutions at the local level

“There can be no keener revelation of a

society’s soul than the way it treats its

children.”

Nelson Mandela