The Kids in Communities Study: national investigation of community level effects on children's developmental outcomes. This project (a cross-disciplinary collaboration) will investigate community level factors influencing early childhood developmental outcomes using a mixed methods approach in up to 10 communities across Australia. This will result in a potential set of measures or indicators that reflect communities that are good for children.
Children, Community and Social Capital in Australia. Contributing to our understanding of children's roles and contributions to their communities in Australia, this research will strengthen the basis for policies and interventions relating to social inclusion, community strengthening, children's well-being and family policy. Currently, there is a strong policy focus on children's issues in Australia, but children's own experiences and perspectives are often missing from policy deliberations. T ....Children, Community and Social Capital in Australia. Contributing to our understanding of children's roles and contributions to their communities in Australia, this research will strengthen the basis for policies and interventions relating to social inclusion, community strengthening, children's well-being and family policy. Currently, there is a strong policy focus on children's issues in Australia, but children's own experiences and perspectives are often missing from policy deliberations. This research will provide the foundation for policy and interventions that are inclusive of children and value children as community members and citizens. Read moreRead less
Changes in payments, family dynamics and wellbeing following major child support reform: a longitudinal investigation of behavourial and attitudinal responses. This study will benefit the nation in three main ways: (a) it will measure the immediate impact of child support reforms on parent-child contact and the payment of child support; (b) it will provide an estimate of the consequences of these reforms for family dynamics (especially conflict, acrimony and the quality of parent-child relations ....Changes in payments, family dynamics and wellbeing following major child support reform: a longitudinal investigation of behavourial and attitudinal responses. This study will benefit the nation in three main ways: (a) it will measure the immediate impact of child support reforms on parent-child contact and the payment of child support; (b) it will provide an estimate of the consequences of these reforms for family dynamics (especially conflict, acrimony and the quality of parent-child relationships) and parents' and children's health and wellbeing; and (c) it will provide new evidence on the interrelationships between post-separation economic, social and psychological wellbeing irrespective of the reforms. Through this partnership between the University and relevant government departments, we are maximising the opportunity for shaping future policies and service delivery.Read moreRead less
Adolescent Gambling: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Opportunities for Controls and Interventions. This research will contribute to both scientific knowledge and public policy in an area of considerable public concern. It will measure the prevalence of gambling among adolescents in the ACT, and identify the proportion of youth with actual or potential gambling problems. It will assess their degree of exposure to gambling advertising and their awareness of services for young problem gamblers. The p ....Adolescent Gambling: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Opportunities for Controls and Interventions. This research will contribute to both scientific knowledge and public policy in an area of considerable public concern. It will measure the prevalence of gambling among adolescents in the ACT, and identify the proportion of youth with actual or potential gambling problems. It will assess their degree of exposure to gambling advertising and their awareness of services for young problem gamblers. The project will also identify risk factors for problem gambling, and protective factors and policy opportunities for the reduction of problem gambling. It will also contribute to methodological knowledge by assessing the validity of multiple measures of problem gambling.Read moreRead less
Changing children’s chances: Exploring pathways to developmental inequities. This project aims to investigate the causes of health and developmental inequities between Australian children. Inequities are increasingly observed in Australian children’s physical health, social and emotional wellbeing, and academic learning. Such inequities are unjust, unnecessary and potentially preventable. This project aims to understand the pathways leading to these inequities by examining the many contexts in w ....Changing children’s chances: Exploring pathways to developmental inequities. This project aims to investigate the causes of health and developmental inequities between Australian children. Inequities are increasingly observed in Australian children’s physical health, social and emotional wellbeing, and academic learning. Such inequities are unjust, unnecessary and potentially preventable. This project aims to understand the pathways leading to these inequities by examining the many contexts in which children and their families live and grow. Through a series of innovative analyses using existing data, the project aims to identify potentially modifiable factors at the child, family, school, and community level that contribute to developmental inequities. Understanding of the most promising leverage points for interventions to reduce inequities for Australian children could be used to inform policy.Read moreRead less
Regional Dimensions: The Spatial Implications of Population Ageing and Needs-Based Planning of Government Services. The national fiscal implications of population ageing have received extensive attention from government in the past few years. However, relatively little attention has been given to the spatial implications of population ageing. Yet such effects will become vigorously debated matters of public policy in the near future, as such issues as regional labour force shortages and regional ....Regional Dimensions: The Spatial Implications of Population Ageing and Needs-Based Planning of Government Services. The national fiscal implications of population ageing have received extensive attention from government in the past few years. However, relatively little attention has been given to the spatial implications of population ageing. Yet such effects will become vigorously debated matters of public policy in the near future, as such issues as regional labour force shortages and regional demand for aged care services assume greater prominence. This project will improve the ability of State and Territory governments to plan for the current and future need for particular government services at a small area level, including services for children and the aged.Read moreRead less