Be Healthy: Implementing Culturally Secure Programs For Obesity And Chronic Disease Prevention With Remote Aboriginal Communities And Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,499,972.00
Summary
Environments cultivated in recent decades encouraging physical inactivity and poor diet have disproportionately affected Aboriginal people. Appropriate lifestyle modification programs substantially improves outcomes. We have co-designed, piloted and refined the 'Be Healthy' program with Derby Aboriginal people. This project aims to show how this program can be scaled up and transferred to other Aboriginal communities, leading to reduced rates of obesity, and improved health and quality of life.
The Effect Of Iron Supplementation In Pregnancy On Child Cognitive Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$91,562.00
Summary
During fetal life the brain grows very rapidly and animal studies have shown that inadequate iron nutrition of mothers during pregnancy can result in permanent structural and developmental problems in the offspring. Although this has not been examined in human infants, new studies suggest that the iron stores of the mother in pregnancy are an important determinant of the baby's iron stores during the first year of life. It may be that the critical period where iron nutrition influences later dev ....During fetal life the brain grows very rapidly and animal studies have shown that inadequate iron nutrition of mothers during pregnancy can result in permanent structural and developmental problems in the offspring. Although this has not been examined in human infants, new studies suggest that the iron stores of the mother in pregnancy are an important determinant of the baby's iron stores during the first year of life. It may be that the critical period where iron nutrition influences later development is in fetal life (during pregnancy). We have the opportunity to test whether iron nutrition in fetal life influences childhood development by assessing the cognitive abilities of children who were in our earlier study of iron supplementation in pregnancy. Our aim is to assess the children at 4 years to determine if iron nutrition in pregnancy predicts development. This may change the dietary advice we give pregnant women to ensure they give their babies the best start in life.Read moreRead less
Formulating New Goals For Global Health And Proposing New Governance For Global Health That Will Allow The Achievement Of These Goals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,017.00
Summary
The Millennium Development Goals have guided global development since 2000, and are due for evaluation in 2015. Attention is now turning to New Health-Related Goals, with a governance structure to support their implementation. Australian researchers are joining a Go4Health consortium of 13 research institutions to research the development of these goals, examining the input of United Nations agencies and key donors into the process, together with communities, civil society and governments.
Seeding Success: Identifying Factors That Contribute To Positive Early Childhood Health And Development In Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$692,845.00
Summary
This study will identify the key drivers of positive early childhood health and development in Aboriginal children, and the features of local communities and early childhood service provision that make a tangible difference, using a large population-based cohort of children in NSW. We will apply novel methods for using linked population data that can be used to inform program planning and evaluation nationally, and will advance theory, research and practice to "seed success" for Aboriginal child ....This study will identify the key drivers of positive early childhood health and development in Aboriginal children, and the features of local communities and early childhood service provision that make a tangible difference, using a large population-based cohort of children in NSW. We will apply novel methods for using linked population data that can be used to inform program planning and evaluation nationally, and will advance theory, research and practice to "seed success" for Aboriginal children.Read moreRead less
Indigenous Network Suicide Intervention Skills Training (INSIST): Can A Community Designed And Delivered Framework Reduce Suicide/self-harm In Indigenous Youth?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$828,215.00
Summary
Queensland has the highest rates of youth suicide in Australia. Indigenous youth suicide rates are reported at twice the rate of Queensland’s total population for 15 to 44 years. Statistical data on urban-rural differences in Australia have only been available since 1986 (ABS, 1994). Although the number of suicides is far greater in urban areas (1,299 suicides aged 10–24 years in metropolitan areas versus 311 in towns with populations less than 4,000), rural demonstrate greater suicide rates per
Developing An Early Life-course Population Mental Health Monitoring System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,779.00
Summary
I will lead the development of the first set of population mental health indicators, spanning birth to young adulthood (0-24 years). I bring 15 years' experience as a leader in high quality government surveillance to this work. I will review evidence for key indicators and will test implementation of seven connected surveys in two rural Victorian communities. My research will address known evidence gaps in the fields of mental health and epidemiology, as well as support community-level responses
Early Human Capability – Measurement, Intervention, Results.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
It is well recognised that child health and development has consequences for health later in adulthood. However, despite the fact that billions of dollars are being spent on early childhood initiatives, we do not have a fit-for-purpose tool to measure the effectiveness and impact of interventions, particularly in marginalised and poor communities.This project seeks to trial a new instrument within existing large scale impact evaluations of early childhood programs in China, Tonga and Australia.
Substance Misuse And Mental Disorders In A Remote Arnhem Land And Urban New South Wales Aboriginal Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,972.00
Summary
Experience of trauma and violence affect one in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and can put them at risk of later mental illness or substance misuse. This Fellowship investigates the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder and its association with substance misuse among Indigenous Australians in a remote and urban setting. Better understanding these associations will help in designing interventions to reduce individual and community suffering.