Closing The Gap In Early Childhood Development: Community Driven Evidence, Translation, Policy, And Practice - Grow Children Up Strong
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,656,625.00
Summary
This project aims to provide novel insights into the factors that facilitate good early childhood outcomes among Aboriginal children. It will take a different approach to the interrogation of a series of large, robust datasets by increasing the meaningful participation of Aboriginal parents, families and communities in the design of the research as well as the subsequent development of policy and practice solutions to the key challenges faced in early development.
Understanding Burn Injuries In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Children: Treatment, Access To Services And Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$911,798.00
Summary
This is the first large scale study to systematically examine the burden of burn injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including care and cost of treatment, and relationship between access to treatment and functional outcomes. With a team comprising epidemiologists, burns clinicans and Aboriginal health researchers, this study will generate important new research evidence to improve care in this over-represented and vulnerable population.
Improving Primary Care For Aboriginal Mothers And Babies In The Kimberley Region Of Western Australia: A Population And Region Based Cluster Randomised Trial Driven By Local Health Service Providers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,043,581.00
Summary
Over 50% of remote area Aboriginal mothers and 60% of breastfed infants have micronutrient malnutrition and other severe morbidities. A population based trial of a new locally driven model to improve the quality of maternal primary care will be undertaken. The primary outcome measure is improved iron deficiency anaemia in infants aged 6 months. The results will be used to develop improved primary care models and to improve health outcomes for all Aboriginal mothers and infants.
The Forgotten Generation: Understanding Health Trajectories In Aboriginal Adolescents And Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,095,283.00
Summary
This study will establish a cohort of 2250 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from urban, rural and remote communities aged 10 to 24 years. The study will provide longitudinal data on the health status and health trajectories of this group of young Australians who experience poorer health outcomes compared with other young Australians. The proposed study will explored the determinants of health status, how these factors change over time and opportunities for prevention.
The Lililwan Project: Prevalence Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders In The Fitzroy Valley
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$777,758.00
Summary
Alcohol use in pregnancy is widespread in Australia. Alchohol may cause physical and developmental problems in the developing child including the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This collaborative project, initiated and led by Aboriginal leaders in the Fitzroy Valley in the remote East Kimberley, WA, will establish the prevalence of FASD, health and developmental problems in a population of primary school-aged, predominantly Aboriginal children and develop strategies for service deliver ....Alcohol use in pregnancy is widespread in Australia. Alchohol may cause physical and developmental problems in the developing child including the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This collaborative project, initiated and led by Aboriginal leaders in the Fitzroy Valley in the remote East Kimberley, WA, will establish the prevalence of FASD, health and developmental problems in a population of primary school-aged, predominantly Aboriginal children and develop strategies for service delivery, prevention and education.Read moreRead less
Community Action For Smoking Cessation In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,162,650.00
Summary
Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking le ....Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking levels, Indigenous Australians remain at greater risk of hospitalisations or death from many tobacco-related illnesses. Smoking in Australia was reduced through individually-oriented measures, public education and supply control. These strategies have either not been tried or have not been adequately studied in Aboriginal communities. Effective interventions could provide major health gains for Aboriginal Australians and reduce health costs. The intervention we propose will be based on an agreement whereby four remote communities in the 'Top End' will make a pact with the researchers to jointly try to reduce tobacco smoking using community-wide mobilisation, training and education. The intervention with have multiple components. We will not evaluate each component separately. The effect of the whole intervention on smoking will be assessed. Tobacco sales for the whole community in these small isolated localities, a sensitive and reliable measure, should decline if the intervention works. Tobacco smokers will be assessed before the intervention in each community and followed up twice to assess quit rates. Quit rates should go up. Five years are needed for the study because smoking behaviour change does not happen quickly or at peoples' first attempt. With staggered implementation of the intervention, i.e. not starting in all communities at once, reductions in smoking in more than one community will make us confident that the intervention worked.Read moreRead less
Implications Of Early Life And Contemporary Influences On Body Composition, Mental Health, And Precursors Of Chronic Diseases In The Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,335,405.00
Summary
Aboriginal babies across the Top End of the Northern Territory have been followed up for over 25 years as part of the Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study. The aim of this study is to relate early life events, beginning in the womb, to later physical and mental health. This will identify early those most at risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular, renal and mental health) that contribute to the current gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Australians, and ....Aboriginal babies across the Top End of the Northern Territory have been followed up for over 25 years as part of the Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study. The aim of this study is to relate early life events, beginning in the womb, to later physical and mental health. This will identify early those most at risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular, renal and mental health) that contribute to the current gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Australians, and help develop intervention strategies.Read moreRead less
Dynamics Of Haemophilus Haemolyticus And Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae Colonisation In Otitis-prone Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,790.00
Summary
A vaccine has been licenced that reduces ear disease. A harmless bacterium masquerades as the pathogen responsible for ear disease, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), leading to inaccurate surveillance of ear disease. This project will measure the true proportion of NTHi in ears and noses to help policy decisions regarding the introduction of the vaccine to Western Australia. We will be able to assess the impact this vaccine has had in the Northern Territory since implementation in 2009.
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
Health Impacts Of Climate Change On Indigenous Australians: Identifying Climate Thresholds To Enable The Development Of Informed Adaptation Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,034.00
Summary
Closing the gap in Indigenous health and adapting to climate change are two major policy challenges for Australia. This project addresses these issues by providing quantitative and qualitative evidence of the disproportionate impacts of climate on the health of Indigenous people. This research will provide policy-relevant evidence to enable targeting of resources to develop effective climate adaptation strategies to reduce adverse health outcomes for Indigenous Australians from climate change.