Reforming evidence synthesis and translation for food and nutrition policy. This project aims to develop and evaluate a ‘Fit-for-Purpose’ framework to strategically guide evidence synthesis and translation for food and nutrition policies in order to effectively and safely tackle contemporary nutrition and food security problems. The project intends to use interdisciplinary approaches that integrate nutrition science, health promotion and policy science. The project would also examine policy-make ....Reforming evidence synthesis and translation for food and nutrition policy. This project aims to develop and evaluate a ‘Fit-for-Purpose’ framework to strategically guide evidence synthesis and translation for food and nutrition policies in order to effectively and safely tackle contemporary nutrition and food security problems. The project intends to use interdisciplinary approaches that integrate nutrition science, health promotion and policy science. The project would also examine policy-maker acceptance of the framework. Expected project outcomes include an enhanced capacity to critically analyse existing policies and guide future food and nutrition policy formulation and evaluation. This project would provide significant benefits by helping to promote public health, wellbeing and food system sustainability.Read moreRead less
Generating Evidence For A Strong Foundation: Using Population Health Data For Translational Child Health, Healthcare And Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,500,000.00
Summary
Professor Natasha Nassar’s research program uses advanced research methods to address new challenges in child population health. She will investigate the role and impact of early life factors, paediatric healthcare practices and long-term morbidity and survivorship on child health and development. Identification of at-risk children and involvement of clinicians and policy-makers in research will ensure improved child population health and development and healthy start to life for all children.
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100850
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,089,296.00
Summary
Research evidence in the not-for-profit sector and consumer-driven change. This project has three aims: first, to further build research literacy within the not-for-profit human service sector; second, to contribute new knowledge about how human service sector clients can shape the nature of the services they rely upon; and third, develop a framework for human service clients, human service practitioners, and government stakeholders to more actively and collaboratively engage in social policy de ....Research evidence in the not-for-profit sector and consumer-driven change. This project has three aims: first, to further build research literacy within the not-for-profit human service sector; second, to contribute new knowledge about how human service sector clients can shape the nature of the services they rely upon; and third, develop a framework for human service clients, human service practitioners, and government stakeholders to more actively and collaboratively engage in social policy development. The project expects to generate new knowledge to underpin consumer led and transformations in the human service sector. Expected outcomes of the project include a greater understanding of how not-for-profit organisations can bring together their clients and governments to collaboratively solve social problems. Read moreRead less
The consistent growth of the Murray cod production sector in Australia is evidence that the industry is no longer fledgling and has grown into a significant production sector. Growth figures from 2012 until now effectively doubled year on year, with the total production from 2019/2020 season estimated to be around 516 tonnes with an industry value of around $9.2 million (AUD). With this increased production and forecast to reach a $50 million dollar sector by 2030, it is imperative that feeds fo ....The consistent growth of the Murray cod production sector in Australia is evidence that the industry is no longer fledgling and has grown into a significant production sector. Growth figures from 2012 until now effectively doubled year on year, with the total production from 2019/2020 season estimated to be around 516 tonnes with an industry value of around $9.2 million (AUD). With this increased production and forecast to reach a $50 million dollar sector by 2030, it is imperative that feeds for Murray cod are tailored and bespoke to reach their full potential. The development of bespoke feeds for the sector will have the added benefit of improving the economics of operations from both a growth performance and feed efficiency perspective.
Noting that past research on Murray cod primarily by researchers at the Deakin University was very successful in demonstrating some core aspects of fish nutrition, it remains to be determined what benefits are possible on larger fish size classes which represent the bulk of feed consumed. In other well studied species such as Atlantic salmon and barramundi, gains in production efficiency can be achieved by diet design, with incremental changes improving the profitability throughout the life cycle. Although there is no co-op or association for growers, a recently commissioned report has highlighted the need for improved feeds and key R&D support for the sector is required. The proposed project aims to address some of the fundamental gaps in Murray cod nutrition on large size classes to identify where gains in production efficiency can realistically be achieved. Objectives: 1. Determine a baseline for the most optimal macronutrient levels (principally protein and lipid) for medium and large Murray cod in extruded diets. 2. Understand the nutrient profile of the feed types and how this affects the fish performance. 3. Conduct a series of laboratory analyses to determine the biometric and biochemical effect of the feed. Read moreRead less
Cultural responsiveness: measuring and evaluating social work practice. This project aims to develop tools for use by social workers that measure and evaluate culturally responsive practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools have potential application across numerous sectors in social work practices with clients and families. The project will benefit social workers who can measure, evaluate and improve their culturally responsive practice, and in turn, the health and ....Cultural responsiveness: measuring and evaluating social work practice. This project aims to develop tools for use by social workers that measure and evaluate culturally responsive practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools have potential application across numerous sectors in social work practices with clients and families. The project will benefit social workers who can measure, evaluate and improve their culturally responsive practice, and in turn, the health and well-being outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.Read moreRead less
An Investigation Of Indigenous Knowledges And Nutritional Health And Wellbeing Benefits And Values Of Seafood For Supporting Indigenous Fisheries Development
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$111,932.00
Summary
Development of Aboriginal fishing businesses in the Northern Territory is aiming to improve the livelihoods of community members by providing access to a nutritious, diverse and culturally significant food supply. At both global and national levels, organisations are advocating for health to be considered in all policy (WHO, 2013). The objectives of the proposed research are to understand from an Indigenous knowledge domain the nutritional health and wellbeing benefits of seafood. This informati ....Development of Aboriginal fishing businesses in the Northern Territory is aiming to improve the livelihoods of community members by providing access to a nutritious, diverse and culturally significant food supply. At both global and national levels, organisations are advocating for health to be considered in all policy (WHO, 2013). The objectives of the proposed research are to understand from an Indigenous knowledge domain the nutritional health and wellbeing benefits of seafood. This information can therefore support future considerations of nutrition and health benefits in policy and ensure that health and related unintentional impacts of policies are at least considered in the policy making process in fisheries development. There is an ongoing need for Indigenous grounded approaches to be implemented to improve the diet and nutritional programs in Aboriginal communities (e.g. government programs, Aboriginal Health organisations and school nutrition). It is anticipated that this research will be relevant to a wide range of stakeholders involved in addressing the nutritional and health outcomes in communities through promotion of seafood in diets. The western biomedical health benefits of seafood are widely known globally and nationally (FRDC, 2004). However, the relationships between Indigenous health and wellbeing and seafood in an Indigenous knowledge domain is not well understood. The proposed research aims to address this knowledge gap though a multidimensional approach including localised documentation and representation of Indigenous knowledges of the nutritional health and wellbeing benefits values and meanings of seafood and nutritional analysis of fish and seafood species. This approach will bring together two knowledges in a culturally appropriate manner to better promote a holistic understanding of nutritional benefits of seafood.
The outcome of the research will contribute new knowledge to ensure the development of Indigenous fisheries is sensitive to health, nutritional and wellbeing values and meanings of culturally important seafood. This research project is funded by the Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC project 2019-143) on behalf of the Australian Government and is being implemented in partnership with Monash University, Charles Darwin University and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation and Traditional Aboriginal Owners from the Maningrida region in the Northern Territory. Project investigators are Associate Professor Julie Brimblecombe, Associate Professor Natasha Stacey, and PhD candidate Beau Cubillo.
Objectives: 1. To document Indigenous knowledges on the understanding of the nutritional health and wellbeing benefits and the value and meanings of locally caught and consumed seafood 2. To develop outputs (e.g. poster, booklet) based on Aboriginal knowledge and nutrition profiling of identified seafood species for inter-generational knowledge transfer 3. To develop a conceptual framework to bring together and represent the components and values of Indigenous knowledges of the nutritional health and wellbeing benefits of seafood Read moreRead less
Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of technology-assisted dietary assessment. This project aims to compare leading methods for technology-assisted dietary assessment. Excessive cost and questionable accuracy limit the routine use of dietary assessment and undermine decision making in Australia. This project intends to compare three technology methods of assessing diet with the current standard recall method used in population surveys in order to confirm if the use of food images and automated metho ....Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of technology-assisted dietary assessment. This project aims to compare leading methods for technology-assisted dietary assessment. Excessive cost and questionable accuracy limit the routine use of dietary assessment and undermine decision making in Australia. This project intends to compare three technology methods of assessing diet with the current standard recall method used in population surveys in order to confirm if the use of food images and automated methods provide new approaches to improve accuracy and consumer acceptability. Expected outcomes of this project include more accurate and acceptable methods of assessing dietary intake. These findings will inform decision making for researchers, policy makers and practitioners in Australia, and potentially lead to more regular population surveillance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$337,000.00
Summary
Unhealthy food marketing to children. This project aims to quantify children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing online and identify how online and TV food marketing influences food consumption and may affect death and disease. Reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is a global health priority. Online marketing is relatively unregulated and unstudied, but provides unprecedented opportunities for marketers to target children. Food marketing exposure leads to a hypothesised ca ....Unhealthy food marketing to children. This project aims to quantify children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing online and identify how online and TV food marketing influences food consumption and may affect death and disease. Reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is a global health priority. Online marketing is relatively unregulated and unstudied, but provides unprecedented opportunities for marketers to target children. Food marketing exposure leads to a hypothesised cascade of effects, including brand awareness, affect, and behaviour. This project will provide quantifiable data on online food marketing and will lead to a standard protocol for global monitoring.Read moreRead less
Strengthening food systems governance at the local level. This project aims to investigate the role of law, policy, and regulation in enabling local governments and communities to contribute to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems. The project will analyse policies and initiatives developed by local governments and communities in New South Wales and Victoria, including how law assists or prevents local-level action. The knowledge created by this project will inform recommendations fo ....Strengthening food systems governance at the local level. This project aims to investigate the role of law, policy, and regulation in enabling local governments and communities to contribute to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems. The project will analyse policies and initiatives developed by local governments and communities in New South Wales and Victoria, including how law assists or prevents local-level action. The knowledge created by this project will inform recommendations for policy and legislative reforms that will empower local governments and communities to respond to food system challenges.Read moreRead less
Researching an all-of-family program in family violence & substance misuse. Family violence services and drug and alcohol services have been inappropriately siloed given co-occurrence of these problems is common. This project aims to evaluate an innovative program which integrates these services, focuses on fathering to ensure recognition of the needs of children (50% of family violence victims) and provides all-of-family support to ensure the safety and well-being of women and children. Expect ....Researching an all-of-family program in family violence & substance misuse. Family violence services and drug and alcohol services have been inappropriately siloed given co-occurrence of these problems is common. This project aims to evaluate an innovative program which integrates these services, focuses on fathering to ensure recognition of the needs of children (50% of family violence victims) and provides all-of-family support to ensure the safety and well-being of women and children. Expected outcomes include better evidence for countering family violence, and policy frameworks for integrated service provision. Changing the behaviour of men who use violence is a significant social challenge and the outcomes of this targeted approach should have ramifications nationally and internationally. Read moreRead less