Responsive Research and Shared Learning: Inspiring change to improve outcomes for children

1. Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth Responsive Research and Shared Learning: Inspiring change to improve outcomes for children Professor Fiona Stanley AC Executive Director, Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth Director, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research Professor of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Western Australia Positive Futures Conference: Achieving Wellbeing for Children & Families Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies Conference Sydney 15 August 2006

2. Impact of white colonisation on Aboriginal health today COLONISATION Cultural genocide Stolen children Loss of hunter-gatherer Lifestyle, loss of culture Fixed settlements Fringe camps Urban ghettoes Marginalisation from white society, poor communication and discrimination Poor nutrition Poor housing, Poor hygiene, Overcrowding and Infectious disease Unemployment, Poverty, Poor education Alcohol and Substance abuse Respiratory disease, Ear disease, Rheumatic heart dis. Renal disease Low birth weight, Diabetes mellitus Hypertension Cardiovasc. disease Domestic violence, Accidents, deaths in custody Source: Matthews 1997

4. Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth What is ARACY? • National organisation established in 2002 • Our network unites more than 700 members and network participants from across Australia.

5. Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth Our Purpose: To enhance the wellbeing and life chances of children and young people.

6. 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.

7. Why is Child Health & Development Crucial for Australia’s Future? Intellectually Competent & Emotionally Capable Workforce National Economic Prosperity Health & Welfare Budgets Not Draining Australia’s Capacity Majority of Young People Participating to their Full Potential Next Generation of Parents Socially & Emotionally Competent Majority of Children Healthy, Reaching their Educational and Social Potential Cycles of Economic Prosperity & National Capacity Majority of Children Commence their Lives in Environments which Enable Full Opportunities for Healthy Child Development BUILDING BLOCKS

8. 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

9. Australia’s GDP at current prices Source: ABS Year Book, 2001

10. 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)

11. Proportion of babies born at a low birth weight by SEIFA indices for WA, 1996–98 Source: d’Espaignet and Stanley (unpublished data)

12. Overweight and obese 4-year-old children, South Australia, 1995-96 and 2000-01 % Source: Glover, PHIDU, Adelaide University (unpublished data)

13. www.australianedi.org.au

14. Bad Parenting….

15. Collaboration ARACY facilitates multi-disciplinary collaborations across policy, practice and research sectors. POLICY PRACTICE RESEARCH

16. 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

17. Communication Tools • Webinars – online conferencing • Access Grid Seminars • Discussion Forums All of these tools have enabled faster more cost effective transfer of knowledge.

18. How will this benefit children & young people?

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Children within Spheres of Influence CIVIL SOCIETY UNCIVIL SOCIETY Social Workplace Accepting 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 Focus on: Equality/diversity Trust, care Collective good Valuing parents Valuing childhoods Prevention more than cures Protected environments Safe places for all Effective use of helpful technologies Child needs as well as adults School Community CHILD Political Economic Family Cultural

23. 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

24. 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

25. Recommendations for enhancing prevention • Educate • Increase understanding • Obtain data • Place emphasis on preventative services • Encourage more research

26. Joined-up solutions are required • Joined-up Government • ARACY collaborations across disciplines and sectors • Joined-up solutions at the local level

27. “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children.” Nelson Mandela