Research
Australia's Babies
Australian Social Trends 2007
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Alcohol and pregnancy: The pivitol role of the obstetrician
Elizabeth J. Elliot and Carol Bower
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2008; 48: 236 - 239
Breastfeeding and Infants' Time Use
Jennifer Baxter and Julie Smith, Australian Institue of Family Studies, June 2009
Cognitive advantages for breastfed children may arise from their distinct patterns of time use and social contexts during the breast feeding phase.
Building a solid foundation for school: a community approach
Reesa Sorin and Jane Markotsis/Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
This paper argues that there is more to a successful start to school than the characteristics of an individual child. Readiness for learning and development in the school years depends on a partnership comprising the child, their family, the school and the community.
Caring for Young Children: What Children Need
Policy Brief No 15 2009
The Royal Children's Hospital Centre for Community Child Health
Child-Parent Centres Continue to Show Proven Outcomes for Economically Disadvantaged Children
Promising Practices Network
The guiding principle of the program is that by providing a school based, stable learning environment during preschool in which parents are active and consistent participants in their child's education, scholastic success will follow.
Childhood Poverty, chronic stress, and adult working memory.
Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 106 (16) 6545-6549.
Childhood poverty is inversely related to working memory in young adults. This relationship is mediated by elevated chronic stress during childhood. Chronic stress is measured by allostatic load, a biological marker of cumulative wear and tear on the body that is caused by the mobilization of multiple physiological systems in response to chronic environmental demands.
Childhood trauma and prodromal symptoms among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis.
Schizophrenia Research 108, Issues 1-3, 176-181
Although spectulative, public health efforts to reduce trauma and violence among children could plausibly have an effect on the incidence of psychotic symptoms and disorders.
Children Living in Families with Parental Substance Abuse
Sharon Dawe, Paul Harnett and Sally Frye
This paper provides an overview of the research literature on the outcomes of children raised in families with multiple problems including parental substance misuse.
Community Ambassadors Program
Parenting Practices in Diverse Families
In May 2008 three Community Ambassadors delivered a cultural awareness session to workers and volunteers at Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre. The intention was to share the differing views on parenting particularly in relation to issues associated with mixed marriages, discipline, cultural practices and the struggle for families settling into the Australian community. Download here the summary of the Evaluation Forms from that session.
Creating communities for young children: A toolkit for change.
Human Early Learning Partnership. 2009
Demographic Profile of Deception Bay CfC site
Social Policy Research Centre, May 2006
The Early Years Framework, Scotland
This framework is about the steps that the Scottish government, local partners and practitioners in early years services need to take.
The Effectiveness of Interventions to Address Health Ineqalities in the Early Years: A Review of Relevant Literature.
Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse.
Nature Neuroscience 12, 342 - 348 (2009)
Childhood abuse or neglect can alter the function of a gene that controls the brain's response to stress. The researchers found a gene NR3C1 which influences the brain's susceptibility to stress hormones was less likely to be activated in people who had been abused.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, June 2007
BMA Board of Science
Families in Australia 2008
Robin Green
This report highlights the key issues and trends facing Australian Families.
Father Inclusive Practice Manuals
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Footprints in Time - A Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children.
The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Service and Indigenous Affairs. 2008-2009
Growing Up In Australia
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Aims to examine the impact of the social and cultural environment on the next generation. It will inform social policy debate and be used to identify opportunities for early intervention and prevention strategies.
The Report from The Study Growing Up in Australia: Home to School Transitions for Financially Disadvantaged Children.
The Smith Family
Impact of Family Breakdown on Children's Wellbeing: Evidence Review.
Mooney Ann, Oliver Chris, Smith Marjorie (2009).
Impact of Poverty on Early Childhood Development
Policy Brief from The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. No 14 2009
Investing In The Early Years July 2009
A National Early Childhood Development Strategy
Investing in Prevention and Early Intervention: A ten year plan
QCOSS, August 2006
Major Retailers Dictate
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Researchers have highlighted the Implications of major retailers dominating the market for consumer access to affordable healthy food options.
Never to early to invest in children: Early childhood education and care matters to business
Charlie Coffey
Newborn and Child Survival in Austalia
Save The Children (2009)
The impact of poverty on early childhood development
Centre for Community Child Health
This policy brief focuses on the extended concept of 'relative poverty' and the reslulting social and personal costs for children.
The role and nature of universal health services for pregnant women, children and families in Australia
Literature Review prepared on behalf of the Collaboration for Research into Universal Health Services for Mothers and Children. May 2008
Parenting Diversity in Families
Andrea Waylen and Sarah Stewart-Brown
This report is intended to provide support for decision making to reduce the risks to children and to avoid inappropriate censuring of parents. It examines parenting in Britain during early and middle childhood within different social and cultural groups.
Physiology and Neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central Role of the Brain.
Physiological Review, 87:873-904. 2007
Early life events influence life long patterns of emotionality and stress responsiveness and alter the rate of brain and body aging. Social and behavioural interventions such as physical activity and social support reduce the chronic stress burden and benefit brain and body health and resiliance.
Pregnancy Loss Affects Young Women: Study
ABC Science Alex Wilde
Young Women who have lost a pregnancy through miscarriage or abortion have an increased risk for substance abuse or developing a mood disorder later in life.
Pre-employment screening: Working with Children Checks and Police Checks.
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Report compiled by Claire Berlyn, Prue Holzer and Daryl Higgins.
The 'quiet revolution' amongst men. Developing the practice of working with men in family relationships.
Andrew King
The paper reviews the current context experienced by programs that focus on working with men and family relationship issues and the significant milestones in learning that have been achieved.
Rethinking School Readiness
Policy Brief No 10 from the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. 2008
Snapshot 2009: Children and Young People in QLD
Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
Still Face
Edward Tronick
Emotional Development and social connections with caregivers.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: Preventing and Responding to the Abuse and Neglect of Infants.
Jordan Bridget, Sketchley Robyn (2009).
Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2004-2009
Reports released June 2009
Through the Looking Glass
Paul Alyward and Margaret O'Neil (May 2008)
Through the Looking Glass was a pilot program that operated throughout Childcare Centres in Australia. It was aimed at enhancing relationships between at risk parents and their children. It found that assigning a primary care giver to each child at a childcare centre is the way forward for all childcare.
Through Young Black Eyes
SNAICC -Secretariat National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (Nov 2008)
This workshop kit is designed to assist communities to take local action to prevent child abuse and neglect, family violence and work towards developing a child safe community.
Understanding the therapeutic process of mother-infant pscyhotherapy.
Post partum depression has been documented to have detrimental effects on infants and the mother-infant relationship. In a focus study group to evaluate the effectiveness of an agency-based mother-infant treatment program, nine therapists talked about their practices.
Weighing it up Obesity in Australia
House of Representatives Standing Committe on Health and Aging. 2009
Specific sections are relevant to the early years.
Working in the Grey: Increasing collaboration between services in Inner North Canberra.
A Communities For Children Project
The study demonstrates how small, place based research can assist service providers to rethink new ways of working together to more effectively reach out to parents and link them with social support.
Working With Men: Non Deficit Perspectives
Andrew King
A significant feature of engaging men and running fathering programs is the use of non-deficit assumptions.
Working with Men and Family Relationships
FAHCSIA
Introductory Guide from the 2007 National Men and Family Relationships Forum.
The Deception Bay Child and Family Alliance is supported by the Australian Government.