Enhancing the lives of Australian children is the focus of an innovative research collaboration bringing scientists and government together.
The Fraser Mustard Centre, launched today in South Australia, aims to improve the development, education, health and wellbeing of Aussie kids by ensuring key policy makers have first-hand access to world-class research and expertise.
Named in honour of leading Canadian researcher and former Adelaide Thinker in Residence Dr Fraser Mustard, the centre is a forward-thinking collaboration between the South Australian Department for Education and Child Development and researchers from the internationally renowned The Kids for Child Health Research.
During his time in Adelaide in 2006/7 Dr Mustard was influential in helping shape the South Australian government's innovative approach to child development. The Fraser Mustard Centre collaboration aims to recognise this legacy and continue to build on it, to ensure all young Australians are given the best start in life.
The Centre will focus on a number of projects designed to improve access to, and use of, quality research to inform government policy and programs. This will include an evaluation of the government's Children's Centres program, research into the differences between boys and girls when it comes to education and learning, a study into why some children thrive in adverse socio-economic situations and other don't and the establishment of a Fraser Mustard PhD Scholarship to further enhance opportunities for early career researchers in South Australia.
Chaired by the Chief Executive for the South Australian Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) Keith Bartley, the Fraser Mustard Centre will be overseen by The Kids for Child Health Research's Sally Brinkman (pictured) and the Department's David Engelhardt.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to bring researchers and government decision-makers together so we can use science more effectively to strengthen the link between what is known and what is being done to improve kids lives. It's about translating research into results" said Ms Brinkman.
"It's a wonderful legacy to the child development work of Dr Mustard who contributed so much to this state during his time here and who always held a special place in his heart for the kids of South Australia." Ms Brinkman said.
