A new collaboration has been launched to fast track research into action to improve outcomes in the crucial early years of child development and learning.
The Early Development and Learning Collaboration, based at Perth's The Kids Research Institute Australia, has been made possible by Minderoo Foundation's AU$3 million commitment over three years to Telethon.
The Kids Research Institute Australia Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, said the Collaboration would bring together leading educators, clinicians, community and researchers to improve service delivery to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families, and communities.
"By working collaboratively we hope to accelerate the identification, development and dissemination of what works best to enhance health, wellbeing and education outcomes for kids across Australia, particularly those most in need," he said.
Minderoo Foundation CEO, Mrs Nicola Forrest, said Minderoo was proud to be a Founding Partner.
"This Collaboration is all about developing translational research so that we may ultimately distil and deliver what is essential for children to get the best start in their lives. We must take a holistic view of a child to nurture and foster their full potential," she said.
The Early Childhood Development and Learning Collaboration has four overarching aims:
- to conduct new and original research;
- to interpret existing research findings in varying contexts;
- to translate this research into practice through demonstration projects; and
- to connect that translation to communities and the policy arena.
The focus of the Collaboration will be on preventative approaches for the most vulnerable children before the age of 5 and their families, including the importance of integrated service delivery approaches in high priority areas.
The Collaboration will be driven by the belief that the opportunity for a healthy and happy future begins before birth and that early childhood development should be seen as the foundation for success.
An independently Chaired Advisory Committee, with cross-sectoral representation, will consider and make recommendations regarding the research agenda.
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Minderoo Foundation media contact:
Ian Kortlang
M: +61 (0)413 946 712
E: kortlang@minderoo.com.au
About The Kids
The Kids Research Institute Australia has a strong background and track record in research, evaluation and implementation around improving outcomes in the early years of a child's development. It was a key partner in the Early Development Index being adapted and piloted in Australia, and its subsequent national roll out as the Australian Early Development Census.
Through its WA Child Health Survey and the seminal WA Aboriginal Child Health Survey, The Kids has provided the evidence and recommendations for many child health initiatives. It also has a proud history of advocacy, having lobbied for services through education and health services, resulting in the various models of family, child and parent centres and visiting midwife schemes.
The Kids has always worked closely with community and service providers in both framing the research approach and the translation of research findings into policy and practice. This approach is entrenched in the Institute's strategic plan: Working Together 2013-2017 and described in a number of programs in its IMPACT report.
About Minderoo
The Minderoo Foundation was founded by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001 and was originally known as the Australian Children's Trust. The Foundation's work was based on the mandate to give a hand up, not a hand out and that ethos remains today. Over AU$222 million has been committed and given by Andrew and Nicola Forrest to the Foundation and philanthropic causes since its inception. The focus going forward is in six key areas; fighting modern slavery; ending indigenous disadvantage; ensuring all children in Australia thrive by five; nurturing new talent in the arts; strengthening community based partnerships; and attracting the world's best minds to Western Australia.