Child health researchers Stephen Zubrick, Katrina Hopkins, Francis Mitrou and Glenn Pearson with the two tonnes of hard copy survey materials being transported to the State Library of WA
The landmark Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey has been placed into archiving at the State Library of Western Australia to be preserved for future generations.
The original hard copy survey forms and materials – almost 300 boxes totalling 2 tonnes of paperwork – will be placed in long-term secure storage to be made available after 75 years for the people of Western Australia to study and to investigate their family relationships and living circumstances.
The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey was conducted in the early 2000's and was the largest and most comprehensive survey ever undertaken into the health, wellbeing and development of Western Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
After five years in planning and two years in the field, the findings were released in four volumes. More than half of the 130 surveying staff were Aboriginal. Knocking on more than 139 000 doors, the team worked across the state to gather a random sample of more than 5200 Aboriginal children.
The survey included interviews with 11,300 family members, 2000 families, and more than 3000 teachers. It involved one in five Aboriginal children in Western Australia.
Head of Brain and Behaviour at The Kids Research Institute Australia, Professor Stephen Zubrick, said the study provided a rare insight into the mental and physical health, educational experiences, family and community circumstances of a large, fully representative sample of Aboriginal children and their families.
“The survey was designed to build the knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people,” he said.
The study was responsible for many firsts, including:
- measures of the intergenerational impacts of forced separation policies on child development;
- the prevalence and effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy;
- measures of life stress events;
- comparisons of Indigenous and non-Indigenous academic performance and school absence; and
- interviews with school-aged Aboriginal youth not engaged in education or work.
The study continues to inform policy development almost 20 years after the data were collected – and remains unique in Australia with no other state or national study being replicated to date.
Head of Aboriginal Health at The Kids Research Institute Australia, Glenn Pearson, said it’s a great recognition of the significance of the survey.
“The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey is a jewel in The Kids Research Institute Australia research crown. We are so happy to see its value recognised and restored for future generations,” he said.
“It’s quite a legacy, and one that The Kids is extremely proud of.”
Chief Executive Officer and State Librarian at the State Library of Western Australia, Margaret Allen, said they are delighted to add the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey to the heritage collection where it will be stored in excellent conservation conditions.
“When the required time for limited access to the records has passed, this will be a marvellous resource for researchers of the future,” she said.
“It has been a pleasure working with The Kids Research Institute Australia to ensure this unique and valuable collection will be preserved in perpetuity and then made available when appropriate.”
The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey was a collaborative effort encompassing The Kids Research Institute Australia, the Kulunga Research Network and Curtin University through the Centre for Developmental Health.