Search
Research
Disparities in severe neonatal morbidity and mortality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal births in Western Australia: a decomposition analysisThe health disadvantages faced by Australian Aboriginal peoples are evidenced in early life, although few studies have focused on the reasons for population-level inequalities in more severe adverse outcomes. This study aimed to examine the scale of disparity in severe neonatal morbidity (SNM) and mortality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal births and quantify the relative contributions of important maternal and infant factors.
Research
Redressing ‘unwinnable battles’: Towards institutional justice capital in Australian child protectionAustralia’s history of negative child protection outcomes for children in state care highlights the sustained, systemic nature of serious harm. Situated in emerging conversations on structural challenges and state violence for parents involved in child protection systems, we trace the resources and barriers to responsive and ‘just’ child protection practice, highlighting how institutions can serve to compound disadvantage and injustice. We argue that addressing challenges such as access to advocacy at the level of the individual is to miss the underlying politics of oppression that serves to keep families marginalised.
Research
‘Can you sleep tonight knowing that child is going to be safe?’: Australian community organisation risk work in child protection practiceRisk averse practice has dominated the child protection field for decades, with high-profile child deaths, ever-tightening surveillance, and regulation of families. In this context, the practice of social work as ‘risk work’ including the use of risk assessment tools has been subject to substantial scholarly investigation. Less attention has been paid to the community organisations that play a central role in supporting child protection-involved parents. Based on interviews with Australian community workers, we examine their negotiation of the parent support/parent risk dichotomy.
Research
Can joined-up data lead to joined-up thinking? The Western Australian Developmental Pathways ProjectModern societies are challenged by "wicked problems" - by definition, those that are difficult to define, multi-casual and hard to treat.
Research
Dietary patterns and markers for the metabolic syndrome in Australian adolescentsOverweight and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as their clustering, are increasingly prevalent among adolescents.
News & Events
Parent of a year 7 student? NOW is the best time to talk to your child about drinking alcoholSenior Research Officer from The Kids Research Institute Australia’s Human Development and Community Wellbeing team, Robyn Johnston, says now is actually a good time to start talking to them about alcohol - before they transition to the teenage years.
News & Events
The Kids welcomes new WA youth health policyThe Kids welcomes the launch of WA’s first policy on youth health which will give young people a voice in the planning of health services that affect them.
Research
Opportunistic adolescent health assessment in the child protection unitAdolescents attending a hospital-based CPU report high rates of health-risk behaviours
Research
Psychosocial moderators of associations between life events and changes in physical activity after leaving high schoolThis study examines the associations between life events & changes in leisure-time physical activity after leaving high school in young people from rural...
Research
Social environmental risk factors for transition to psychosis in an Ultra-High Risk population.Despite social environmental factors such as deprivation, urbanicity, migration and adversity being established risk factors for psychotic disorders...