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Findings from the Kids in Communities Study (KiCS): A mixed methods study examining community-level influences on early childhood developmentThere is increasing international interest in place-based approaches to improve early childhood development (ECD) outcomes. The available data and evidence are limited and precludes well informed policy and practice change. Developing the evidence-base for community-level effects on ECD is one way to facilitate more informed and targeted community action.
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A peer support intervention for first-time mothers: Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the mummy buddy programThe transition to motherhood, although joyous, can be highly stressful, and the availability of professional postpartum support for mothers is often limited. Peer volunteer support programs may offer a viable and cost-effective method to provide community-based support for new mothers. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a peer volunteer support program-The Mummy Buddy Program-in which experienced volunteer mothers are paired with, and trained to offer social support to, first-time mothers.
Research
Protection against neonatal respiratory viral infection via maternal treatment during pregnancy with the benign immune training agent OM-85Incomplete maturation of immune regulatory functions at birth is antecedent to the heightened risk for severe respiratory infections during infancy. Our forerunner animal model studies demonstrated that maternal treatment with the microbial-derived immune training agent OM-85 during pregnancy promotes accelerated postnatal maturation of mechanisms that regulate inflammatory processes in the offspring airways.
Research
Interventions to Improve Child Physical Activity in the Early Childhood Education and Care Setting: An Umbrella ReviewEarly childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key setting to support improvements in the physical activity of young children. This umbrella review gathered and synthesised systematic review evidence of the effectiveness of interventions in the ECEC setting on the physical activity levels of children aged 0–6.
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A population health approach in education to support children's early development: A Critical Interpretive SynthesisThe results from this review indicate that it would indeed be plausible to adapt the population health approach to sites and schools
Research
Investing in school readiness: A comparison of different early childhood education pathways in rural IndonesiaThis paper documents that children in rural Indonesia participate in a great variety of early childhood education pathways
Research
Birth outcomes and academic achievement in childhood: A population record linkage studyThis study used population-based record linkage to examine the association between early life risk factors and academic achievement.
Research
Breastfeeding and early child development: A prospective cohort studyBreastfeeding has been associated with multiple developmental advantages for the infant; however, there have also been a number of studies that find...
News & Events
Improving development and learning of children in Western AustraliaDiscover the EYI Research Profile at The Kids' Institute, showcasing innovative child health research and its impact on young lives.
News & Events
Australia-first Declaration highlights early childhood action requiredMore than 70 leading early childhood experts have come together with CoLab to develop the first-ever Australian Declaration (of evidence) for Early Childhood.