Wellbeing and Behaviour Research Projects

Browse research projects relating to wellbeing and behaviour, that use AEDC data.

Date: January 2024

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 5 (2021)

States: VIC

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: Local Logic Place

The State of Gannawarra’s Children and Young People Report endeavours to gain a better understanding of where Gannawarra’s children and young people (and their families) are faring well, what community strengths can be built on and the areas that require targeted approaches for improvement.

Date: January 2024

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 1 (2009), Cycle 2 (2012)

States: VIC

Data Linkage Project: Yes

Organisation: Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology

This Australian Research Council funded project aims to improve understanding of the impact of child abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence on young people’s future experiences of re-victimisation and offending. Through a comprehensive research program that combines systematic literature review methods and a large population-based data linkage study in Victoria, this project expects to generate new evidence about the maltreatment experiences that increase risk of youth re-victimisation and offending, potential causal mechanisms, and the multi-systems factors that might aggravate or buffer children from these harmful effects. 

Expected outcomes include increased knowledge to inform effective policy and interventions aimed at identifying at-risk children and meeting young people’s needs related to adverse legal outcomes. This should help improve public safety, reduce the economic impact of maltreatment, and support vulnerable children to thrive.

Date: January 2024

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 1 (2009), Cycle 2 (2012), Cycle 3 (2015), Cycle 4 (2018)

States: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: Queensland University of Technology

The present project aims to investigate the impact of food insecurity on early childhood development in an Australian context using AEDC census data. While the AEDC census does not directly assess HFI, it does collect teacher-reported data on the number of children coming to school hungry. 

First, the project aims to learn more about the characteristics of Australian children who are coming to school hungry. Next, the project will determine whether children who have experienced food insecurity (i.e., those who are reported as coming to school hungry) will have significantly poorer early development than children who have not experienced food insecurity. This will be explored initially at a national level, with further work examining the impact of food security at a state and regional level. The project will also explore whether there are any protective factors within schools or communities that can mitigate some of the developmental risk associated with coming to school hungry. Finally, it will examine AEDC data collected across successive waves to identify longitudinal trends in both ‘children coming to school hungry’ and the geographic/socioeconomic dispersion of this data.

Date: December 2019

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 1 (2009)

States: VIC

Data Linkage Project: Yes

Organisation: School of Public Health, Curtin University

Existing evidence suggests exposure to prenatal depression, anxiety, and stress increases the risk of behavioural problems and reduces cognitive ability in early childhood.

There is, however, a dearth of literature on the longer term behavioural and cognitive outcomes among offspring prenatally exposed to depression, anxiety, and stress. Further evidence of the potential for such relationships is needed to inform best practice decisions about treatment.

The aim of this project is to assess the impact of maternal prenatal mental health problems and psychotropic medications on adolescent offspring behavioural and educational trajectories in the general population.

We will utilise administrative health data to demonstrate the broader and longer term neurodevelopmental outcomes in terms understood by strategic health planners, clinicians and the public.

Date: August 2015

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 2 (2012)

States: ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC

Data Linkage Project: Yes

Organisation: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne

This study aims to advance ‘neighbourhood effects’ research on child development. The Kids in Communities Study (KICS) examines community-level factors influencing children’s health and development in areas of advantage and disadvantage across Australia. Drawing on a range of datasets, including AEDC, spatial and population health data, and qualitative data, the study involves a mixed methods analysis of the relationship between child development and the community environments, focusing on neighbourhood design, access to facilities and services, social capital, governance and built environment issues such as parks, traffic and density factors.

Date: May 2015

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 2 (2012)

States: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

The Children’s Headline Indicators are a set of 19 indicators designed to focus the policy attention of Governments on identified priority issues for the health, development and wellbeing of children aged 0–12. There is a focus on different groups of children (for example, Indigenous children, children living in remote areas). The 2009 and 2012 AEDI data informs the indicator “The proportion of children developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains of the AEDI”.

The indicators assist in guiding and evaluating policy development by measuring progress on areas that are potentially amenable to change over time through prevention or early intervention. They have been endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference, Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference and the Australian Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs Senior Officials Committee.

Date: May 2015

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 1 (2009), Cycle 2 (2012)

States: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Every year, about 280,000 Australian children make the crucial transition from preschool to formal education. Within this population, there is a wide range of learning capabilities and levels of preparedness. Children who have difficulties during the early years have greater risk of poorer academic and social outcomes. This project determines how children's academic and developmental outcomes are shaped by common physical health problems during the early years of school. Understanding what types of health concerns, as reported by teachers, impact on children’s classroom participation will inform future research on how to support these children to achieve better outcomes.

Date: May 2015

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 1 (2009), Cycle 2 (2012)

States: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: Telethon Kids Institute

The Multiple Challenge Index (MCI) is a computation based on various items from the Early Development Index (EDI) and is basically an indicator of a child experiencing challenges in at least three EDI domains.  The MCI is widely used in Canada to show where communities would benefit from additional targeted services.  The concept of the EDI and the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) as population health measures rather than individual diagnostic instruments can be hard to understand.  This coupled with the fact that some services are interested in investigating the use of the AEDC as a screening tool for teachers has led us to explore the feasibility and utility of using the MCI in Australia.  In addition, there has been significant interest in the concept of identifying children or communities with ‘strengths’ in child development, and whether certain items from the AEDC could be used for this purpose. As such, this work also explores the feasibility of creating a Multiple Strength Index, to supplement the current suite of deficit based indicators.

Date: March 2015

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 1 (2009), Cycle 2 (2012)

States: NSW

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: Family and Community Services (NSW)

The aim of this study is to collect detailed information about the well-being of children placed in out-of-home care. The outcomes of children in care are generally considered poor relative to the general population.  This research project examines the wellbeing of children in out-of-home care, including those who entered care but then returned to their birth parent/s. The AEDC results provide an early indication of how children growing up in care are faring as a function of their child protection history, their age of entry into care, and their type and placement history. It will allow a greater understanding of the factors and services which optimise the chances of positive outcomes for this vulnerable group and where these services might be most effectively established.

Date: May 2014

AEDC Cycle: Cycle 2 (2012)

States: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA

Data Linkage Project: No

Organisation: National Early Years Access Initiative (NEYAI) and the National Framework for Early Childhood Education (Síolta)

The study uses the Early Development Instrument (EDI) to assess the quality and outcomes of pre-school services following the recent introduction of a free pre-school year for all children in Ireland.

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