ARACY
Conference
Melbourne
2 – 4 Sept 2009
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
Purpose
Increased understanding of the importance of early childhood
development has led to early parenting services working
together to share precious research dollars to enable the
building of the highest quality evidence based practice.
This framework will:
• develop a national interdisciplinary research agenda for
innovation and evidence-based practice in the early years
and
• strengthen knowledge sharing partnerships with key
research institutes and service agencies inc AAPCH.
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
The Role of AAPCH and EPCs
Australian Association of Parenting & Child Health Inc (AAPCH)
• Promoting excellence in research, management and clinical practice
• Strategic leadership in development of services
• Australasian networking forum
• Working with government, business & community organisations to promote
accessible, effective services for families
Role of Early Parenting Centres (EPC)
• Family centred services (primary, secondary & tertiary levels of care)
• Systematic ecological model
• Focus on vulnerable families facing complex issues
• Socially & culturally diverse communities
• Strengths-based partnership approach
• Evidence-based practice and commitment to building practice evidence
• Multi/trans-disciplinary teams
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
Research
Partners
Policy
Makers
Early Parenting
Services
•Expertise
•Data
•Agency Based
Research
Other
Agencies
Professional development – strengthened capacity
Organisational and Clinical Governance and Leadership
Evidence based national early parenting practice and policy directions
Quality Parenting and Health Outcomes for Families
Improved Social Capital
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Research Development
Principles
Connecting and
collaborating
Consumer involvement
Development and change
Contextualising early
parenting (e.g. Culture)
Transdisciplinary
Key Disciplines
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Nursing
Psychology
Social Work
Early Childhood
Educators
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
Research Imperatives
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Create a research match between AAPCH and individual
organisations
– Alignment of values, mission and philosophy
Ensure future relevance and responsiveness of EPCs to
changing community need and emergent evidence
– Desire to document clinical practice and practice
outcomes
– Need to demonstrate accountability for clinical and
management services
•
Develop clinical evidence to support EPC practice(s)
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Develop organisational capacity to support research
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
Research Imperatives
•
Generate clinical knowledge and develop practice
– Ensure organisations continue to have sustainable and relevant
practices
– Develop and/or support the clinical knowledge and skills of staff
– Provide leadership in child and family health through research
– Translate research evidence into clinical practice
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Research focus maintains strong links with:
– current and future policy priorities
– Child and Family, and Community needs and service
expectations
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Influence national policy directions
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
Research Themes & Examples
Practice development
• Learning & Development for Sustainable Health Futures (Tresillian/
Plunket)
• Mothering at a Distance: program for incarcerated mothers (Tresillian)
• Involving Children in Decision Making – Exploration of Practitioners Views
(Ngala)
• Supporting early parenting through telenursing: A case study of the QLD
Child Health Line (Ellen Barron)
• NHMRC Funded Research into the impact of residential programs on the
parenting relationship and maternal mood (All Victorian EPCs)
Service evaluation
• Models of care implementation within residential services (Tresillian)
• Toddler Clinic evaluation (Parent-child interaction therapy) (Karitane)
Knowledge generation
• Postnatal depression and anxiety research (Karitane)
• An investigation into parent fatigue and parenting (Tweddle)
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
Benefits
• Positive outcomes for families
• Rich national data set of carers and infants and before school
age children
• National learning/knowledge sharing and practice
development
• Building a skilled workforce
• Cost effectiveness
• Building service capacity
• Interdisciplinary expertise and approach
• Strengthen national early parenting and childhood leadership
and advocacy
• Improved social capital
Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework
AAPCH Member Organisations
QLD Health – Ellen Barron Family Centre
Ngala
Tresillian Family Care Centres
Karitane
SA CYWH
Queen Elizabeth Centre
Canberra Mothercraft Society
O’Connell Family Centre
Tweddle Child & Family Health Service
Plunkett
Tasmania Department of Health
Contact Details
AAPCH President: Rae Walter
Phone: (08) 9368-9363
Email: raewalter@ngala.com.au