ARACY Conference Melbourne 2 – 4 Sept 2009

1. ARACY Conference Melbourne2 – 4 Sept 2009 Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework

2. 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

3. 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

4. Policy Makers Research Partners • Early Parenting Services • Expertise • Data • Agency Based Research Other Agencies AAPCH 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

5. Research Development • Principles • Connecting and • collaborating • Consumer involvement • Development and change • Contextualising early • parenting (e.g. Culture) • Transdisciplinary • Key Disciplines • Nursing • Psychology • Social Work • Early Childhood Educators Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework

6. Research Imperatives • 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) • Develop organisational capacity to support research Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework

7. 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 • Research focus maintains strong links with: • current and future policy priorities • Child and Family, and Community needs and service expectations • Influence national policy directions Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework

8. 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

9. Benefits Developing A National Early Parenting Research Framework • 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

10. AAPCH Member Organisations QLD Health – Ellen Barron Family Centre Ngala Tresillian Family Care Centres Karitane SA CYWH Canberra Mothercraft Society Queen Elizabeth Centre O’Connell Family Centre Tweddle Child & Family Health Service Plunkett Tasmania Department of Health

11. Contact Details AAPCH President: Rae Walter Phone: (08) 9368-9363 Email: raewalter@ngala.com.au