In an Australian-first, a group of University of Queensland researchers will try to teach children how to be resilient in the face of personal adversity and how to resist harmful habits.
The Queensland Government has awarded more than $520,000 over three years to a consortium led by UQ’s Population Health and Social Science schools.
The funding is part of a $1.4 million Resiliency Project initiative that aims to help children develop skills to resist harmful habits such as smoking and drug-use, and cope with issues such as family breakdowns and bullying.
Other members of the consortium include UQ’s schools of Medicine, Human Movement Studies, Rehabilitation Sciences and Psychology; Education Queensland; Royal Children’s Hospital and Health Service District; HUB Community Centre; and the Nicklin Centre.
“Our principal goal is a multi-strategy health promotion which encourages resiliency in children of primary school age in school, family and community settings,” said Project Co-ordinator Professor Jake Najman from UQ’s Schools of Population Health and Social Sciences.
In consultation with Education Queensland, the consortium chose Stafford State, Stafford Heights and Boondall high schools, and their families and communities, to participate.
Professor Najman said the project would focus on skills such as communication, literacy and social skills in order to:
• address the structural basis of the disadvantages which lead to adverse child mental health and developmental outcomes;
• increase attachment of participants to individuals and groups who can serve as role models; and
• enhance family functioning and family interactions so children receive more effective parenting.
“National and international policy documents have recognised the increasing need for approaches to mental and physical health disorders that emphasise prevention, promotion and early intervention,” he said.
“Longitudinal studies have also consistently argued the importance of intervening during childhood to avert long-term health problems and improve children’s health and educational outcomes.”
Professor Najman said resilience was about the interaction between the individual and their environment in the face of adversity, and was important in the development of social competence, problem-solving skills, autonomy and a sense of purpose.
He said factors that placed children at risk of increased adverse health and well-being outcomes such as poor scholastic performance and delinquent or violent behaviour, included economic and social disadvantage, parental lifestyle, parenting and child-rearing, family marital conflict, maternal mental health and biological effects.
“It is important to note that while a wide range of risk factors have been found to impact on child health and development, not all children exposed to risk factors become impaired and the majority of children who are impaired have few, if any, risk factors,” Professor Najman said.
“This combination of factors is the most challenging aspect of developing effective early intervention.”
The project will focus on building partnerships between communities, government and non-government agencies, the University, and professional groups, in order to maintain the project’s effectiveness beyond the three years of funding.
It is hoped this will be achieved by establishing a multi-disciplinary Resilience and Children Health Task Force (RACHTF).
Media: For further information, contact Professor Jake Najman (telephone 07 3365 3344, 07 3365 5180 or mobile 0411 043 490) or Joanne van Zeeland from UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619 or email: communications@uq.edu.au).
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